Report - Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell Targeted For UFC Event On March 5.

Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC

An intriguing featherweight pairing between the #10 ranked Muay Thai ace, Edson 'Jr.' Barboza and the #11 rated submission ace, Bryce 'Thug Nasty' Mitchell is currently in the works to feature at an upcoming UFC event on March 5. -- with a location or venue for the event yet to be determined by the promotion.

American Top Team trainee, Barboza attempts to return to the winner's enclosure in his staggering twenty-seventh Octagon walk -- following a high-profile third round main event knockout loss to streaking Georgian kicker, Giga Chikadze at UFC Vegas 35 in August.

For Mitchell, injury has ruled him from action for the last year, with his most recent walk coming back in October of last year at UFC Vegas 12 where he knocked back Andre Fili with a unanimous decision win. The victory came as Mitchell's fourteenth straight as a professional. MMA Junkie reporters, Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun were first to report the news of Barboza and Mitchell's bout.

Nova Friburgo native, Barboza briefly enjoyed a two-fight winning streak prior to his loss to Chikadze earlier this year, stopping Shane Burgos with a rather peculiar knockout at UFC 262 in May at the Toyota Center -- which followed a prior unanimous decision success against Makwan Amirkhani. Debuting at featherweight back in May of last year, Barboza suffered a contentious split decision loss to June headliner, Dan Ige.

A four-fight organizational alum, 27-year-old submission upstart, Mitchell puts his undefeated 14-0 record on the line against Brazilian striking phenom Baroza in March -- having impressed with a quartet of UFC triumphs since his promotional leap back in July 2018 following an appearance on The Ultimate Fighter 27.

Mitchell has lodged Octagon decision victories against the trio of the aforenoted, Fili, Charles Rosa, and Bobby Moffett -- sandwiched between a stunning twister submission stoppage of Matt Sayles at UFC Fight Night D.C. in December 2019.