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Johnny Eduardo cleared to fight 20 months after last UFC bout, hopes for April return

The veteran fighter, who hasn’t competed since a submission defeat to bantamweight prospect Nathaniel Wood in June 2018, recently received medical clearance to resume training and book his next bout in the UFC.

Speaking with MMA Fighting this week, Eduardo said he was originally expected to compete in a Las Vegas card in early 2019, but the matchup was never even announced by the company since he fractured a finger in three parts and had to pull out. His doctor advised against surgery, and Eduardo was forced to stay away from training for six months.

Eduardo expected his hand to heal sooner, but “I couldn’t fully close my fist despite not feeling any pain,” he said.