Well-traveled welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio has joined UFC Abu Dhabi later this month.
In something of a late addition to the Fight Night card on July 25, Ponzinibbio (30-9) will face Sam Patterson (14-3-1) at the event, set for the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Promotion officials announced the booking on Friday.
“The Argentine Dagger” Ponzinibbio, now 39, was once a hot hand in the 170lb weight class, but has fallen to 2-5 across his last seven fights. His last win came over Carlston Harris in January 2025, while his last fight saw him finished by Daniel “D-Rod” Rodriguez in May of that year.
Patterson, meanwhile, is coming off a loss against Michael “Venom” Page, but getting his second straight big name assignment. Prior to losing to MVP, Patterson had won four consecutive bouts.
UFC Abu Dhabi is headlined by a light heavyweight bout between ex-champ Magomed Ankalaev, and former title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. The following fights are expected to feature on the July 25 card:
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
- Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov
- Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune
- Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman
- Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola
- Valter Walker vs. Thomas Petersen
- Uran Satybaldiev vs. Dustin Jacoby
- Magomed Zaynukov vs. Damian Rzepecki
- Magomed Tuchalov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
- Mike Davis vs. Nurullo Aliev
- Magomedrasul Gasanov vs. Abubakar Vagaev
- Muin Gafurov vs. Abdul Hussein
- Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Sam Patterson
