Gallery Edmen Shahbazyan def. Jack Marshman at UFC 239: Best photos view 12 images

After mixing and matching some scheduled middleweight fights, Brad Tavares will now fight Edmen Shahbazyan in November at UFC 244.

With Ian Heinisch out at UFC on ESPN+ 20, Tavares (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) will shift to UFC 244 one week later to step in for Krzysztof Jotko against Shahbazyan (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in the 185-pound bout.

MMA Junkie today confirmed with two people close to the situation that Tavares vs. Shahbazyan is set. The people requested anonymity because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.

UFC 244 takes place Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

The bout will be Tavares’ first since July 2018. In a loss to now-interim middleweight champ Israel Adesanya at the TUF 27 Finale, Tavares suffered a broken arm. Throughout the recovery process, Tavares battled complications, which resulted in surgery.

The undefeated Shahbazyan is coming off a quick first round finish over Jack Marshman at UFC 239. Nine of the “Golden Boy’s” 10 wins have come in the first round, as he aims to enter the middleweight rankings.

The latest UFC 244 lineup now includes: