Montel Jackson vs. Danaa Batgerel Set For UFC Columbus on March 26

Danaa Batgerel, UFC 261
Danaa Batgerel, UFC 261 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press

A pair of bantamweights will look to continue their win streaks in March at UFC Columbus.

On Tuesday, Iridium Sports Agency announced that their client Montel Jackson will fight Danaa Batgerel on March 26 at UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic. The fighters were scheduled to fight in September; however, visa issues scrapped the bout.

Jackson (11-2) got back in the win column and went 2-0 in 2021. He knocked out Jesse Strader in March, and then in September, he dominated JP Buys to win a unanimous decision. Jackson set the record for the most knockdowns in a fight in UFC Bantamweight history with four in his fight with Buys.

Batgerel (10-2) has been on a roll since losing his UFC debut in 2019. “Storm” is currently riding a three-fight win streak with three first-round knockouts. Two of them came in 2021. He knocked out Kevin Natividad at UFC 261 in 50 seconds and then finished Brandon Davis in two minutes in his last outing.

Both bantamweight prospects are getting close to the division’s upper echelon, and a win in September will help their climb and possibly get them a date with a ranked opponent.

UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic is expected to go down at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. This will mark the first time that the UFC will leave the UFC Apex for a Fight Night event since before the pandemic (although a rumored London card may do the same).

The UFC’s March 26 Fight Night card currently breaks down as follows:

  • Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France
  • Amanda Ribas vs. Michelle Waterson
  • Sara McMann vs. Karol Rosa
  • Tucker Lutz vs. Seung Woo Choi
  • Montel Jackson vs. Danaa Batgerel