The UFC’s return to Singapore has added another Asian standout to the mix.
Japanese welterweight Yusaku Kinoshita (6-2), a 2022 Contender Series winner, will look to bounce back from a loss in his promotional debut when he takes on fellow DWCS alum Billy Goff (8-2) at UFC Singapore on August 26, 2023.
Iridium Sports Agency, who represent Goff, announced the news on Tuesday.
Kinoshita, 22, has never gone the distance, with all but one of his finishes coming inside of a round. The welterweight stumbled in his first UFC assignment, however, ending up finished by Adam Fugitt.
Prior to that, Yusaku Kinoshita’s only defeat had been a DQ loss for holding the cage suffered under the RIZIN banner.
Goff, who in the past has competed for Bellator MMA and other promotions, has won six straight fights. He had been booked to face Themba Gorimbo in February, but was forced to withdraw from the fight. He’ll be making his octagon debut in the fight.
UFC Singapore takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on August 26, 2023 with featherweights topping the bill. That main event sees former champ Max Holloway paired up with fan favorite and two-time title challenger The Korean Zombie (Chan Sung Jung). The following match-ups have been reported for the card thus far:
- Max Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie
- Anthony Smith vs. Ryan Spann
- Chidi Njokuani vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
- Liang Na vs. JJ Aldrich
- Rinya Nakamura vs. Fernie Garcia
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Łukasz Brzeski
- Taila Santos vs. Erin Blanchfield
- Yusaku Kinoshita vs. Billy Goff
