Hometown hero Santiago Ponzinibbio is calling his shot for the upcoming UFC Bueno Aires card.
Santiago Ponzinibbio wants to make the most of his inevitable homecoming, asking for a bout against a former UFC champion.
The surging welterweight contender called out former lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos in an Instagram post on Thursday night.
“UFC returns to South America on November 17,” Ponzinibbio wrote in Spanish. “Let’s make history @rdosanjosmma. It will be an honor to share the Octagon with you.”
The UFC is scheduled to make its debut in Argentina, Ponzinibbio’s home country, with an event in Bueno Aires on November 17. No fights have been booked for the card as of now, but Ponzinibbio is expected to be featured on the line up — perhaps in the main event.
Ponzinibbio last defeated popular welterweight Mike Perry at UFC on FOX 26 last December. The 31-year-old is riding an impressive six-fight winning streak, which also includes a knockout win over Gunnar Nelson last summer.
“Gente Boa” was slated to meet fellow rising contender Kamaru Usman at UFC Chile two months ago, but he was forced off the card due to an injury.
After moving up to 170 pounds last year, Dos Anjos won three straight, with a stoppage of Neil Magny and decision victories over former champ Robbie Lawler and Tarec Saffiedine. Most recently, however, he fell to Colby Covington in an interim welterweight title bout this past June.