Afrigather MACAU, CHINA – NOVEMBER 22: (L-R) Petr Yan of Russia and Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil face off … [+] throughout the UFC Combat Night time weigh-in at Andaz Macau on November 22, 2024 in Macau, China. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
In the event you’re sleeping on the UFC Macau card, you shouldn’t be. In the event you’ll be asleep when the occasion airs, that’s comprehensible.
The prelims start at 3 a.m. ET, and the primary card begins at 6 a.m. ET. Here’s a have a look at the complete card.
Foremost Card – 6 a.m. ET – ESPN+:
- Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
- Xiaonan Yan vs. Tabatha Ricci
- Ozzy Diaz vs. Mingyang Zhang
- Kenan Tune vs. Muslim Salikhov
- Cong Wang vs. Gabriella Fernandes
- Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg
Prelims – 3 a.m. ET – ESPN+:
- Carlos Hernandez vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
- Xiaocan Feng vs. Shi Ming
- Kiru Sahota vs. Dong Hoon Choi
- Su Younger You vs. Baergeng Jieleyisi
- Kangjie Zhu vs. Bin Xie
- Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa
- Lengthy Xiao vs. Quang Le
- Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Nikolas Motta
The cardboard marks the promotion’s first return to Macau since 2014, highlighting the group’s continued push into the Asian market.
The primary occasion options former bantamweight champion Petr Yan and former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo in a vital battle at 135 kilos. The matchup could lead on the winner to a title shot, or on the very least, a title eliminator battle.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 09: Tune Yadong of China and Petr Yan of Russia battle throughout their … [+] bantamweight bout at UFC 299 at Kaseya Heart on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photograph by Megan Briggs/Getty Photos)
Yan is coming off a unanimous choice victory over Tune Yadong in March. The win snapped a three-fight shedding streak, although two of the three losses got here by break up choice. Yan additionally simply re-signed with the UFC, setting him up for a possible second run on the title.
Figueiredo is undefeated since transferring up from flyweight to 135 kilos. Figueiredo’s transfer to bantamweight has been spectacular, as his performances have exceeded expectations regardless of going through bigger opponents.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – AUGUST 03: (L-R) Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil kicks Marlon Vera … [+] of Ecuador in a bantamweight battle throughout the UFC Combat Night time occasion at Etihad Area on August 03, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photograph by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photos)
In December 2023, Figueiredo defeated Rob Font through unanimous choice. He submitted former champion Cody Garbrandt within the second spherical in April. Most lately, Figueiredo defeated Marlon Vera in August.
Their battle could possibly be a extremely tactical battle or a warfare between two of the extra revered veterans within the UFC.
The co-main occasion can have related stakes.
Former title challenger and No. 2-ranked Xiaonan Yan will attempt to maintain her spot within the UFC girls’s strawweight rankings as she takes on the fast-rising No. 10-ranked Tabatha Ricci. Yan is seeking to break a pattern that has seen her alternate two-fight shedding skids with brief win streaks.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 13: (L-R) Yan Xiaonan of China punches Zhang Weili of China within the UFC … [+] strawweight championship battle throughout the UFC 300 occasion at T-Cell Area on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photos)
The 35-year-old earned a title shot in opposition to Weili Zhang however misplaced to her countrywoman through unanimous choice. Yan’s sturdiness and putting talent have saved her among the many elite within the strawweight division regardless of powerful losses to top-ranked opponents and the champion, Weili. Yan would like to get one other shot down the street.
Nonetheless, Ricci has different plans.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 24: (L-R) Tabatha Ricci of Brazil punches Angela Hill in a strawweight … [+] battle throughout the UFC Combat Night time occasion at UFC APEX on August 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The 29-year-old Brazilian has been almost flawless since transferring right down to strawweight, the place her solely loss is a split-decision defeat in opposition to Lupita Godinez in November 2023. A victory over Yan would vault Ricci into the High 5 and doubtlessly make her subsequent in line for a shot at Weili or whomever has the 115-pound title close to the center of 2025.
Ricci’s fast rise has been attributed to her distinctive grappling and improved putting, making her one of many division’s most enjoyable prospects. The following step in her maturation could possibly be a capability to complete fights.
To date, Ricci has been a call machine with one win by end in her nine-fight UFC profession. May Saturday be the day for her second win by stoppage?
We’ll see. Be looking out for extra protection main as much as UFC Macau.
