UFC schedule: MMA fights booked for the week of March 8-14
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.
Each week, we’ll compile all the new fight bookings right here – in one spot. Worried you missed a UFC or Bellator matchup, a playoff pairing for the PFL, or a title fight scheduled for ONE or LFA?
Our fight booking wire will keep tabs on it all and will update any time we’ve got new matchups — so you’ll want to come back throughout the week to see the latest.
Here are fight announcements that have been broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie for this week, March 8-14:
Bellator 257: Veta Arteaga vs. Desiree Yanez
At Bellator 257 on April 16, Veta Arteaga (5-4 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) and Desiree Yanez (5-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will try this again. The two fighters were scheduled to fight at Bellator 250 in October, but the fight was scrapped hours before the event when Arteaga tested positive for COVID-19.
– First reported by Nolan King, March 8 at 2:45 p.m. ET
UFC 262: Jamie Pickett vs. Jordan Wright
At UFC 262 on May 15, Jamie Pickett (11-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Jordan Wright (11-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), two Dana White’s Contender Series alumni, will meet inside the cage. Wright is coming off a loss to Joaquin Buckley while Pickett enters the fight having been defeated in his UFC debut against Tafon Nchukwi in December.
– First reported by Nolan King and John Morgan, March 8 at 5:10 p.m. ET
UFC 260: Jared Gooden vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov
Cousin of Khabib, Abubakar Nurmagomedov (15-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) returns to action for the first time since November 2019. He’ll take on fellow UFC sophomore Jared Gooden (17-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a welterweight fight at UFC 260 on March 27.
– Fight announced by UFC officials, March 8 at 9:05 p.m. ET
Bellator 255: Chris Gonzalez vs. Roger Huerta
Roger Huerta
A seasoned MMA veteran, Roger Huerta (24-12-1 MMA, 1-5 BMMA) hasn’t competed since November 2019 when he lost a unanimous decision to Sidney Outlaw. Conversely, Team Alpha Male’s Chris Gonzalez (5-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) has yet to lose in his professional MMA career.
– Confirmed by Nolan King, March 8 at 8:46 p.m. ET (first reported by MMA Mania)
Cage Warriors 121: Agy Sardari vs. Donovan Desmae
Following an undisclosed injury to scheduled title challenger Mehdi Ben Lakhdar, Belgian lightweight contender Donovan Desmae (14-6) has been drafted in to take on newly crowned 155-pound champion Agy Sardari (13-2) in the new main event of Cage Warriors 121 in London on March 19.
– Fight announced by Cage Warriors officials, March 9 at 5:57 a.m. ET
PFL 2021, Week 3 full lineup
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum will make his PFL debut, and 2019 women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison will fight for the first time this year at PFL 2021, Week 3. Here’s the complete lineup for the May 6 event that features heavyweights and women’s 155-pound fighters.
MAIN CARD (ESPN2):
Fabricio Werdum vs. Renan Ferreira
Kayla Harrison vs. Mariana Morais
Ali Isaev vs. Hatef Moeil
Genah Fabian vs. Laura Sanchez
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+):
Brandon Sayles vs. Mohammed Usman
Denis Goltsov vs. Justin Willis
Larissa Pacheco vs. Julija Pajic
Bruno Cappelozza vs. Ante Delija
Cindy Dandois vs. Kaitlin Young
Taylor Guardado vs. Helena Kolesnyk
– Lineup announced by PFL officials, March 9 at 11 a.m. ET
Ben Rothwell vs. Philipe Lins off UFC Fight Night 187, shifts to later date
Heavyweights Ben Rothwell (38-13 MMA, 8-7 UFC) and Philipe Lins (14-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) are no longer fighting each other Saturday at UFC Fight Night 187 because of an injury. They’re expected to be rebooked for the UFC’s event on May 8. Both men are looking to rebound from losses in their last fights.
– Confirmed by Nolan King, March 9 at 5:48 p.m. ET (first reported by Fightful)