A pivotal welterweight scrap is set to be the main event of the UFC’s debut show in Chile.
Rising welterweight contenders will meet at UFC Fight Night: Chile on May 19th.
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani reported on Friday that Santiago Ponzinibbio will take on Kamaru Usman in the Chilean capital of Santiago. UFC officials have yet to announce the matchup, but it is believed that the bout agreements will be signed soon.
Ponzinibbio (26-3) is on a six-fight winning streak, with his most recent win coming by unanimous decision over Mike Perry in December. The native of Argentina headlined his first UFC show last July in Scotland, knocking out submission specialist Gunnar Nelson in just 82 seconds.
Usman (12-1) is a perfect 7-0 in the UFC, having helped the Blackzilians defeat American Top Team on season 21 of The Ultimate Fighter. “The Nigerian Nightmare” holds notable wins over Leon Edwards, Warlley Alves, Sergio Moraes, and most recently a unanimous decision over Emil Weber Meek.
Current UFC rankings have Usman at #7 and Ponzinibbio at #10, so this is a major bout in the 170-pound division, and if reported bouts involving Stephen Thompson and Darren Till, as well as Rafael dos Anjos and Colby Covington materialize, May will be as big for the welterweights as April is for the lightweights.
Also set for UFC Fight Night: Chile is a co-main event between Mauricio Rua and Volkan Oezdemir. The night’s main card will air live on Fox Sports 1.