The UFC is nearing the end of its 2026 calendar, with UFC Fight Night 293 kicking off the November events from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, available on Paramount+. Initially, the event was set to feature a main bout between Sean Brady and Gabriel Bonfim, but due to an injury, the headline will now showcase a short-notice heavyweight clash between Waldo Cortes Acosta (17-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and Johnny Walker (23-10 MMA, 9-7 UFC) in a five-round fight.
Johnny Walker recently made a successful heavyweight debut at UFC 332 in October, boasting 21 of his 23 career wins via stoppage, and seven of his eight UFC victories coming within the first round. He stands out in UFC history for landing a knockout off a spinning back fist and is one of just two fighters to secure a light heavyweight win by knockout using a flying knee. Moreover, Walker is among the select few who have scored a knockout in the light heavyweight division in 15 seconds or less.
On the women’s side, Tatiana Suarez (12-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) has garnered eight of her twelve wins by stoppage, including five stoppages in UFC strawweight, tying her for second most in history. She also holds a high rate of significant strikes landed (59.7%) and the lowest strikes absorbed (1.7 per minute) in UFC strawweight competition. Her opponent, Virna Jandiroba (23-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC), is known for her takedown skills, having landed takedowns on nearly all her UFC adversaries.
In the bantamweight division, Davey Grant (17-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) is notable for his rare inverted triangle choke submission and has six fight-night bonuses, ranking fourth in UFC bantamweight history. Elijah Smith (10-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), following in his UFC veteran father Gilbert Smith’s footsteps, is one of the few second-generation fighters in UFC history and is among those who have achieved a rare knockout from a slam.
Wellington Turman (18-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC) marks his return after the longest layoff of his career, currently on a three-fight losing streak and winless since early 2022. Andre Petroski (13-6 MMA, 8-5 UFC) also enters the event seeking to break a three-fight losing slide and is recognized for defending takedowns exceptionally well in middleweight bouts.
Karine Silva (19-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is a finishing machine with 17 of her 19 wins by stoppage, including a record streak of first-round submission victories. Gabriella Fernandes (11-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) has earned two fight-night bonuses, ranking her among the top hitters in the women’s flyweight division for such awards.
Undefeated Murtazali Magomedov (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has won all his fights via stoppage and is one of only five fighters to secure a rare Twister submission in UFC history. Priscila Cachoeira (13-9 MMA, 5-9 UFC) comes in on a tough skid with several recent losses, though she holds the record for the second-shortest average fight time in UFC women’s bantamweight history and landed the fastest knockout in women’s flyweight history.
Jonny Parsons (8-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returns after a lengthy break since his last fight in mid-2023, marking the longest hiatus of his extensive 16-year career.
This comprehensive lineup highlights fighters who bring unique records and styles to the octagon, promising an exciting night for fans as the sport showcases both rising stars and seasoned veterans.
Fan Take: This event is crucial for fight fans because it not only features dynamic matchups with record-setting athletes but also showcases the evolving blend of power, technique, and resilience that defines modern MMA. Performances here could shift divisional rankings and introduce new fan favorites, influencing the sport’s momentum heading deeper into the year.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
