Markus Perez vs. Eric Spicely targeted for UFC event on Aug. 1

Markus Perez (pictured) faces Tristar Gym's Eric Spicely in a middleweight bout in August. | Guilherme Cruz, MMA Fighting

The UFC is starting to build cards for August, and the first bout is in the works for the first day of the month, as Markus Perez and Eric Spicely agree to meet in a middleweight clash, multiple sources told MMA Fighting.

It’s still unclear where the event will take place or if it will air on pay-per-view, ESPN or ESPN+.

Perez (12-3) won the LFA middleweight title with a first-round victory over Ian Heinisch before signing with the UFC in 2017, but has bounced between wins and losses since then.

“Maluko” is 2-3 in the octagon with both of his wins coming by way of submission. In his latest appearance, the American Top Team product lost a decision to Wellington Turman in Brazil.

Spicely (12-5) was scheduled to face Roman Kopylov in March, but the event got cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Zebrinha” scored big wins in his first UFC run, submitting Thiago Santos and Alessio Di Chirico, but was let go after three straight losses.

The Tristar Gym talent made his way back to the company with two consecutive first-round finishes at CES in the first quarter of 2019, but lost a decision to Deron Winn in June 2019.