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Report: Ngannou vs. Dos Santos moving to UFC Minneapolis

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC / UFC / Getty

A pivotal heavyweight matchup between Junior dos Santos and Francis Ngannou will be moved to UFC Fight Night Minneapolis on June 29, according to ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

The fighters were originally scheduled to square off on July 6 at UFC 239 in Las Vegas, but will now reportedly headline the card at Target Center. Okamoto added that no agreement has been signed for the move, but that it's close to being finalized by the UFC.

Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler were previously set to fight in the main event at UFC Fight Night Minneapolis, but Woodley withdrew due to a hand injury last week. "Ruthless" is still without a scheduled fight.

Dos Santos (21-5) is heading into this matchup with Ngannou following three straight victories, including a second-round TKO over Derrick Lewis at UFC Wichita. His last loss came against former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in May 2017.

Ngannou (13-3) is coming off first-round stoppages over Curtis Blaydes and former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. The 32-year-old has amassed an 8-2 record in the UFC.

The winner of the matchup in Minneapolis is expected to earn a heavyweight title shot. The current heavyweight king, Daniel Cormier, is scheduled to defend his title against Miocic in a rematch at UFC 241 on Aug. 17. in Anaheim, Calif.

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