One fighter is moving up, while the other is moving down in a light heavyweight tilt booked for the UFC’s February 18, 2023 Fight Night event.
Zac Pauga (5-1) will face Jordan Wright (12-4, 1NC) in the 205lb scrap expected for the UFC Apex next month, in a bout that sees Pauga dropping down from heavyweight. Wright, meanwhile, is making the jump up from middleweight.
Both are looking to shake off recent losses — and in the case of Wright, the move looks like an attempt to reinvent himself at a new weight class following a trio of losses that has his back against the wall.
MMA Junkie was first to report news of the match-up on Friday. Pauga subsequently confirmed the booking on social media, adding “February 18 I finally get to perform again.”
Dropping fights to Bruno Silva, Marc-Andre Barriault, and Dusko Todorovic, Wright has fallen to 2-4 in the UFC, after starting his pro career 9-0 outside the promotion (plus a No Contest on the Contender Series against Anthony Hernandez).
Pauga also started his career outside the UFC as an undefeated talent, amassing a 5-0 record prior to appearing on The Ultimate Fighter 30. Pauga made it to the TUF 30 finale, but came up short against Mohammed Usman.
The UFC’s Feb. 18, 2023 card is set for the Apex in Las Vegas, with bantamweights Marlon “Chito” Vera and Cory Sandhagen headlining the show. The following fights reported for the event to date:
- Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen
- Taila Santos vs. Erin Blanchfield
- Nazim Sadykhov vs. Evan Elder
- A.J. Fletcher vs. Themba Gorimbo
- Juancamilo Ronderos vs. Clayton Carpenter
- Joe Solecki vs. Benoît Saint-Denis
- Gerald Meerschaert vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov
- Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benítez
- William Knight vs. Marcin Prachnio
- Lina Länsberg vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
- Ovince Saint Preux vs. Philipe Lins
- Josh Parisian vs. Jamal Pogues
- Jordan Wright vs. Zac Pauga
