
Fights on Tap is a weekly roundup of all the fights booked in the UFC, Bellator and other promotions.
Good news: We have one more week until our weekends become occupied again with several can’t-miss events, including a UFC Fight Night headlined by a striker’s delight between featherweight contenders Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze. As the UFC prepares for its return, it has also added to its upcoming schedule. The promotion either announced or finalized six fights, and a women’s strawweight bout with potential title implications has been set for March.
Marina Rodriguez and Yan Xiaonan are meeting at UFC 272, the pay-per-view event that takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Rodriguez had her best year under the UFC banner, going 3-0 in 2021 with statement wins over Amanda Ribas, Michelle Waterson and Mackenzie Dern. Xiaonan was on a six-fight win streak before she fought Carla Esparza, who finished her via second-round technical knockout at UFC Vegas 27 this past May. Rodriguez and Xiaonan are No. 3 and No. 4 in the rankings, respectively.
Bellator has confirmed its co-main event for Bellator 273 in January. Benson Henderson will look to snap a career-worst three-fight losing streak when he faces Islam Mamedov.
UFC Fight Night — February 5
Alexis Davis vs. Julija Stoliarenko — women’s bantamweight
UFC Fight Night — February 19
Ilir Latifi vs. Alexandr Romanov — heavyweight
UFC Fight Night — February 26
Ryan Spann vs. Ion Cutelaba — light heavyweight
UFC 272 — March 5
Marina Rodriguez vs. Yan Xiaonan — women’s strawweight
UFC Fight Night — March 12
Sabina Mazo vs. Mandy Böhm — women’s flyweight
UFC 273 — April 9
Irene Aldana vs. Aspen Ladd — women’s bantamweight
Announced Bellator fights:
Bellator 273 — January 29
Benson Henderson vs. Islam Mamedov — lightweight
Ben Parrish vs. Sullivan Cauley — light heavyweight
Henry Corrales vs. Aiden Lee — featherweight
Saad Awad vs. Chris Gonzalez — lightweight
Bellator Dublin — February 25
Khasan Magomedsharipov vs. Jose Sanchez — featherweight
Announced Invicta FC fights:
Invicta 45 — January 12
Helen Peralta vs. Elise Pone — women’s flyweight
Tabatha Watkins vs. Katie Saull — women’s atomweight
Announced KSW fights:
KSW 66 — January 15
Patryk Surdyn vs. David Martinik — bantamweight
Łukasz Rajewski vs. Donovan Desmae — lightweight
Sebastian Rajewski vs. Niklas Bäckström — lightweight
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