The UFC returns to the Meta APEX and has the troublesome job of repeating final weekend’s beautiful combat evening in Seattle.
This explicit occasion doesn’t characteristic as many recognisable names as earlier combat playing cards, however some shocks and surprises may very well be in retailer.
The primary occasion sees two combined martial artists from American High Group go head-to-head as light-weight contender Renato Moicano takes on prospect Chris Duncan.
Here’s what it is advisable to know in regards to the headliner, in addition to three different bouts you don’t need to miss.
Brazilian has his sights on redemption
Moicano had a weird 2025 to say the least, simply not getting outcomes his means, particularly with his unanimous determination loss in opposition to Beneil Dariush, which began with him successful the primary spherical after a terrific knockdown.
The 36-year-old is on back-to-back defeats as previous to his UFC 317 bout, ‘Cash’ stepped in on at some point’s discover to problem Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound title, shedding by first-round submission at UFC 311.
In each light-weight and featherweight, the Brazilian has confronted among the hardest within the enterprise, together with Jose Aldo, Brian Ortega and Rafael Dos Anjos.
The submission specialist doesn’t cease competing in opposition to troublesome competitors as his upcoming opponent is a powerful, well-balanced fighter.
Earlier than his slight downfall, the Brasília-born combined martial artist earned his first two knockout wins, leaving the MMA neighborhood in disbelief.
Moicano was concerned in an unimaginable comeback victory at UFC 300, defeating Jalin Turner by second-round TKO, earlier than claiming one other second-round TKO (Physician’s Stoppage) win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris.
The submission recreation is the place the #10 contender is most harmful, incomes 10 victories by choking or tapping out his opponents.
A return to the win column is what Moicano will likely be aiming for, not permitting himself to increase his shedding streak whereas staying within the light-weight high 15.
Duncan plans to enter the light-weight rankings
From a Brazilian veteran to a Scottish prospect, Duncan has been on a roll in his final 4 contests, particularly in his most up-to-date bout, the place he submitted Terrance McKinney at UFC 323 in a one-round slugfest.
The 32-year-old’s combating fashion was proven to be fan-friendly when he final appeared at APEX, incomes a Struggle of the Night time bonus at UFC Vegas 108 after beating Mateusz Rebecki by unanimous determination.
In contrast to his teammate, ‘The Drawback’ needed to enter the UFC by means of Dana White’s Contender Sequence (DWCS), making an attempt twice and succeeding on the second attempt.
Together with his four-fight win streak within the 155-pound division, it solely looks like the best time for the Scotsman to get his shot within the high 15.
Since his redemption in opposition to Manuel Torres, Duncan has regarded like a totally completely different breed, particularly when claiming three submission triumphs in his final 4 wins.
The Alloa-born fighter began his constructive run by tapping out Bolaji Oki at UFC Paris in 2024, earlier than submitting Jordan Vucenic at UFC London six months later.
With 15 whole wins on his MMA file, the unranked light-weight has 4 submissions and has captured seven KO/TKO wins.
This contest would be the greatest of Duncan’s profession as he has the chance to shoot straight up into #10 within the light-weight rankings.
Three fights to maintain your eyes on at UFC Vegas 115
Virna Jandiroba vs Tabatha Ricci
It’s a Brazilian showdown between two ladies’s strawweight contenders, hoping to make a press release to position themselves within the title dialog.
Jandiroba got here up quick in her final combat for the vacant title, shedding by unanimous determination to the newly topped champion Mackenzie Dern at UFC 321.
Ricci returned to successful methods at UFC Abu Dhabi after stopping Amanda Ribas by second-round TKO, transferring as much as #6 within the 115-pound rankings.
‘Carcara’ desires to bounce again to get her second likelihood for UFC gold, however ‘Child Shark’ desires the identical alternative to proceed her rise within the high 15.
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs Brendson Ribeiro
A lightweight heavyweight battle that’s extremely unlikely to see the judges’ scorecards, as an undefeated prospect faces a Brazilian in search of redemption.
Yakhyaev made very fast work on his debut, submitting Rafael Cerqueira in simply 33 seconds of the primary spherical at UFC Qatar, the sixth first-round end of his profession.
Ribeiro is at present on back-to-back first-round TKO defeats in his hope to bounce again, shedding to Oumar Sy at UFC Paris and undefeated contender Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 316.
Bot wild warriors have victoriously gone the gap as soon as of their careers and purpose to impress the matchmakers for a higher-ranked opponent of their subsequent contest.
Ethyn Ewing vs Rafael Estevam
Two combined martial artists put their mighty successful streaks on the road at UFC Vegas 115 as a future bantamweight contender may very well be determined.
Ewing made his debut on quick discover and captured an enormous, unanimous determination upset win in opposition to hyped prospect Malcolm Wellmaker at UFC 322, hoping to knock off one other fighter’s undefeated file.
Estevam makes his 135-pound debut in his fourth look within the Meta APEX, successful his final battle in a Catchweight bout of 130lbs in opposition to Felipe Bunes by unanimous determination.
Each fighters are ideally trying to put the division on discover and present that they’re the subsequent promising showstopper within the UFC.
