UFC on FOX 27: Derek Brunson vs Jacare Souza on tap for Jan. 27 in Charlotte

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has apparently rubber-stamped a middleweight bout between top contenders Derek Brunson and Ronaldo Souza for the upcoming UFC on FOX 27 mixed martial arts (MMA) event on Sat., Jan. 27, 2018 inside Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"I signed my contract and I'm pretty sure Jacare signed his contract," Brunson told ESPN. "I was aiming for somebody who would get me a title shot. But after thinking about it, a first-round finish over Jacare, who's been considered as one of the best fighters on the planet, I think that gets me a shot."

After a shady decision loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 208, Brunson (18-5) roared back with consecutive knockout wins over Daniel Kelly and Lyoto Machida. Souza (24-5, 1 NC), meanwhile, is looking to rebound from his technical knockout loss to interim kingpin Robert Whittaker last April.

UFC on FOX 27 is expected to be headlined by the middleweight showdown pitting Vitor Belfort opposite Uriah Hall. Elsewhere on the card, Ovince Saint Preux tangles with Ilir Latifi for a spot in the 205-pound title chase.