After two full years of little to no activity within the waters of the UFC’s women’s 145-pound weight class, things are finally starting to happen, as fighters are being signed and fights are being made. And at UFC Stockholm, two newcomers will square off as Bea Malecki fights Duda Santana.
The women’s featherweight division in the UFC has been quite the anomaly throughout its existence to this point. It’s had three different champions crowned with less than 10 total fights having taken place. But to keep marching forward in 2019, that looks to be slowly changing.
With the recent addition of Invicta FC featherweight champion, Felicia Spencer, atop the list of new signings, things are looking up for the women at 145lbs. Spencer just recently had her promotional debut revealed; it will come against her fellow top contender and former champion, Megan Anderson. The two will meet at UFC Rochester on May 18. Just two weeks later, however, two more natural 145-pounders will enter the Octagon.
Combate has confirmed that at UFC Stockholm on June 1, The Ultimate Fighter season 28 contestant, Sweden’s own, Bea Malecki (2-0) will take on Brazil’s “Cowboyzinha” Duda Santana (3-0).
For both fighters, it will be their first fights since 2017 where they were seen capturing wins. Malecki’s came via 22-second knockout while Santana earned a unanimous decision.
As a cast member on TUF 28 this past year, Malecki did fight Leah Letson in a valiant but ultimately losing effort that saw her do plenty of damage in all striking exchanges only for Letson’s grappling prowess to get the nod from the judges over the course of two rounds.
The UFC’s big return to Sweden is still shaping up but what’s in store as of right now looks pretty good. Check out the card as it currently stands below.
- Light heavyweight – 205lbs: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Smith
- Light heavyweight: Volkan Oezdemir vs Ilir Latifi
- Light heavyweight: Jimi Manuwa vs Aleksandar Rakic
- Lightweight – 155lbs: Nick Hein vs. Luigi Vendramini
- Featherweight – 145lbs: Makwan Amirkhani vs. Chris Fishgold
