Nicolae Negumereanu has been tasked with welcoming Dana White’s Contender Series winner Ihor Potieria to the octagon at UFC 272 in March.
Promotion officials confirmed the bout Wednesday. Negumereanu (11-1) vs. Potieria (19-2) is expected to take place on the evening’s preliminary card.
Negumereanu will ride a two-fight win streak into the bout on March 5. The Romanian light heavyweight joined the UFC in 2019, losing his debut against Saparbek Safarov. After missing all of 2020, Negumereanu returned last year, winning two fights: a split decision against Aleksa Camur in June, then against Ike Villanueva in October, who he finished via TKO.
A TKO finish on the Contender Series last September earned Ihor Potieria a spot in the UFC. The win also extended his win streak to an impressive 17 straight victories. The Ukrainian fighter has not lost since 2017, and has stayed extremely active since.
Previously competing as a middleweight as well, Potieria won the World Warriors Fighting Championships 185lb title last year.
UFC 272 is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 5, 2022. The event is expected to be headlined by a grudge match between friends and teammates turned bitter rivals, as former interim welterweight champ Colby Covington takes on “BMF” champion Jorge Masvidal.
