The shortest month of the year comes to an end in MMA’s top promotion this coming weekend, but not before UFC Seattle. Saturday night’s edition of UFC Fight Night is the organization’s first excursion to the Pacific Northwest in 12 years.
Back in 2013, a FOX UFC Fight Night took place at KeyArena, the former home court of the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA. That July night, Demetrious Johnson (25-4-1 MMA, 15-2-1 UFC) defended his UFC Flyweight Championship in the main event of the evening by way of fifth-round armbar submission versus John Moraga (19-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC).
It was Johnson’s second defense of the title at 125, and he’d go onto win 12 championship fights under the UFC promotional banner. While KeyArena still stands in February of 2025, it does so under its current name: Climate Pledge Arena, the home ice of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, serving as the host venue of UFC Seattle Saturday night.
Rash of Postponements Strike UFC Seattle and a Short-Notice Debut Coming Up on Saturday
Prior to fight week in Washington State, this card has seen no fewer than seven different contests get postponed for one reason or another, including a heavyweight contest matching Curtis Blaydes (18-5, 1 NC MMA, 13-5, 1 NC UFC) and Rizvan Kuniev (13-2-1, 1 NC MMA, 0-0 UFC) in the latter’s UFC debut. The Blaydes vs. Kuniev tilt has been rescheduled for the March 8 UFC 313 undercard at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Kuniev was last seen in the cage in August of 2024, securing a UFC promotional contract during a return appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series via first-round knockout with one second remaining on the clock. In addition to the series of postponements on UFC Seattle, there’s a fight that was just added earlier Tuesday.
Former Bellator MMA and LFA welterweight Austin Vanderford, has accepted a contracted catchweight (175 lbs) against Nikolay Vertennikov (12-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) ahead of Saturday’s show. Vanderford, who currently owns a 12-2 record across all professional competitions, will be making his promotional debut in UFC Seattle this weekend.
🚨 Austin Vanderford signs with the UFC and will debut this Saturday in Seattle against Nikolay Veretennikov. The bout will be at a catchweight. #UFCSeattle pic.twitter.com/HUHDguERer
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) February 18, 2025
With the addition of the Vanderford vs. Vertennikov contest, this weekend’s card now stands at a full 12-fight slate. Live coverage begins Saturday evening at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT on ESPN+ with the prelims before moving onto main card action at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT.
UFC Seattle Featured Prelim: Ion Cutelaba vs. Ibo Aslan
Light heavyweight action tops the UFC Seattle undercard this upcoming weekend as Ion Cutelaba (18-10-1 MMA, 7-9-1 UFC) takes on Ibo Aslan (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC). Cutelaba enters this weekend’s fight having gone 2-3 in his last five fights.
He’s hoping to build off of a split decision victory in UFC Paris last September over Ivan Erslan (14-4, 1 NC MMA, 0-1 UFC) after three rounds of action. This is Cutelaba’s 30th MMA appearance and 18th under the UFC banner, and he’s had an up-and-down tenure in the promotion?
Will he get his hand raised in victory again on Saturday? Tune in and find out.
Meanwhile, Ibo Aslan has been on a hot streak of late, going 5-0 in his last five fights. Currently, he’s on a six-fight winning streak.
Last time out, he scored a first-round standing TKO in 50 seconds via punches versus Raffael Cerqueira (11-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) during the UFC 308 undercard in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Another victory here would make it seven in succession. Only time will tell, however, if he will be able to get it.
UFC Seattle Co-Featured Prelim: Andre Fili vs. Melquizael Costa
Immediately beforehand, the co-featured undercard fight of UFC Seattle sees action take place in the featherweight ranks. Andre Fili (24-11, 1 NC MMA, 12-10, 1 NC UFC) meets Melquizael Costa (21-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC). Fili enters the card having posted a record of 3-2 over his last five contests.
Back in June of last year, he emerged victorious from his fight against Cub Swanson (30-14 MMA, 15-10 UFC) by way of split decision during UFC 303’s co-featured prelim in Las Vegas. Fili, nicknamed “Touchy”, is a seasoned veteran of MMA, making the walk to the cage for the 37th time on Saturday night.
He hasn’t experienced a sustained winning streak since he rattled off nine victories in succession from October of 2011 to October of 2013. Will a new streak start Saturday?
Across the way, Melquizael Costa comes into the show with a record of 3-2 in his last five fights. Most recently, he scored a third-round submission by way of rear-naked choke over 51-fight veteran Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (39-12 MMA, 3-3 UFC) at the UFC Apex in June of last year.
Although it’s still early days as far as his UFC stint is concerned, the matchmakers have wasted little time giving him contests where he’s on the opposite side of the cage against a seasoned veteran. Already, he’s fought the likes of the aforementioned Nuerdanbieke, Austin Lingo, and Thiago Moises. How will he fare against another veteran in the form of Andre Fili?
UFC Seattle: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein
Also on the UFC Seattle undercard on Saturday night is a middleweight affair matching 2024 Contender Series alumnus Mansur Abdul-Malik (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) with fellow Contender Series season eight graduate Nick Klein (6-1 MMA, UFC promotional debut). Abdul-Malik comes into his sophomore effort in the UFC having yet to lose thus far.
Back in November, he made a successful debut with a first-round knockout (punches) of Dusko Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC) in UFC Vegas 100, netting him the $50,000 (USD) Performance of the Night Award. Abdul-Malik first secured his UFC deal last summer by way of second-round knockout (ground and pound shots) against Wes Schultz (6-2 MMA) on the premiere episode of Contender Series.
He was slated to face off against Antonio Trocoli (12-5, 1 NC MMA, 0-2 UFC) on Saturday before the latter had to withdraw from the fight. Can Mansur Abdul-Malik go 2-for-2 in the UFC here?
In the other corner, Nick Klein will be making his first walk as a UFC fighter this weekend. Currently, he’s sporting a 4-1 record over his last five fights and is on a three-fight winning streak.
Back in October on Contender Series’ season finale, he punched his ticket to the promotion with a first-round submission (rear-naked choke) of Heraldo Souza (9-2-1 MMA) in just 37 seconds. Klein has been known to put opponents away in quick fashion, but will he have another short night at the office this time?
Final Thoughts
Which prelim or prelims are you looking forward to on UFC Seattle? Let us know in the comments.