MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to the upcoming cards.
With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.
In recent days, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:
- Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk – UFC Abu Dhabi (August 3)
- Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng – UFC 306/Noche UFC (September 14)
- Kevin Jousset vs. Bryan Battle – UFC Paris (September 28)
- Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling – UFC 307 (October 5)
A number of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:
- Angela Hill vs. Tabatha Ricci – UFC Vegas 96 (August 24)
- Wang Cong vs. Victoria Leonardo – UFC Vegas 96 (August 24)
- Andre Petroski vs. Dylan Budka – UFC Vegas 97 (September 7)
- Gabriel Santos vs. Yizha – UFC Vegas 97 (September 7)
- Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes – UFC 306/Noche UFC (September 14)
- Ion Cuțelaba vs. Ivan Erslan – UFC Paris (September 28)
- Chidi Njokuani vs. Jared Gooden – UFC Event TBA (October 12)
- Niko Price vs. Themba Gorimbo – UFC Event TBA (October 12)
- Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia – UFC Event TBA (October 12)
But it wasn’t all positive, with three fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:
- Ramon Taveras (OUT, Jake Hadley IN) vs. Caolán Loughran – UFC 304 (July 27)
- Ravena Oliveira (OUT, Alice Ardelean IN) vs. Shauna Bannon – UFC 304 (July 27)
- Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz – UFC Abu Dhabi (August 3)
And for more detailed information on one newly booked fight that may have flown under your radar between July 15 and July 21, scroll down and check out this week’s UFC Matchmaking Bulletin spotlighted fight.
Cody Garbandt vs. Miles Johns – UFC Event TBA (October 12)
Having had his planned surge back toward the bantamweight title picture stalled this year, former champion Cody Garbrandt will look to bounce back this fall.
Garbrandt (14-6) endured a rough patch following his title crowning as an undefeated fighter back in 2016. He subsequently lost five of his next six fights, with his sole victory coming in the form of a violent knockout of Raphael Assunção. After that preceded a loss to Rob Font, “No Love” made an ill-advised and unsuccessful drop to flyweight before returning to 135 pounds and winning form in 2023 with his first run of victories since losing the belt to TJ Dillashaw.
Having been unable to continue the momentum from triumphs over Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher when he shared the cage with Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300 this past April, Garbrandt will be back fighting those outside the divisional rankings when he throws down with Miles Johns (15-2, 1 NC) on October 12. “Chapo” is unbeaten across his last four fights, most recently outpointing Douglas Silva de Andrade at the Apex in June.
This bantamweight bout was first reported by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff.
