UFC 293 is set for Saturday at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. New Zealand’s Israel Adesanya will take on American challenger Sean Strickland for the middleweight title in a fight that has been on fans’ radars since Strickland and Adesanya traded verbal barbs at the UFC 276 press conference in July 2022.
Sydney’s own heavyweight slugger Tai Tuivasa is set to throw down with Alexander Volkov in the co-main event.
While two high-stakes fights headline the main card, the prelims boast several fun fights with prospects to keep an eye on. Let’s take a glance at five of the best undercard bouts.
Carlos Ulberg vs. Da Un Jung
The most intriguing prospect on the UFC 293 undercard is arguably Ulberg. “Black Jag,” a kickboxer who trains with Adesanya at City Kickboxing, possesses a deadly striking arsenal. Ihor Potieria, Nicolae Negumereanu, and Tafon Nchukwi have discovered that. Ulberg will look to show Jung next.
Jung, since defeating Kennedy Nzechukwu (whom Ulberg suffered his only professional MMA loss against), is on a two-fight skid against Dustin Jacoby and Devin Clark. Jung will look to spring the upset given the MMAth on his side, while Ulberg will look to keep his hot streak going.
Ulberg is very fun to watch and has the advantage on the feet, but Jung absolutely has the power to spring an upset. This should be fireworks as well as the best fight on the prelims.
Jack Jenkins vs. Chepe Mariscal
Mariscal, fresh off handing Trevor Peek his first career loss, will look to hand Jenkins his first UFC defeat. Mariscal proved he could do some of everything in his convincing win over Peek. He draws Jenkins, who defeated Don Shainis and Jamall Emmers in decisions.
The Australian will look to keep his hype going on his home turf, while Mariscal will look to show that he is the one who should be getting the attention.
Jamie Mullarkey vs. John Makdessi
Mullarkey will look to return to the winner’s circle after an upset TKO loss against Muhammad Naimov. He draws a crafty striker in Makdessi, whose resume includes wins over Ross Pearson, Ignacio Bahamondes, Daron Cruickshank, Abel Trujillo and Sam Stout. “The Bull” also went toe-to-toe with Donald Cerrone.
Mullarkey, who brings an action-packed pace, has defeated the likes of Michael Johnson, Devonte Smith and Khama Worthy. The Australian will aim to show his loss to Naimov was an apparition at Makdessi’s expense in what should be a fun bout between strikers.
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Landon Quinones
Haqparast, once a highly-touted prospect, will look to go on a two-fight winning streak and re-establish himself as a lightweight to watch. He draws UFC debutant Quinones.
Haqparast has wins over the likes of Makdessi, Rafa Garcia, Joaquim Silva and Marc Diakiese. Quinones, a Titan FC lightweight champion, enters the UFC after an appearance on The Ultimate Fighter where he was submitted by Jason Knight. He defeated Yemi Oduwole and Reynaldo Acevedo in Titan FC championship bouts.
Haqparast was supposed to fight Sam Patterson in Paris last weekend, but after Patterson withdrew, Haqparast will be flying to Australia instead to take on Quinones.
For Quinones, he gets a chance to burst onto the scene with a respected name in Haqparast. Haqparast will likely need an impressive finish to get fans excited again and move toward a top-15 bout.
Blood Diamond vs. Charlie Radtke
Mike Mathetha, better known as Blood Diamond, a kickboxer who trains with Israel Adesanya under coach Eugene Bareman, finds his back against the wall heading into his fight with Radtke. Blood Diamond is trying to avoid falling to 0-3 in the UFC – and 3-3 overall in professional MMA – and is likely fighting for his job with the promotion.
He lost to Jeremiah Wells and Orion Cosce, a pair of fighters with more MMA experience than him. Radtke also has more MMA experience than Blood Diamond, winning the CFFC welterweight championship in his last fight against Raheam Forest. The CFFC champ will look to impress in his UFC debut against Blood Diamond, who entered the promotion to a lot of intrigue.
Radtke has a chance to make an immediate splash with an impressive showing, while Blood Diamond will look to right the ship.
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