UFC Vegas 92: 21 Tidbits, Facts And Storylines

After an incredible event in St. Louis, in which Derrick Lewis extended his knockout record by stopping Rodrigo Nascimento (watch highlights), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns home to its Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, this weekend (Sat., May 15, 2024) with UFC Vegas 92. UFC legend, Edson Barboza, takes on surging United Kingdom prospect, Lerone Murphy, in the main event.

While UFC Vegas 92 is a pretty weak card and isn’t the strongest card regarding name value, it has several fun and exciting fights. So, before it goes down on ESPN+, let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits, and statistics ahead of showtime …

The Big 30

Barboza will compete in his 30th UFC fight weekend … an incredible accomplishment. He has fought a “Who’s Who” of contenders, and while he’s had an up-and-down career, the 38-year-old Brazilian is riding a two-fight win streak.

Trying To Get To .500

Back in Oct. 2023, Barboza won his first UFC main event against Sodiq Yusuff after going winless (0-3) in his first two headlining spots. In his fourth main event, Barboza will look to even out his main event record to 2-3.

Main Event Noob

After six fights for the promotion, Murphy will compete in his first UFC main event. “Miracle” is undefeated (13-0-1) and is 5-1 inside the Octagon. Murphy is coming off a unanimous decision over Joshua Culibao.

Once Upon A Time In America

On top of fighting in his first main event, Murphy will compete in America for the first time. Murphy has competed in England eight times and Abu Dhabi four times. On Saturday, he can mark Las Vegas off his list.

He will also compete in the Apex for the first time (ugh).

Shot At The Top 15

Barboza will risk his No. 12 ranking this weekend, allowing Murphy to get his shot at the Top 15 rankings.

Almost Retired

Ramiz Brahimaj returns from a 26-month layoff this weekend, and it did not come with ease. Brahimaj was dealing with a devastating spinal injury that left him sidelined with limited movement and a dark thought … should he retire? Thankfully, he did not call it a career.

Read all about his horrible injury here.

Teammates Going To Battle

Brahimaj will have more support on the card as his teammate Victor Martinez competes against Tom Nolan in the “Prelims” headliner.

Super Heavy Heart

Brahimaj’s opponent, Themba Gorimbo, will be fighting with a heavy heart this weekend as he found out during UFC Vegas 92 media day that his coach lost his mother. He flew his coach out to Florida from South Africa eight weeks ago, and the two were supposed to fly back to South Africa to support the coach’s mom, who had cancer.

Bounce Back

For the first time in his career, Adrian Yanez has lost two fights in a row … and he is not happy with that. The 30-year-old has a tremendous bounce-back fight this weekend as he faces former Flyweight Vinicius Salvador, who is winless in the UFC.

Anything can happen in MMA; however, a Yanez knockout is most definitely happening.

Hill vs. Brazil

Angela Hill kicks off the UFC Vegas 92 main card this weekend against Luana Pinheiro. Pinheiro is Hill’s third Brazilian opponent in a row (well, Mackenzie Dern is American-Brazilian, but whatever.) Hill is 4-4 against Brazilians.

Welcome To UFC!

Two fighters make their Octagon debut this weekend … and they are fighting each other.

Oumar Sy (9-0) takes on Tuco Tokkos (10-3). Tokkos is stepping in on less than a week’s notice, replacing Antonio Trocoli.

Tokkos, a Bellator veteran, is riding a three-fight win streak and holds an 80 percent finish rate. Sy — who comes from KSW — has a 77 percent finish rate, four knockouts and three submissions.

Last-Minute Cancelations

Piera Rodriguez and Melissa Gatto both had last-minute cancelations this year. Rodriguez was supposed to fight Cynthia Calvillo at UFC Vegas 90 last month. However, Calvillo missed weight and the fight was scrapped. Gatto was scheduled to face Victoria Dudakova at UFC Atlantic City, but the fight was literally canceled during the broadcast.

Rodriguez faces Ariane Carnelossi and Gatto faces Tamires Vidal.

Welcome Back, ‘Sorriso’

Speaking of Carnelossi, she is returning from a two-year layoff. Carnelossi dealt with a nasty knee injury in her time away, but now she is looking to rebound. In her last outing, the Brazilian dropped a unanimous decision against Loopy Godinez at UFC 274.

Carnelossi is 2-2 in UFC and both of her wins have been finishes.

Back To The ‘Prelims,’ Bud

Less than a year ago, Abus Magomedov headlined UFC Vegas 76 against Sean Strickland. Ten months later, he is fighting on this weekend’s “Prelims” against Warlley Alves … tough.

Magomedov is 1-2 in the promotion and is in a must-win situation.

UFC Vegas 92 Fight Leader

The fighter with the most career fights competing at UFC Vegas 92 is Barboza (35).

UFC Vegas 92 Fight Rookie

The fighter with the least amount of career fights competing at UFC Vegas 92 is Nolan (7).

UFC Vegas 92 Knockout King

The fighter with the most amount of career knockouts competing at UFC Vegas 92 is Magomedov (15).

UFC Vegas 92 Submission Savant

The fighter with the most amount of career submissions competing at UFC Vegas 92 is Brahimaj (10).

Winners And Losers

Eleven fighters are coming off wins, and 13 are coming off losses.

Multi-Divisions

Here are the divisions that will be on display this Saturday:

• One Light Heavyweight fight
• One Middleweight fight
• Two Welterweight fights
• One Lightweight fights
• One Featherweight fight
• One Bantamweight fight
• One Flyweight fight
• Three women’s Strawweight fights
• One women’s Bantamweight fight

Beta Dog

According to DraftKings, UFC Vegas 92’s “biggest” underdog is Martinez at +370.

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Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 92 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 7 p.m. ET (also on ESPN/ESPN+).

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 92: “Barboza vs. Murphy” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.