We’re only a few days into the UFC Christmas hiatus, but that doesn’t mean that the promotion isn’t busy putting together fights behind the scenes.
In fact, just a few hours ago, the promotion revealed that two new fights had been added to the first card of 2025, UFC Vegas 101: Dern vs Ribas 2, including one that’s already been labeled a ‘banger’.
Two new fights officially announced for first UFC event of 2025
As confirmed earlier this morning, popular middleweight Chris ‘Action Man’ Curtis will now take on surging Russian contender Roman Kopylov on the first UFC card of 2025.
That bout is scheduled for the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 and will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 11, 2025.
There’s a running joke within the MMA community that Curtis is a lookalike of Curtis Blaydes, whilst Kopylov is a doppelganger of Chase Hooper – with several fans even stating that this fight should be titled the ‘Clone Wars’.
“Hahahaha I am begging Dana White, please fly out Curtis Blaydes and Chase Hooper as guest corners,” wrote the ‘Action Man’ on Instagram in response.
Curtis had a so-so 2024, earning a split-decision win over Marc-Andre Barriault in January before dropping a split-decision to Brendan Allen in April – he then suffered a fractured foot before his UFC 307 clash with Kevin Holland.
It’s been a similarly stop-start past 12 months for Kopylov too, who was choked out by Anthony Hernandez in February before earning a split-decision over Cesar Almeida at UFC 302 in the Summer.
The second newly announced fight for UFC Vegas 101 is a lightweight bout between undefeated Tajikistan fighter Nurullo Aliev and 8-1 Israeli Yanal ‘Red Fox’ Ashmouz.
Aliev is 9-0 as a professional and after earning a UFC contract via DWCS in 2022, defeated Rafael Alves in early 2023 – he has not competed in the octagon since then.
Ashmouz has fought three times in that timespan; wins over Sam Petterson and Trevor Peek, sandwiched between a loss to Chris Duncan.
UFC Vegas 101: Dern vs Ribas 2 takes shape with 14 fights now confirmed
With the addition of Curtis vs Kopylov, and Aliev vs Ashmouz, UFC Vegas 101: Dern vs Ribas 2 is taking shape with a grand total of 14 bouts confirmed for the event.
- Mackenzie Dern (#6) vs Amanda Ribas (#8)
- Chris Curtis vs Roman Kopylov
- Marco Tulio vs Ihor Potieria
- Thiago Moises vs Trey Ogden
- Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs Bruno Lopes
- Cesar Almeida vs Abdul Razak Alhassan
- Christian Rodriguez vs Austin Bashi
- Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Carlston Harris
- Punahele Soriano vs Uros Medic
- Jose Johnson vs Felipe Bunes
- Nurullo Aliev vs Yanal Ashmouz
- Ernesta Kareckaite vs Nicolle Caliari
- Preston Parsons vs Andras Gustafsson
- Fatima Kline vs Viktoriia Dudakova
Bout order has not been officially confirmed.
UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 goes down live from The Apex on Saturday, January 11, 2025.