Gilbert Yvel to face Pat Barry at UFC 115

By Brett Okamoto

Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 | 12:11 p.m.

Las Vegas-based heavyweight Gilbert Yvel (36-14-1) is close to signing a contract to fight Pat Barry (5-1) at UFC 115 in Vancouver in June.

Sources close to both camps told the Las Vegas Sun the two sides have agreed to the fight and should sign bout agreements soon.

Yvel, who lives and trains in Las Vegas, is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Junior Dos Santos at UFC 108. The loss was the 33-year-old fighter's UFC debut.

In an interview with the Sun last week, Yvel said that he was disappointed with his performance in that last fight and that nerves may have played a part.

"I was not really myself," Yvel said. "I was like in a dream. It was just bad for me. It was my first time in the UFC and you want to show what you can do. If you lose, they can cancel your contract. It's a lot of pressure."

Barry will look to follow up an emotional second-round TKO win he recorded over Antoni Hardonk at UFC 104 in October.

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected]. Also follow him on twitter: LVSunFighting.