Scoggins-Ngyuen, Smith-Nakai Booked for UFC Fight Night in Brisbane

A flyweight bout between Justin Scoggins and Ben Nguyen and a bantamweight showdown pitting Leslie Smith against Rin Nakai have been added to UFC Fight Night Brisbane on March 20.

Promotion officials announced the pairings on Wednesday evening. UFC Fight Night takes place at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia, and is headlined by a heavyweight bout between Mark Hunt and Frank Mir. The event airs on Fox Sports 1 in the United States.

Scoggins made a statement in his last outing, taking a dominant three-round verdict over fellow prospect Ray Borg at UFC Fight Night “Hendricks vs. Thompson.” The 23-year-old is 4-2 in the UFC overall, with his losses coming against John Moraga and Dustin Ortiz.

Nguyen has been impressive in two Octagon appearances Down Under, knocking out Alptekin Ozkilic in the first round in his debut last May before submitting Ryan Benoit with a guillotine choke in the opening stanza at UFC 193 in November. The Integrated MMA product has won eight straight fights overall.

Smith hasn’t competed since suffering a gruesome ear injury that led to a doctor stoppage against Jessica Eye at UFC 180 in November 2014. The Invicta FC veteran is 1-2 in the UFC, with her lone triumph coming against Jessamyn Duke at UFC Fight NIght “Cerrone vs. Miller.”

Meanwhile, Nakai tasted defeat for the first time in 18 professional outings against Miesha Tate at UFC Fight Night in Japan in September 2014, as she fell to the former Strikeforce queen via unanimous decision. The Pancrase veteran has not fought since that defeat.