MACAU, CHINA – NOVEMBER 22: (L-R) Petr Yan of Russia and Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil face off … [+] in the course of the UFC Combat Evening weigh-in at Andaz Macau on November 22, 2024 in Macau, China. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
If you happen to’re sleeping on the UFC Macau card, you shouldn’t be. If you happen to’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 take a look at the total card.
Important Card – 6 a.m. ET – ESPN+:
- Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
- Xiaonan Yan vs. Tabatha Ricci
- Ozzy Diaz vs. Mingyang Zhang
- Kenan Track 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 principle 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 combat.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 09: Track Yadong of China and Petr Yan of Russia combat throughout their … [+] bantamweight bout at UFC 299 at Kaseya Heart on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Picture by Megan Briggs/Getty Photographs)
Yan is coming off a unanimous choice victory over Track 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 combat in the course of the UFC Combat Evening occasion at Etihad Area on August 03, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Picture by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photographs)
In December 2023, Figueiredo defeated Rob Font by way of unanimous choice. He submitted former champion Cody Garbrandt within the second spherical in April. Most not too long ago, Figueiredo defeated Marlon Vera in August.
Their combat might be a extremely tactical battle or a battle between two of the extra revered veterans within the UFC.
The co-main occasion could have comparable 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 trying to break a development that has seen her alternate two-fight shedding skids with quick win streaks.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 13: (L-R) Yan Xiaonan of China punches Zhang Weili of China within the UFC … [+] strawweight championship combat in the course of the UFC 300 occasion at T-Cellular Area on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photographs)
The 35-year-old earned a title shot towards Weili Zhang however misplaced to her countrywoman by way of unanimous choice. Yan’s sturdiness and placing talent have saved her among the many elite within the strawweight division regardless of robust losses to top-ranked opponents and the champion, Weili. Yan would like to get one other shot down the highway.
Nevertheless, Ricci has different plans.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 24: (L-R) Tabatha Ricci of Brazil punches Angela Hill in a strawweight … [+] combat in the course of the UFC Combat Evening occasion at UFC APEX on August 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The 29-year-old Brazilian has been practically flawless since transferring right down to strawweight, the place her solely loss is a split-decision defeat towards 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 speedy rise has been attributed to her distinctive grappling and improved placing, making her one of many division’s most enjoyable prospects. The subsequent step in her maturation might be a capability to complete fights.
Thus far, Ricci has been a choice 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.
