Another big match-up has been added to the UFC’s September 16, 2023 Fight Night event, being held in conjunction with Mexican Independence Day.
Argentina’s Santiago Ponzinibbio (29-7) is set to face Daniel Rodriguez (17-4) at the show, per a report by First Round Management’s AJ Ariosa, who represents “D-Rod.” The card is being marketed as “Noche UFC.”
Rodriguez had previously indicated he’d have big fight news coming soon — and a fight with “The Argentinian Dagger” certainly qualifies.
Ponzinibbio was last seen in action in April, where he was knocked out by Kevin Holland. The 36-year old is 2-3 in his past five, with wins over Alex Morono and Miguel Baeza.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his professional career. Also 36, the California native saw a four-fight win streak snapped when he fell to Neil Magny last November. One fight later at UFC on ABC 4, Rodriguez was put down by an Ian Machado Garry head kick.
Neither man is currently ranked in the UFC welterweight division, but both remain both entertaining and popular fighters who might be just a win or two away from re-entering the top 15.
The UFC’s September 16, 2023 Fight Night event is headlined by a women’s flyweight title fight, as champ Alexa Grasso runs it back with Valentina Shevchenko. The following match-ups have been reported for the card to date:
- Alexa Grasso (c) vs. Valentina Shevchenko — for the UFC women’s flyweight championship
- Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- Tracy Cortez vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
- Cynthia Calvillo vs. Elise Reed
- Edgar Cháirez vs. Daniel Lacerda
- Chris Curtis vs. Anthony Hernandez
- Lupita Godinez vs. Sam Hughes
- Christos Giagos vs Daniel Zellhuber
- Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez
