John Makdessi Meets Renee Forte in Lightweight Showdown at UFC 165

---

Canadian striking specialist John Makdessi will square off with Brazilian prospect Renee Forte at UFC 165.

The Sept. 21 event takes place at Air Canada Centre in Toronto and is headlined by a light heavyweight title confrontation between reigning champion Jon Jones and once-beaten challenger Alexander Gustafsson. The evening’s pay-per-view card will also see Renan Barao defend his interim bantamweight championship against onetime World Extreme Cagefighting ruler Eddie Wineland.

Makdessi, 28, rides a two-fight winning streak into his confrontation with Forte. The Canadian taekwondo stylist last competed on March 16, when he outpointed Daron Cruickshank at UFC 158. “The Bull” was expected to return to the Octagon on July 6 at UFC 162, but he was forced to withdraw from his planned meeting with Edson Barboza due to injury.

Forte, meanwhile, made a successful lightweight debut this past February, when he outpointed English talent Terry Etim at UFC on Fuel TV 7. The triumph marked Forte’s first Octagon win, as the Brazilian was submitted by countryman Sergio Moraes in a welterweight bout last October at UFC 153.