Two well-known light-heavyweight contenders, Johnny Walker and Aleksandar Rakic, are each set to make the move up to the heavyweight division.
The pair have been added to an upcoming Fight Night event set for Aug. 1 in Belgrade, Serbia.
Walker will face Ante Delija, while Rakic goes up against Marcin Tybura, the UFC announced.
The former 205-pounders each fought multiple former UFC champions and at times were ranked within the top 10 of the division, however both have been on cold streaks recently and decided to move up in weight.
Walker, 34, is winless in four of his past five outings and coming off a lacklustre decision loss to Dominick Reyes at UFC 327 in April. Walker holds notable wins over Khalil Rountree Jr., Ion Cutelaba, Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann among others but has been knocked out by the likes of past titleholders Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill.
Delija began his UFC tenure with a knockout win over Tybura in September but has since dropped consecutive bouts to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Serghei Spivak. Delija is currently the No. 11-ranked contender at heavyweight.
Rakic, also 34, has lost four in a row dating back the past five years. Consecutive losses to former champions Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka and Ankalaev preceded his first-round knockout loss to Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 321 this past October.
Tybura has been a staple of the UFC’s heavyweight ranks for a full decade and is still ranked No. 12 but he is on his first multi-fight losing streak in seven years.
Another heavyweight matchup between Jovan Leka and Max Gimenis was also added to the card.
The event at Belgrade Arena is scheduled to be headlined by welterweights Uros Medic of Serbia and Daniel Rodriguez of California. More matchup announcements for the card are expected in the coming weeks.
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