A bantamweight banger headlines the UFC’s return to China in Macau.
The last time the Octagon touched down in China in August 2019, history was made as Zhang Weili became the country’s first champion. As for the most recent visit to Macau? It’s been a full decade — not since Michael Bisping pitched a perfect performance against Cung Le in August 2014. Former UFC champions Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo hope to replicate similar main event magic on Saturday.
A win for Figueiredo could be enough to get him a title shot next whether or not he’ll have to wait behind Merab Dvalishvili’s first title defense. For Yan, a stronger case might be needed to rematch the champion but a Figueiredo notch on his belt would be a nice one, making him the first to beat “Deus Da Guerra” at 135 pounds.
Strawweights occupy the spotlight in the co-main event when China’s Yan Xiaonan hopes to rebound from her title loss to Zhang at UFC 300 in April. Standing in her way will be Brazil’s “Baby Shark” Tabatha Ricci, who can launch into immediate title contention with an upset win on enemy soil.
The rest of the card features plenty to like for the Chinese fanbase. Let’s break it down.
Betting odds courtesy of BetMGM.
135 pounds: Petr Yan (-300) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (+240)
I did a double-take looking at the odds for this matchup.
Yan’s incredible blend of boxing and offensive grappling is as fearsome as anyone’s in MMA, particularly the longer a fight goes. That’s the presumable big factor here in strong betting favoritism for the Russian. Figueiredo, a former two-time flyweight champion, hasn’t been tested in main event rounds at bantamweight. However, his current three-fight winning streak has suggested he’s well capable of hanging with any 135-pound fighter on Earth.
Durability is a strength of Yan’s behind his offensive skillset, having never been finished in his 22-fight career (17-5). That’s an important advantage against Figueiredo, who still holds power up in weight, albeit not to the same effect. Stylistically, a finish in the first three rounds is Figueiredo’s best hope because a terminator-like Yan will charge him down in the final minutes and show, ahem, “No Mercy.”
Action is guaranteed, and Figueiredo (24-3-1) has to get in the fire to burn his seasoned counterpart. Yan will survive and overcome the war late, but the odds gap should certainly be tighter.
Pick: Yan
115 pounds: Yan Xiaonan (-200) vs. Tabatha Ricci (+165)
Ricci has her work cut out for her on Saturday night.
What is a massive opportunity is also a horrific matchup for the 29-year-old contender. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Ricci’s best on the ground when she takes her opponents into deep water to drown them with a submission-heavy attack. Her striking has gradually progressed and she’s always been sufficient in chaining takedowns at the end of strikes. Unfortunately for Ricci, Yan has seen this song and dance multiple times against better competition.
If Yan had a near-impenetrable takedown defense, she would likely be the world champion. Wrestling has been her kryptonite throughout 23 bouts (18-4, 1 NC), notably when losing to former champion Carla Esparza and the current queenpin Zhang. Despite those two setbacks, Yan survived and defended submissions beyond expectation. She displayed that to the highest of her abilities when defeating world-class jiu-jitsu wizard Mackenzie Dern by majority decision in December 2022.
Yan has effectively fought better versions of Ricci in her last five fights and will have a striking advantage in every aspect. She’ll chip away with her patented distance kicks and counter Ricci like a matador on her way into the pocket.
Pick: Yan
170 pounds: Song Kenan (+150) vs. Muslim Salikhov (-185)
“The King of Kung Fu” returns to his adopted home.
Muslim Salikhov has admittedly gotten long in the tooth at age 40. Regardless, he’s still performing at a solid enough level to get past a more chaotic brawler like Song Kenan. A multiple-time Wushu Sanda world champion, Salikhov’s wide range of attacks will give Song fits should he keep the fight “clean.”
Song, 34, is always game to put on a show and Salikhov may be more inclined to oblige back in China. We’ve just seen Song chin-checked too often — whether by KO loss or knockdown — to be trustworthy.
Pick: Salikhov
125 pounds: Wang Cong (-900) vs. Gabriella Fernandes (+600)
We don’t need to say much about what’s going on here with Wang Cong.
The talented kickboxer made a memorable UFC debut this past August, knocking out Victoria Leonardo with a stellar 62-second combination. Fernandes is a fellow prospect, but there are levels to this game as she enters off her first UFC win over Carli Judice by split decision after two consecutive losses (9-3) to Jasmine Jasudavicius and Tereza Bleda.
This is set up as a showcase fight for Wang in a home game. She’s fighting backward after an expected stellar Leonardo finish. At 32, the undefeated 6-0 Wang will style on Fernandes, thwarting any takedown attempts — or find a submission — if they come her way.
Pick: Wang
205 pounds: Volkan Oezdemir (+185) vs. Carlos Ulberg (-225)
Is Volkan Oezdemir’s time up?
Switzerland’s MMA Superman is a hard case to crack. It’s been six years since Oezdemir challenged for UFC gold, falling short to the all-time great Daniel Cormier. Results have been dead even in the record department as Oezdemir is 5-5 since (20-7 overall). Heading into his Carlos Ulberg clash, he’s even scored back-to-back finishes, submitting Bogdan Guskov before knocking out Johnny Walker. The guy is still dangerous but hasn’t quite shown evidence he’s a legitimate title threat like he once appeared to be.
In Ulberg, you have an equally dangerous knockout artist riding a six-fight winning streak (10-1) overall and seemingly putting it all together. The man just eliminated poor Alonzo Menifield in 12 seconds his last time out this past May.
Ulberg, 34, was set for a big Khalil Rountree Jr. matchup this past summer until injuries struck. He’ll get his moment to shine and take that next step up the light heavyweight ladder in Macau. This fight will be wild for as long as it lasts. Speed and durability will be the Kiwi’s best friend in this 205-pound car crash.
Pick: Ulberg
205 pounds: Zhang Mingyang (-350) vs. Ozzy Diaz (+260)
Zhang Mingyang is a bad dude.
A highlight of the Road to UFC tournament, Zhang has been sleeping dudes left and right en route to a shot in the UFC. Meanwhile, Ozzy Diaz worked through Bellator before a pitstop setback to Joe Pyfer on Contender Series that led him to LFA and a shot in the Octagon. These are two highly dangerous gentlemen without a single decision victory combined. It’s going to be a short night to open the main card.
Ultimately, Zhang is a heavy-handed hitter who lands punches from sneaky angles. Every shot holds the nastiest intentions and Diaz has proven hittable in arguably worse positions. Recent results are probably why oddsmakers have Zhang as a solid favorite. There’s also the experience edge to the Fuyang, Anhui native. I have him getting it done, but this is a coin flip.
Pick: Zhang
Preliminary notes
Feng Xiacan vs. Shi Ming is the highlight for me as someone who’s followed both for a while. Shi, in particular, was a fighter stuck between atomweight and strawweight when deciding how to progress her career years ago. With UFC as Shi’s ultimate goal, it somewhat forced her to choose 115, but she’s made it work to go 11-1 in the division (16-5 overall). On the other hand, Feng (10-2) is a 22-year-old super prospect with multiple wins over talented wrestling standout and former Deep Jewels strawweight champion Miki Motono.
Shi can pull off an upset if she makes the fight ugly and out-grapples Feng. That will be easier said than done considering what we’ve seen between Feng and Motono.
Quick picks:
Baergeng Jieleyisi (+135) def. You Su-young (-165)
Choi Dong-hun (-105) def. Kiru Singh Sahota (-115)
Feng Xiaocan (-400) def. Shi Ming (+300)
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (+150) def. Carlos Hernandez (-185)
Lone’er Kavanagh (-350) def. Jose Ochoa (+275)
Quang Le (+120) def. Xiao Long (-145)
Maheshate Hayisaer (-200) def. Nikolas Motta (+165)
