Sara McMann (7-1) will return to the cage for the first time since losing to Ronda Rousey at UFC 170, and she will do so against Lauren Murphy (8-0).
McMann, ranked as the No. 4 contender in the UFC, suffered her first loss in the February bout against Rousey. The former Olympic silver medalist was thought to be Rousey's toughest test, but it was a knee to the body that spelled her doom.
Murphy, ranked as the No. 8 best bantamweight, will make her promotional debut at Ultimate Fight Night 47.
The Invicta FC bantamweight titleholder won the belt at the last Invicta event in December. It was a TKO win by injury against Miriam Nakamoto. The talented striker was winning the fight, but Murphy battled back in the third frame. It was in that third round that Nakamoto injured her knee, and in spite of coming out of the fourth round she could not continue on.
As the UFC signed bantamweights for the roster throughout 2014, Murphy sat on the sideline awaiting a call from either Invicta or the UFC. It was a curious exclusion from the UFC's roster as a top-10-caliber fighter, but the wrong has been righted.
Murphy is a strong wrestler in her own right, but drawing an Olympic medalist will test her in her Octagon debut. She finished her first five professional bouts by TKO.
This is a big bout in the division. As the division is still developing depth, no fighter is too many fights out from a shot at the championship. A win will put the winner right in the mix for a title shot.
Ultimate Fight Night 47 will hit Bangor, Maine, on August 16 from the Cross Insurance Center. The event will air on Fox Sports 1.
