Report: Garbrandt vs. Assuncao targeted for UFC Columbus

Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is expected to return against Raphael Assuncao at UFC Columbus on March 28, multiple sources told ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

Contracts have yet to been signed but both fighters have reportedly agreed to the matchup.

Garbrandt, an Ohio native, is coming off three straight knockout losses. Most recently, he fell to Pedro Munhoz at UFC 235 in March.

"No Love" won the bantamweight title in December 2016 with a lopsided victory over Dominick Cruz, but he dropped it in his next fight against TJ Dillashaw. Garbrandt also lost a rematch to Dillashaw in 2018.

Assuncao, one of the most prominent bantamweights who's never gotten a shot at UFC gold, is coming off back-to-back losses to Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Moraes. The Brazilian's last win came against Rob Font in July 2018.

UFC Columbus will take place at Nationwide Arena and be headlined by a pivotal heavyweight bout between Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.