The UFC is going to make a big splash with the first event in mainland China.
Former middleweight champion Anderson Silva is expected to make his return to action against Kelvin Gastelum in the main event taking place on Nov. 25 in Shaghai, China.
Sources close to the contest confirmed the news to FloCombat on Thursday.
Silva (34-8, 1 NC) will make his return to action for the first time since February when he won a very close decision against fellow middleweight contender Derek Brunson.
That fight served as Silva's first win in nearly five years as the longest reigning middleweight champion in UFC history dealt with several tough losses as well as a broken leg suffered in his rematch with Chris Weidman in 2013.
Silva will now travel to China for the upcoming card in November where he will finally get the chance to face Gastelum inside the Octagon.
Photo Credit: © Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
The two middleweights were originally scheduled to meet in June after Gastelum tore through Vitor Belfort earlier this year, but his victory was overturned after he tested positive for marijuana after the fight.
Gastelum (13-3, 1 NC) was temporarily suspended, which forced him out of the fight with Silva, but now he'll get the chance to face the former champion in November instead.
Gastelum has gone 3-1 with one no contest while competing at the 185-pound mark including a pair of knockouts against Tim Kennedy and Nate Marquardt.
The bout between Gastelum and Silva is the first confirmed matchup for the card in China with the UFC expected to add more fights in the coming weeks.