Report: Junior dos Santos to return from ban vs. Ivanov at UFC Boise

For the first time since losing his shot at the heavyweight title, Junior dos Santos will be back in the Octagon in July.

The former titleholder, who served a reduced six-month suspension from the USADA, will face former World Series of Fighting champion Blagoy Ivanov in the main event of UFC Boise on July 14, reports ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

Dos Santos (18-5) was flagged by the USADA last August for a banned substance after providing the testers with the legal supplements he had been taking. He accepted the reduced suspension in April after the time had already been served and now returns to face Ivanov in the Bulgarian's UFC debut.

The 34-year-old Brazilian last fought in May 2017, losing the UFC 211 main event to heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic by first-round knockout. Dos Santos previously held the strap from November 2011 to December 2012, when he lost via decision to Cain Velasquez.

Ivanov (16-1) will make his UFC debut on a five-fight winning streak coming over from the Professional Fighters League (previously the World Series of Fighting). The 31-year-old won the WSOF heavyweight title in June 2015, successfully defending it four times before jumping promotions.