Report: Kowalkiewicz expected to face Herrig at UFC 223 in Brooklyn

by
Per Haljestam / USA TODAY Sports

A clash of top 10 strawweights might be headed to Brooklyn.

Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Felice Herrig are expected to square off at UFC 223 on April 7 at Barclays Center, according to Monday reports from MMAWeekly and MMANytt.

After failing to dethrone then-champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and tapping to fellow contender Claudia Gadelha at UFC 205 and 212, respectively, the fourth-ranked Kowalkiewicz rebounded from her first career losing streak with a lopsided decision over the debuting Jodie Esquibel at UFC Fight Night 118 in her native Poland this past October. She'd been attached to a February date with Jessica Andrade, but an illness reportedly kept her from signing on the dotted line.

The ninth-seeded Herrig has mounted a four-fight winning streak since returning from a 15-month hiatus in the summer of 2016, besting Kailin Curran, Alexa Grasso, Justine Kish, and Cortney Casey - the latter victory coming via split decision at UFC 218 last month.

A main event has not yet been attached to the promotion's second trip to Brooklyn, nor has the UFC formally announced the card.

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