Verbal agreements are in place for a showdown of lightweight standouts Alexander Hernandez and Islam Makhachev at UFC 249.
MMA Fighting confirmed that contracts are expected to be signed shortly for the April 18 fight after a report from MMA Junkie. Twelve bouts are now on tap for the pay-per-view event at Barclays Arena in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Hernandez is seven months removed from a decision win over Francisco Trinaldo that put him back in the win column after a TKO loss to Donald Cerrone, who had the last laugh after a trash-talk filled promotional cycle.