UFC Prospects To Watch Out For This Weekend

Published by Paul Browne on January 9, 2025

We Are Back!

Finally the wait is over!!! The UFC returns to our screens this Saturday after the holiday break and while the fight card at the Apex this weekend may be lacking a little in star power, there are certainly some intersting prospects set to make the walk to the Octagon who could each make waves in their respective divisions in the near future.

Let’s take a look at some of the “ones to watch” this Saturday night at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2.

Fatima Kline

24-year-old Fatima Kline (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has the opportunity to get her UFC career off to a start for real this weekend. “The Archangel” will face Victoria Dudakova (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a strawweight clash on the prelims.

Former Caged Fury two-weight champion Kline made her first appearance inside the Octagon last July at UFC Denver when she took on Jasmine Jasduvicius at 125 lbs on just 6 day’s notice. With a full training camp behind her and competing in her natural weight class, the New Yorker will be better set to show UFC fans what she’s really about this Saturday night.

Kline carved out a strong reputation on the professional grappling circuit in recent years and proved during her journey through CFFC and Invicta that she is a threat no matter where the fight takes place.

Austin Bashi

The opportunity of a lifetime awaits 23-year-old Austin Bashi (13-0) this weekend. The Michigan native makes his first UFC appearance on the main card following his impressive showing on the most recent season of Dana White’s Contender Series, where he submitted Dorian Ramos with his patented rear naked choke.

Bashi is in sensational form of late and has finished his last five opponents inside the opening two rounds, but he faces a serious step up in competition on Saturday evening.

Standing across the cage from the young prospect will be Christian Rodriguez (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), a grizzled veteran who has picked up victories over Raul Rosas Jr. and Cody Saimann in recent times.

Marco Tulio

Brazilian middleweight Marco Tulio (12-1) finally gets his shot at the big leagues on Saturday when he faces Ihor Potieria (21-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC). “Matuto” appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series in August of 2023, but a decision victory over Yousri Belgaroui wasn’t enough to secure a UFC contract.

The Sao Paulo native, who trains at Chute Boxe Diego Lima with former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and current welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry, returned to the show in 2024 and didn’t leave it in the judge’s hands this time around. His second-round KO victory over Matthieu Duclos impressed Dana White enough to earn him a deal.

Jacobe Smith

Another graduate of the most recent season of Dana White’s Contender Series, welterweight Jacobe Smith (9-0) makes his UFC debut against Preston Parsons this weekend.

The unbeaten 28-year-old, who fights out of Fortis MMA in Dallas, Texas, has finished six of his nine professional wins inside the opening round. Don’t blink.

Nurullo Alliev

Nurullo Alliev (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) became the first ever fighter from Tajikistan to fight in the UFC when he beat Rafael Alves in February of 2023. The “Tajik Eagle” returns after an injury-enforced absence in the opening bout of the preliminary card this weekend when he faces Joe Solecki and will be eager to remind fans of his true potential.