Latest news with #TheUltimateFighter32
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 256 adds Melquizael Costa vs. Julian Erosa, Sodiq Yusuff vs. Mairon Santos
UFC Fight Night 256 adds Melquizael Costa vs. Julian Erosa, Sodiq Yusuff vs. Mairon Santos The UFC Fight Night 256 lineup on May 17 continues to fill out with the addition of two notable matchups. Melquizael Costa will take on Julian Erosa in a featherweight matchup, while Sodiq Yusuff and "The Ultimate Fighter 32" winner Mairon Santos clash in a lightweight contest at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+). Two people with knowledge of the bookings told MMA Junkie of the matchups on Wednesday following initial reports from MMA Fighting and AG Fight. The people requested anonymity because UFC hasn't officially announced either matchup. Costa (23-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC) will make his third appearance of 2025 after picking up a decision over Christian Rodriguez in March and a submission of Andre Fili in February. Erosa (31-11 MMA, 9-7 UFC) will attempt to halt that momentum and extend his own after picking up three straight wins, all by finish, with the latest being a first-round TKO of Darren Elkins at UFC 314 this month. Yusuff (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) returns to action for the first time since a knockout loss to Diego Lopes at UFC 300. Due to the short-notice nature of the booking, his matchup against Santos (15-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who is coming off a controversial split decision over Francis Marshall at UFC 313 in March, will be contested at 155 pounds. The latest UFC Fight Night 256 lineup now includes:
USA Today
05-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Azamat Bekoev vs. Ryan Loder heads to UFC Des Moines
Two rising middleweight prospects will collide hoping to further momentum from successful UFC debuts. Former LFA champion Azamat Bekoev (19-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will meet 'The Ultimate Fighter 32' winner Ryan Loder (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a three-round middleweight bout May 3 at a UFC Fight Night event expected to take place in Des Moines, Iowa. Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the matchup Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Bekoev, 29, had an explosive promotional debut in January when he knocked out Zach Reese in the first round at UFC 311, in a fight he took on days' notice. The win extended Bekoev's winning streak to seven, a stretch that also included an LFA title win and two defenses. Loder, 33, won the 'TUF 32' middleweight tournament with a TKO of Robert Valentin in the final, after exhibition wins over Tom Theocharis and Omran Chaaban. With the addition, the UFC Des Moines lineup includes:
