Duke to face Phillips in Chicago at UFC Fight Night

Jessamyn Duke has been wanting to get back inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s octagon for quite some time.

Now, the wait is over and a date is at hand, as Duke will clash with Elizabeth Phillips on July 25 in a women’s bantamweight (135 pounds) bout at UFC Fight Night in Chicago, as confirmed Thursday afternoon by UFC officials.

Duke (3-2), a training partner of UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and fellow Four Horsewomen Shayna Baszler and Marina Shafir, is looking to snap a two-fight losing skid against Phillips (4-3).

Duke last fought in July of last year, losing via first-round technical knockout to Leslie Smith. Duke incurred a badly broken hand in the fight, but has, reportedly, been healed and looking for a fight.

Phillips is likewise riding a two-fight losing streak, with defeats against Valerie Letourneau and, in her latest bout, against Milana Dudieva in August of 2014. Both losses were via decision.

Duke broke into the UFC with a unanimous decision win over Peggy Morgan in November of 2013 as part of the The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. Duke was part of Team Rousey and, along with Baszler, began training with Rousey and Shafir at Glendale Fighting Club. However, now, Duke and Baszler’s chief camp is under Josh Barnett at Combat Submission Wrestling.

The UFC on FOX 16 card will be headlined by a men’s bantamweight title rematch between champion TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao and also feature another pivotal women’s bantamweight clash between Miesha Tate and Jessica Eye.