Thomas Almeida vs. Cody Garbrandt being targeted for UFC Fight Night 88 main event

A bantamweight fight between a pair of unbeatens that could have serious title implications is being targeted for the main event of UFC Fight Night 88 in Las Vegas.

A source with knowledge of the booking confirmed to MMAjunkie that Thomas Almeida (20-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Cody Garbrandt (8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will be booked to headline the card in late May. UFC officials have not yet made a formal announcement.

UFC Fight Night 88 takes place May 29, a Sunday, at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The card is expected to air on FOX Sports 1 and stream on UFC Fight Pass. Already booked for the event is a fight between former bantamweight champ Renan Barao, who is moving up to featherweight, and Jeremy Stephens.

Almeida’s impact in the UFC’s 135-pound division has been immediate. The unbeaten Brazilian signed with the promotion in 2014 and picked up a “Fight of the Night” decision victory over Tim Gorman in his UFC debut. Since then, he has three straight stoppages with a first-round TKO win over Yves Jabouin at UFC 186, a flying-knee knockout of Brad Pickett at UFC 189, and a knockout of Anthony Birchak at UFC Fight Night 77 this past November. All three of those fights were awarded “Performance of the Night” bonuses, giving him four $50,000 awards in his four UFC fights.

Before signing with the UFC, Almeida had been out of the first round just one time – a fourth-round TKO win in a title fight in his native Brazil. His win over Gorman was the lone time he’s had to go to the judges’ scorecards in his career of a little more than four years.

Garbrandt, who trains with Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, Calif., also has but one decision win in his pro career. He debuted with the UFC in January 2015 with a third-round TKO win over Marcus Brimage at UFC 182. His next bout was a decision win over Henry Briones at UFC 189 this past July. A month ago, he stopped Augusto Mendes with a first-round TKO in a catchweight bout at UFC Fight Night 83. (Mendes missed weight after taking the fight on short notice.)

For more on UFC Fight Night 88, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.