UFC269 – what you need to know

UFC® 269: OLIVEIRA vs. POIRIER sees two titles on the line at the T-Mobile Arena. There are fifteen fights on the card, guaranteeing exciting action.

History makers face off

The lightweight division has some of the most exciting fighters in the UFC, and the current champ takes on the no.1 contender, as Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira is challenged by Dustin ‘Diamond’ Poirier. These two athletes combine for the most UFC fights, wins, finishes and bonuses ever in a championship bout.

Oliveira has been pro since 2008 and holds a 31-8 record. He has earned the second-most post fight awards in UFC history with 17 and he now holds the most finishes in UFC history (17), his second-round knockout in his last fight with Michael Chandler earning him that accolade. He is a submission specialist, securing 14 in his UFC career, enough for the most in UFC history.

After back-to-back wins over Conor McGregor, Poirier has earned his second undisputed lightweight title fight. Diamond has won seven of his last eight bouts, and three in a row. He holds a 28-6 record, with 21 finishes, 15 by KO and six via submission. His most recent victory was his 20^th in the UFC.

The Lioness roars

The double champ, Amanda ‘The Lioness’ Nunes, will defend her bantamweight title this weekend, as she takes on against Julianna ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ Pena.

Holding both the featherweight and bantamweight title, Nunes will look to retain her bantamweight belt this weekend. She holds five successful bantamweight title defences as well as two at featherweight. The Lioness is riding a 12-win streak and has won 14 of her last 15 bouts. She has 17 career finishes, 14 of which came in the first round.

Winning seven of her last nine, including an impressive third-round submission of Sara McMann back in January, this will be Pena’s first title fight. She holds an 11-4 record, and eight of these were finishes. She was a former assistant instructor and at SikJitsu before turning pro, and she also held a job as a waitress.

A steely matchup

Two exciting, ranked welterweights clash on the main card as no.12 ranked Geoff ‘Handz of Steel’ Neal andno.14 Santiago ‘Argentine Dagger’ Ponzinibbio look to climb the division.

Holding a 13-4 record, Neal has won 11 of his last 14 bouts. He has secured six first-round finishes in his career. Neal earned his contract after an emphatic first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series and followed that fight up with a first-round submission of Brian Camozzi.

One of the veterans of the welterweight division, Ponzinibbio holds a 29-4 record. He will be looking to build on the victory he secured earlier in the year over Miguel Baeza. The Argentinian has won 10 of his last 12 bouts and in his career, he has secured 14 first-round finishes. He has earned four post fight bonuses, two for fight of the night and two for performance of the night.