UFC signs top prospect Timur Valiev, who will make debut August 1st

One of the best bantamweight fighters outside of the UFC is no longer waiting for his turn in the Octagon. Former WSOF/PFL 135-pound standout Timur Valiev (18-2) has signed with the promotion and will meet Jamal Emmers at the their August 1st show in UFC Apex in Vegas.

The news comes via MMA Junkie.

The 30-year-old Dagestani fighter currently trains with high-level fighters such as Frankie Edgar, Eddie Alvarez, and Zabit Magomedsharipov in New Jersey, and has been on the radar of fight fans for a while. He went 8-1 in WSOF and the PFL, avenging his only split-decision loss to Chris Gutierrez by taking his own decision victory in their next bout. He is currently on a four-fight winning streak overall, with his last fight and win coming way back in July 2018.

Emmers (17-5) dropped his only UFC fight to date, via split decision to Giga Chikadze in March.

The UFC’s August 1st show will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight fight between former champ Holly Holm and Irene Aldana.