UFC Abu Dhabi featured another card stacked full of talented fighters following up the previous weekend’s PPV, UFC 304. Just two of the seven undercard fights delivered a finish. However, the six-fight main card delivered with a couple of finishes and a Fight of the Night winning co-main event.
In the main event, a pivotal bantamweight showdown played out between Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen. At the end of the night, the Dagestani fighter walked away with a unanimous decision victory and seemingly secured himself a title shot. A few fighters on this card are staring down losing streaks and looking for reasonable next steps.
Cory Sandhagen
Cory Sandhagen was defeated in a five round chess match of a main event that saw him falling to Umar Nurmagomedov on Saturday. Sandhagen entered the bout as the #2 ranked UFC bantamweight while Umar was ranked at #10 in the division.
Sandhagen entered the fight riding a three-fight win streak having defeated the likes of Song Yadong, Marlon Vera and most recently Rob Font. The streak stemmed from Cory’s 2021 loss to Petr Yan for the UFC Interim bantamweight belt. Sandhagen’s fight with Umar makes four fights in a row in the main event slot.
Avoiding a couple of rematches a fight with the winner of the Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista at UFC 307 on October 5 could be next. Either match-up makes sense for Corey. Aldo defeated Jonathan Martinez in May and was on a three-fight boxing ‘retirement’ from MMA. Prior to his short-lived retirement, Jose had won three out of his last four fights only losing to top contender, Merab Dvalishvili. Meanwhile Mario Bautista is on a six-fight win streak, most recently defeating Ricky Simon in January by unanimous decision. Aldo also has a #8 ranking next to his name in the bantamweight division.
Sandhagen’s next fight: Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista winner
Michal Oleksiejczuk
Michal Oleksiejczuk was defeated in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi by the rising undefeated prospect Shara Magomedov. The Polish fighter put up a valiant effort as the bout ultimately ended up winning Fight of the Night honors. Oleksiejczuk has now lost three fights in a row all since the beginning of 2024. Michal was submitted first round by Michel Pereira in March and then subbed again by Kevin Holland three months later at UFC 302.
Ultimately, Michal is 3-4 as a UFC middleweight since moving to the division in 2022. Michal’s wins during that time are first round finishes over fighters Sam Alvey, Cody Brundage and Chidi Njokuani.
Albert Duraev would be a good fight for Oleksiejczuk. Michal and Albert were supposed to fight at the end of 2022, but Duraev withdrew from the bout. Duraev is 2-2 with the UFC, since being signed off the 2022 season of the Contender Series. His last time out, was a second-round submission defeat against Jun Yong Park, in July of last year. Duraev’s last win was a common opponent in Chidi Njokuani who he defeated by split decision last March.
Oleksiejczuk’s next fight: Albert Duraev
Marlon Vera
Chito Vera lost a disappointing unanimous decision to the former UFC flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Abu Dhabi. To add insult to injury, Chito was dropped for the first time in his career. Vera is now on a two-fight losing skid for just the second time in his entire pro MMA career and has lost three of his last four. Marlon was last in action at UFC 299 in March when he was shut out in his five round main event rematch to Sean O’Malley for the 135lbs. strap.
Vera entered the bout as the #4 ranked UFC bantamweight while Figueiredo was ranked at #6 in the weight class.
A fight with #14 ranked, Jonathan Martinez, should be the next matchup for Chito. Martinez was on a 6-fight win streak featuring leg kick finishes over Cub Swanson and Adrian Yanez. Last time Martinez was in the octagon back in May, he had his win streak snapped by a returning Jose Aldo.
Vera’s next fight: Jonathan Martinez
Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson lost yet another bout at UFC Abu Dhabi, this time getting finished in the first round by Michael Chiesa. Ferguson has now lost eight fights in a row and has not won since defeating Donald Cerrone in mid-2019.
The 40-year-old’s record with the UFC has now fallen to 15-9.
In the post-fight interview, Ferguson laid down one glove and semi-retired as his fight with Chiesa did mark the end of his UFC contract. Ferguson may very well fight again, but a fight under the promotional giant’s banner is almost unimaginable at this point.
Ferguson’s next fight: Retirement (maybe)
Lupita Godinez
Lupita “Loopy” Godinez fell to Mackenzie Dern as she lost a unanimous decision on Saturday. Loopy entered the fight with a #10 ranking in the UFC strawweight division while her opponent was ranked at #7. Godinez has now lost two fights in a row as she lost to budding contender, Virna Jandiroba, in March. Before that, Lupita was on a very impressive four-fight win streak.
Lupita should fight either Amanda Ribas or Tecia Pennington in her next bout. Ribas is the #8 ranked strawweight in the UFC, while Pinheiro is ranked at #12. Ribas switches between both the flyweight and strawweight divisions and in her most recent bout lost to former strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas, at UFC Denver. The bout was at flyweight and a main event. Her last win at 115lbs. was last November when she finished #12 ranked, Luana Pinheiro, in the third round.
Tecia Pennington already has a bout booked for October 5 against Carla Esparza. Pennington’s opponent, former UFC strawweight champion, Carla Esparza, recently announced that she’d be retiring after the fight. Even though currently unranked, and on a two-fight losing skid, a fight opposite of Tecia could make sense. Pennington’s last two losses have been a pair of split decisions against now #7 ranked, Mackenzie Dern, in 2022 and against #11 ranked, Tabatha Ricci, in May. Also, Pennington’s last win was in 2021, to the now #9 ranked Angela Hill.
Godinez’s next fight: Tecia Pennington or Amanda Ribas
Elves Brener
Elves Brener was finished late in his fight against Joel Alvarez to start off the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi. Brener is now on a two-fight losing streak as he entered Saturday coming off a unanimous decision loss to Myktybek Orolbai at UFC 301 in May. Elves is now 3-2 with the UFC being signed last February. Brener has a split decision win over Zubaira Tukhugov and finishes over Guram Kutateladze and Kaynan Kruschewsky.
In short, all of Brener’s wins in the UFC have been impressive and he has been very active.
Elves should fight the loser of Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics on UFC 306 on September 14. Brener was matched up to compete against Esteban Ribovics last November, but his opponent withdrew. Esteban is a veteran of the 2022 season of the Contender Series and is 2-1 with the UFC. His most recent fight was a 37-second head kick KO of Terrance McKinney in May. Zellhuber is also a Contender Series vet, but from the 2021 season. Daniel also dropped his first fight with the UFC and hasnt lost since, ripping off three wins. Zellhuber was last in action in February when he won a unanimous decision over Francisco Prado.
Brener’s next fight: Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics loser
