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Covington, Lawler agree to headline UFC Fight Night on Aug. 3

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC / UFC / Getty

Colby Covington and Robbie Lawler have verbally agreed to headline UFC Fight Night on Aug. 3 in Newark, N.J., UFC president Dana White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Monday.

Covington (14-1) will make his return to the Octagon for the first time since capturing the interim UFC welterweight championship last year. He was later stripped of the belt due to inactivity after not defending it and fighting just three times since the end of 2016.

The controversial fighter was reportedly informed in March that he'll be given the first title shot against new welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but Usman fractured his foot prior to defeating Tyron Woodley at UFC 235.

In a statement, Usman said he "should be ready to go by November," according to Okamoto.

Meanwhile, Lawler (28-13, 1 NC) is coming off a loss to UFC newcomer Ben Askren at UFC 235. He was scheduled to take on Woodley on June 29, but the former champion pulled out of the fight due to a hand injury.

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