UFC
Robert Drysdale reportedly to make UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale this July
Jun 5, 2014 - 2:15:51 PM Robert Drysdale reportedly to make UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale this July

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Jiu jitsu ace Robert Drysdale is once again scheduled for a debut fight in the UFC, after injuries and a failed drug test in 2013 kept him out of action.

According to a report from Tatame.com, Drysdale will fight Keith Berish at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in Las Vegas on July 6.

Drysdale's most recently scheduled fight was supposed to come at UFC 167 last November, but he tested positive for elevated testosterone and was handed down a suspension. Now he'll fight for the first time since April of last year, where he submitted D.J. Linderman at a Legacy FC event.

The 33-year-old is 6-0 as a professional fighter, but has a long and decorated career in jiu jitsu and submission grappling competitions.

Berish makes his own UFC debut, moving up a weight class to light heavyweight after having competed at middleweight. He's 5-0 overall in his young MMA career.

The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale is the second of two UFC events in Las Vegas on 4th of July weekend, capping off the UFC's International Fight Week. The event is headlined by the featherweight bout between Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn, and will air live on Fox Sports 1.

Penick's Analysis: Drysdale's debut has been anticipated over the last year, though dulled by the failed drug test in November. That was highly unfortunate and disappointing, but he's getting a second chance to make an impression here. He's a very good submission fighter, and though he may be decidedly one-note in his skill-set, he's so good in that area it can make up for it more often than not.