by Fights on Tap is a weekly overview of all booked fights in the UFC, Bellator and other promotions.
2022 is almost over, but we still have a few events to watch before the year is out. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what lies ahead in the upcoming schedule.
The UFC has announced or finalized 10 fights this week, with a welterweight clash in Brazil next week.
Neil Magny got who he wanted. After his third round D’Arce choke from Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 64, the ‘Haitian Sensation’ used his time on the mic to ask about Gilbert Burns. In response, ‘Durinho’ wrote that he already had an opponent, but if the unnamed fighter fell through, he would ‘100 percent’ share the Octagon with Magny.
Well, the unnamed fighter (who Burns believed was Jorge Masvidal) fell through and Burns kept his promise to fight Magny. The fight has been added to UFC 283, the upcoming pay-per-view event scheduled for January 21 in Brazil. Burns hasn’t fought since losing to Khamzat Chimaev in a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender at UFC 273 last April.
On the Bellator front, a unification of the welterweight titles between Yaroslav Amosov and Logan Storley is expected to lead the promotion’s return to Dublin next year.
UFC Orlando – December 3
Jack Hermanson vs. Roman Dolidze – middleweight
First Representative. by means of ESPN’s Brett Okamoto
UFC 282 – December 10
Ovince Saint Preux vs. Antonio Trocoli – light heavyweight
First Representative. by means of Saint Preux on his OnlyFans
UFC Fight Night – December 17
Drew Dober vs. Bobby Green – lightweight
First Representative. by means of ESPN and H/T Tom Feely of Sherdog
Amir Albazi vs. Alessandro Costa — Flyweight
First Representative. by means of Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes
UFC Fight Night – January 14
Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Raoni Barcelos – bantamweight
First Representative. by means of ESPN’s Brett Okamoto
UFC 283 – January 21
Gilbert Burns vs. Neil Magny – welterweight
First Representative. by means of ESPN’s Brett Okamoto
UFC Fight Night – February 18
William Knight vs. Marcin Prachnio – Light Heavyweight
Knight vs. Prachnio was already confirmed, but moved from UFC Vegas 65 to UFC on ESPN+ 77, per Nolan King of MMA Junkie
UFC Fight Night – February 25
Nikita Krylov v Ryan Spann — Light Heavyweight
First Representative. by means of Nolan King and Mike Bohn from MMA Junkie
UFC Fight Night – March 4
Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci – women’s straw weight
Penne vs. Ricci was already confirmed but rescheduled from UFC Vegas 61 to a TBA UFC event, per Nolan King of MMA Junkie
UFC Fight Night – March 11
Anthony Smith vs. Jamahal Hill – light heavyweight
First Representative. by means of MMA Island and date confirmed by Mike Heck and Damon Martin from MMA Fighting
Announced Bellator Fights:
Bellator 289 – December 9
Denise Kielholtz vs. Ilara Joanne – women’s flyweight
First Representative. by means of Mike Heck of MMA Fighting
Kyle Crutchmer vs. Jaleel Willis – Welterweight
Pat Downey vs. Christian Echols – Middleweight
Bellator Dublin — February 25
Yaroslav Amasov vs. Logan Storley – welterweight
Oliver Enkamp vs. Luca Poclit – Welterweight
Brian Moore vs. Luca Iovine – Bantamweight
Daniele Scatizzi vs Dmytrii Hrytsenko – Welterweight
Piotr Niedzielski vs. Richie Smullen — featherweight
Charlie Ward vs. Mike Shipman – Middleweight
Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Andy Manzolo – middleweight
Elina Kallionidou vs. Jena Bishop – women’s flyweight
Gokhan Saricam vs. Greg Popov — heavyweight
Announced Cage Warriors fights:
Cage Warriors 148 – Dec 31
Nik Bagley vs. Kallum Parker — featherweight
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Chuck Campbell – Light Heavyweight
Announced KSW Fights:
KSW 77 — December 17
Yann Liasse v Adrian Gralak — lightweight
Bogdan Gnidko vs. Mădălin Pîrvulescu – light heavyweight
