MMA UK

Late Addition to UFC Vegas 48 as David Onama meets Gabriel Benítez

Danny Jones 04/02/2022

UFC Vegas 48 gains a Featherweight bout as David Onama and Gabriel Benítez matchup February 19th, per Marcel Dorff. David ‘Silent Assassin’ Onama made his UFC debut October 23rd 2021, versus Wales’ Mason Jones at UFC Vegas 41. Stepping in as a short notice replacement for Alan Patrick on four days notice, Onama’s debut came just 15 days after winning the Fighting Alliance Championship Featherweight championship. Onama lost his promotional debut to Jones via unanimous decision, the first loss of his professional career; the UFCs first Ugandan, however, showed huge potential. The 27-year-old, fighting out of Kansas City, Missouri, holds an 8-1 professional record, with all eight victories by way of stoppage (5 KO/TKO, 3 submissions). Fighting out of Tijuana, Baja California, Gabriel ‘Moggly’ Benítez holds a professional record of 22-9. Making his promotional debut November 15th 2014 at UFC 180, the Mexican has amassed a promotional record of 6-5. The 33-year-old last fought July 17th 2021 at UFC Vegas 31, losing via third-round TKO to Billy Quarantillo.

Aussie Light Heavyweight Tyson Pedro Returns April 23rd versus Ike Villanueva

Danny Jones 27/01/2022

UFC Light Heavyweight Tyson Pedro returns to the octagon in a matchup with Ike Villanueva, April 23rd at UFC Fight Night 207. Marcel Dorff first reported the announcement; Ike Villanueva has since posted the matchup on his social media (Twitter). Fighting out of Gold Coast, Queensland, Tyson Pedro made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 101, November 26th 2016, securing a first round submission of Khalil Rountree. Holding a 3-3 promotional record, the 30-year-old last fought at UFC Fight Night 142, December 1st 2018, in a TKO loss to Mauricio Rua; Pedro sustained an ACL injury during the bout, resulting in the requirement for ACL surgery, and ultimately a lengthy recovery period. Pedro was originally scheduled to return to the octagon in February 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168, versus Vinicius Moreira; injury, however, forced Pedro to withdraw. Ike ‘Hurricane’ Villanueva, fighting out of Houston, Texas, made his promotional debut May 13th 2020 at UFC Fight Night 171, in a TKO loss to Chase Sherman. The 37-year-old holds a 1-4 promotional record, with a win against Vinicius Moreira at UFC Fight Island 8 his only UFC victory. Villanueva last fought October 23rd 2021 at UFC Vegas 41, in a TKO loss to Nicolae Negumereanu. With both Light Heavyweights entering UFC Fight Night 207 riding a two fight skid, both fighters will view this matchup as an opportunity to kickstart a return to winning ways.

Martin Buday to make UFC Debut April 16th, versus Chris Barnett

Danny Jones 21/01/2022

An exciting matchup between UFC Heavyweights Martin Buday and Chris Barnett is set for April 16th at UFC Fight Night 206, per Marcel Dorff. Making his promotional debut, 30-year-old Martin ‘Badys’ Buday enters UFC Fight Night 206 riding an eight fight win-streak, with all eight victories by way of stoppage. Fighting out of Trnava, Slovakia, Buday earned a deserved UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, October 12th 2021, following an impressive TKO stoppage of Lorenzo Hood. The stellar performance from the Slovakian earned high praise from Dana White, who said of Buday “[Hood] lit him up, hit him with some big shots… [Buday] took them, kept his composure, got in there, and literally dismantled that guy, piece by piece, from the legs, to the body, to the head shots he was hitting him with up against the fence… I like what I saw”. Fighting out of Tampa, Florida, Chris ‘Beastboy’ Barnett made his promotional debut at UFC Vegas 27, May 22nd 2021, against Ben Rothwell. Though the 35-year-old lost the bout via submission, Barnett bounced back with a ‘Performance of the Night’ earning TKO stoppage of Gian Villante at UFC 268. That sensational spinning wheel kick TKO, partnered to his high-energy walkout, and front-flip celebration, has seen Barnett become a fan favourite within just 2 UFC appearances. Barnett enters UFC Fight Night 206 holding a 22-7 professional record, and 1-1 promotional record.

Flyweights on Form: Matheus Nicolau meets David Dvořák March 26th

Danny Jones 16/01/2022

A matchup between UFC Flyweights Matheus Nicolau and David Dvořák has been added to UFC Columbus on March 26th, per Marcel Dorff. Matheus Nicolau, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, initially made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 77 in 2015; despite amassing a 3-1 UFC record, the Brazilian was released in 2018. Following victories at Future FC 5 and Brave CF 25 in 2019, Nicolau returned to the UFC at UFC Fight Night 187 in 2021, defeating Manel Kape via split decision; Nicolau later fought at UFC Vegas 39, securing victory over Tim Elliot via unanimous decision. The 29-year-old enters UFC Columbus riding a four fight win-streak. David ‘Undertaker’ Dvořák, fighting out of Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, made his promotional debut in 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170. With an impressive 3-0 UFC record, the 29-year-old holds victories over Bruno Silva (unanimous decision), Jordan Espinosa (unanimous decision), and Juancamilo Ronderos (submission). The Czech hasn’t tasted a professional defeat in almost 10 years, having last lost at GCF 12 – Cage Fight Brno in May of 2012. Dvořák enters UFC Columbus riding an incredible sixteen fight win-streak. Neither ranked Flyweight will want to lose momentum at UFC Columbus; don’t miss Nicolau vs Dvořák on March 26th.