The United States’ Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to return to Macau next month with a stacked fight card headlined by the Chinese mainland’s Song Yadong against Brazil’s Deiveson Figueiredo, aiming to mark the start of a multi-year partnership with Galaxy Macau, according to a statement by the integrated resort operator yesterday.
Scheduled from May 28 to 30 at the Galaxy Arena in Cotai, the event will feature UFC Fight Night alongside the opening rounds of ROAD TO UFC Season 5, bringing three consecutive days of mixed martial arts (MMA) action to the city, the statement said, adding that tickets will go on public sale on April 17, with early access available for “Galaxy Ultimate” WeChat members from April 14.
A fight card in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the official schedule of matches for a specific event.
The headline bout will see Song, a rising bantamweight contender, face Figueiredo, a former two-time flyweight champion. Song, known for his “explosive” striking, returns to compete in front of a home crowd for the first time since 2018, while Figueiredo aims to break into the top tier of the bantamweight division.
In the co-main event, Zhang Mingyang from Anhui Province will take on Alonzo Menifield from Dallas, Texas in a light heavyweight clash between two knockout specialists, the statement said, adding that the fight card will also include a series of high-profile bouts across multiple divisions.
These include a heavyweight matchup between Moscow’s Sergei Pavlovich and São Paulo’s Tallison Teixeira, as well as appearances from fighters such as Sichuan Province’s Sumudaerji (sometimes also spelt Su Mudaerji) and California’s Alex Pérez.
The women’s strawweight style-versus-style will feature [from Thailand] Buriram’s Loma Lookboonmee and [from Brazil] Manaus’ Jaqueline Amorim, the statement said, adding that a fast-paced flyweight bout will feature [from Japan] Chiba’s Rei Tsuruya and [from Mexico] Ensenada’s Jesús Aguilar, while Inner Mongolia’s Aoriqileng will face [from Australia] Perth’s Cody Haddon in a bantamweight bout.
As part of the programme, ROAD TO UFC Season 5 will spotlight emerging talent from across the Asia-Pacific region, with 32 fighters competing in a tournament format for UFC contracts, the statement said. Beyond the fights, the statement added, it will host a week-long series of fan engagement activities, including meet-and-greet and autograph sessions, aimed at expanding the sport’s growing regional fan base.
The late May events mark the beginning of a four-year agreement that will bring multiple UFC Fight Night events to Macau through 2029, aiming to further strengthen the city’s position as a regional hub for major international sporting events, according to the statement.
This poster provided by Galaxy Macau yesterday shows the headline fighters in next month’s UFC FIGHT NIGHT at Galaxy Arena in Cotai.
