UFC Fight Night 182 has lost one of its main card fights the day before the show.
UFC Fight Night 182 has lost one of its main card fights the day before the show.
Due to weight-cutting issues, [autotag]Saparbek Safarov[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) has been pulled from his middleweight fight against [autotag]Julian Marquez[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and the fight has been scrapped, the UFC announced Friday.
UFC Fight Night 182 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
Marquez was set to return after a layoff of more than two years. After a second-round submission win over Darren Stewart in his UFC debut, Marquez suffered a torn latissimus dorsi in a split decision loss to Alessio Di Chirico at the TUF 27 Finale in July 2018. Two surgeries followed, and now his return is on hold again.
Safarov who has one win in four UFC appearances – a unanimous decision win over Nicolae Negumereanu in March 2019. In his most recent outing at UFC 248 in March, Safarov was submitted in the first round by Rodolfo Vieira.
With the removal, the UFC Fight Night 182 lineup now includes:
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 182 event in Las Vegas, featuring Rafael dos Anjos vs. Paul Felder.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 182 event in Las Vegas.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC Fight Night 182 event staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. UFC Fight Night 182 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
Israel Adesanya is one of six fighters in need of further evaluation after UFC 248.
[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] is one of six fighters in need of further evaluation after UFC 248.
The UFC middleweight champion Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who defended his title in a unanimous decision over Yoel Romero (13-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in Saturday’s headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, needs X-rays on both of his feet before obtaining clearance to fight again.
Monday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of medical suspensions from the Nevada Athletic Commission, the body that oversaw the event.
Complete UFC 248 medical suspensions include:
* * * *
Israel Adesanya: Needs X-rays of both feet. If injury discovered, must have doctor’s clearance or no contact until April 9; minimum suspension no contact until April 29.
[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]: Suspended until May 5; no contact until April 22.
[autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag]: Suspended until May 5; no contact until April 22.
[autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag]: Needs MRI on right knee. If injury discovered, must have doctor’s clearance or no contact until April 9.
[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag]: Suspended until April 22; no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag]: Suspended until April 22; no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag]: Suspended until April 22; no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag]: Needs MRI on left shoulder. If injury discovered, must have doctor’s clearance or no contact until Sept. 4; minimum suspension with no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: Needs X-ray on left foot. If injury discovered, must have doctor’s clearance or no contact until Sept. 4; minimum suspension with no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Jose Quinonez[/autotag]: Suspended until April 22; no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Mark Madsen[/autotag]: Needs X-ray on left foot. If injury discovered, must have doctor’s clearance or no contact until Sept. 4; minimum suspension with no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag]: Suspended until April 22; no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: Needs X-ray on left ankle. If injury discovered, must have doctor’s clearance or no contact until Sept. 4; minimum suspension with no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag]: Suspended until April 7; no contact until March 29.
[autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag]: Suspended until April 22; no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Danaa Batgerel[/autotag]: Needs X-ray on right foot. If injury discovered, must have doctor’s clearance or no contact until Sept. 4; minimum suspension with no contact until April 7.
[autotag]Guido Cannetti[/autotag]: Suspended until April 22; no contact until April 7.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was the highest earner at UFC 248, taking home more than double that of the card’s other champ.
Middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] was the highest earner at UFC 248, taking home more than twice as much disclosed pay as the card’s other defending champ.
Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) made $500,000 with no win bonus for his main event title defense against challenger [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Romero made $350,000 in defeat.
The other defending champion on the card, Zhang Weili (21-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) netted $200,000 for beating [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who got $106,000 in the memorable title contest.
The total disclosed payroll for the event was $2.086 million.
[lawrence-related id=498140,498112,498098]
Complete disclosed salaries for UFC 248:
Israel Adesanya: $500,000 (no win bonus)
def. Yoel Romero: $350,000
The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, including the official UFC 248 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay. They also do not include any other “locker room” or special discretionary bonuses the UFC sometimes pays. They also do not include pay-per-view cuts that some top-level fighters receive.
For example, UFC officials handed out additional $50,000 UFC 248 fight-night bonuses to Dariush and O’Malley for “Performance of the Night,” and Weili and Jedrzejczyk for “Fight of the Night.”
In other words, the above figures are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.
The best facts and figures to come out of UFC 248, which saw Israel Adesanya beat Yoel Romero in the main event.
The UFC returned to Las Vegas for the second time this year on Saturday with UFC 248, which took place at T-Mobile Arena with a main card that aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
Two title fights sat atop the card, and neither champion was unseated. [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) kept ahold of his middleweight strap with a unanimous decision win over [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in the main event, while [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (21-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) managed retain her strawweight title by edging out [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in a split decision.
For more on the numbers to come out of the title bouts, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 40 post-event facts from UFC 248.
Betting favorites improved to 5-2 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 11-bout card was 2:16:14.
Main card
Israel Adesanya
Adesanya’s 19-fight winning streak is third longest among active UFC fighters behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (28) and Zhang (21).
Adesanya’s 19-fight winning streak is the longest among active UFC middleweights.
Adesanya’s eight-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.
Romero’s three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.
Romero fell to 1-4 in his past five fights dating back to July 2017.
Romero has suffered all four of his UFC losses by decision.
Zhang Weili
Weili extended her winning streak to 21 fights. She hasn’t suffered a defeat since her MMA debut in November 2013.
Weili’s 21-fight winning streak is the second longest among all fighters on the UFC roster behind Nurmagomedov (28).
Weili’s five-fight UFC winning streak at strawweight is with Tatiana Suarez and Yan Xiaonan for the longest active streak in the division.
Weili and Jedrzejczyk combined for 351 significant strikes landed, the third most in UFC title-fight history. Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega hold the record with 400 total at UFC 231.
Jedrzejczyk fell to 2-4 in her past six fights dating back to when she lost the UFC strawweight title in November 2017.
Jedrzejczyk is one of two fighters UFC history to land 100 or more significant strikes in eight separate fights. Max Holloway also accomplished the feat.
Jedrzejczyk has suffered three of her four career losses by decision.
Dariush’s (18-4-1 MMA, 12-4-1 UFC) 12 UFC lightweight victories since 2014 are the most in the division.
[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag] (11-2-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) suffered the first knockout loss of his career.
Neil Magny
[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]’s (22-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) 15 victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Georges St-Pierre (19) and Matt Hughes (16).
Magny’s 15 victories since 2013 in UFC competition are second most among active fighters in the company behind Donald Cerrone (17).
Magny has earned nine of his 15 UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) has suffered five of his six career losses by decision.
[autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] (20-8-1 MMA, 10-6 UFC) improved to 8-5 (with one no contest) in UFC welterweight competition.
[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] (15-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC) fell to 1-4 in his past five UFC appearances dating back to July 2018.
Griffin has suffered seven of his eight career losses by decision.
Preliminary card
Sean O’Malley
O’Malley (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has earned eight of 11 career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered three of his four career losses by decision. That includes both of his UFC defeats.
[autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag] (7-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned all seven of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished both of his UFC wins by submission.
[autotag]Saparbek Safarov[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) was unsuccessful in his middleweight debut.
Safarov has suffered all of his career losses by stoppage.
[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] (30-12 MMA, 6-4 UFC) has earned 28 of his 30 carer victories by stoppage. That includes all six of his UFC wins.
[autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career 6-0.
Winn suffered the first submission loss of his career.
[autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by (split) decision.
[autotag]Guido Cannetti[/autotag] (8-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) suffered the first knockout loss of his career.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 248 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $257,000.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 248 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $257,000.
The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
UFC 248 took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
The full UFC 248 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
Check out all the fighter walkout songs from Saturday’s UFC 248 event.
While it takes intense training, world-class skills and maybe even a bit of luck to register a UFC win, picking the right song to accompany you to the cage is a key talent, as well.
Inside, see what the fighters from UFC 248 went with as their backing tracks in Las Vegas.
The best facts and figures about UFC 248, which features a Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero middleweight title main event.
The UFC returns to Las Vegas on Saturday with another major event in UFC 248, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC-Fight Pass.
A championship doubleheader sits atop the card. In the main event, undefeated titleholder [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) seeks the first defense of his belt when he takes on [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC). The co-headliner, meanwhile, will see [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) attempt to defend her belt for the first time, as well, when she takes on former champ [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC).
For more on the numbers bheind the two title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 55 pre-event facts about UFC 248.
* * * *
Main event
[jwplayer rhvo7V76-RbnemIYZ]
Adesanya is one of 13 fighters in UFC history to win an undisputed title with an undefeated record.
Adesanya is one of 11 undisputed middleweight champions in UFC history.
Adesanya’s 18-fight winning streak is third longest among active UFC fighters behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (28) and Zhang (20).
Adesanya’s 18-fight winning streak is the longest among active UFC middleweights.
Adesanya’s seven-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Adesanya’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC middleweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Anderson Silva (13) and Nate Marquardt (12).
Adesanya’s four knockdowns landed against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 are the single-fight record for a UFC title bout.
Adesanya defends 66.7 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Chael Sonnen (67.7 percent) and Marvin Vettori (67 percent).
Adesanya defends 85.7 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the second best rate in divisional history behind Krzysztof Jotko (86 percent).
Adesanya’s six fight-night bonuses for UFC middleweight bouts are tied for third most in company history behind Anderson Silva (11) and Robert Whittaker (seven).
Yoel Romero
Romero is the second fighter in history to fight for a title following consecutive non-title UFC losses. Tank Abbott also accomplished the feat.
Romero enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He’s 1-3 in his past four fights dating back to July 2017.
Romero’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC middleweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Silva (13) and Marquardt (12).
Romero’s seven knockout victories in UFC middleweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Silva (eight) and Thiago Santos (eight).
Romero’s six third-round stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Max Holloway and Randy Couture for most in company history. Romero leads the category in knockouts.
Romero is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn back-to-back victories by third-round knockout. He’s accomplished the feat twice in his career.
Romero is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn two knockout victories stemming from a flying knee. Diego Sanchez also accomplished the feat.
Romero is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from elbow strikes to the body. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 35.
Romero and Robert Whittaker combined for 239 significant strikes landed, the single-fight record for a five-fight UFC middleweight fight.
Co-main event
[jwplayer dTlSm0HF-RbnemIYZ]
Weili is the only UFC champion born in China.
Weili enters the event on a 20-fight winning streak. She hasn’t suffered a defeat since her MMA debut in November 2013.
Weili’s 20-fight winning streak is the longest among female fighters on the UFC roster.
Weili’s 20-fight winning streak is the second longest among all fighters on the UFC roster behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (28).
Weili’s four-fight UFC winning streak in strawweight competition is the third longest active streak in the division behind Tatiana Suarez (five) and Yan Xiaonan (five).
Weili’s 42-second victory at UFC on ESPN+ 15 is the second fastest finish in UFC strawweight history behind Poliana Botelho’s 33-second win at UFC 236.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Jedrzejczyk became the first Polish-born champion in UFC history when she defeated Carla Esparza at UFC 185.
Jedrzejczyk is one of 13 fighters in UFC history to win a belt with an undefeated record.
Jedrzejczyk’s six victories in UFC title fights are tied with Ronda Rousey for second most of any female in company history behind Amanda Nunes (seven).
Jedrzejczyk’s 10 victories in UFC competition are third most of any female in company history behind Nunes (12) and Jessica Andrade (11).
Jedrzejczyk competes in her 14th UFC bout, the second most appearances by any female in company history behind Jessica Andrade (15).
Jedrzejczyk’s 10 victories in UFC strawweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Jedrzejczyk has earned 11 of her 16 career victories by decision. That includes seven of her 10 UFC wins.
Jedrzejczyk has out-landed her opponents 1,441-628 in significant strikes over her past 11 UFC appearances.
Jedrzejczyk is one of two fighters UFC history to land 100 or more significant strikes in seven separate fights. Holloway also accomplished the feat.
Jedrzejczyk’s 225 significant strikes landed against Andrade at UFC 211 are second most for a UFC title-fight record. Holloway holds the record with 290 landed at UFC 231.
Jedrzejczyk’s 76 leg kicks landed against Michelle Waterson at UFC on ESPN+ 19 are the single-fight UFC record.
Remaining main card
Drakkar Klose
[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag] (11-1-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) has earned all five of his UFC victories by decision.
Klose’s average fight time of 15:00 in UFC lightweight competition is the longest among active fighters in the weight class.
[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Nov. 17, 2018. The 476-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 10-year career.
Magny becomes the seventh fighter to make 21 or more UFC welterweight appearances.
Magny’s 14 victories since 2013 in UFC competition are second most among active fighters in the company behind Donald Cerrone (17).
Magny is the only fighter in modern UFC history to make five or more octagon appearances in consecutive years. He went 4-1 in 2015 after going 5-0 in 2014.
Magny’s five UFC victories in 2014 tied Roger Huerta’s record for most octagon wins in a calendar year. Huerta accomplished the feat in 2007.
Magny’s 100 significant ground strikes landed against Hector Lombard at UFC Fight Night 85 stand as the single-fight UFC record.
Magny’s 142 total strikes landed in the second round of his victory against Lombard stand as the third most in a single UFC round.
Li Jingliang
[autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC) is 7-1 in his past eight UFC appearances dating back to July 2016.
Jingliang has earned all six of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
Jingliang’s six knockout victories since 2014 in UFC welterweight competition are tied with Vicente Luque for most in the division.
[autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag]’s (19-8-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2018.
Oliveira is 7-5 (with one no contest) in UFC welterweight competition.
Oliveira vs. Yancy Medeiros at UFC 218 is the only fight in UFC history to feature two knockdowns for each fighter.
Preliminary card
Sean O’Malley
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since March 3, 2018. The 735-day layoff is the longest of his more than five-year career.
O’Malley has earned both of his UFC victories by decision.
[autotag]Saparbek Safarov[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) drops to the UFC middleweight division after spending his previous promotional appearances at light heavyweight.
[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] (29-12 MMA, 5-4 UFC) has earned 27 of his 29 career victories by stoppage. That includes all five of his UFC wins.
Meerschaert is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 102.
[autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) landed 169 significant strikes at UFC on ESPN+ 12, the single-fight record for a UFC middleweight bout.
[autotag]Emily Whitmire[/autotag]’s (4-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) 61-second victory at UFC on ESPN 1 is the fastest submission in UFC strawweight history.
[autotag]Polyana Viana[/autotag]’s (10-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
The lineup has been set for what promises to be an explosive night of action in Las Vegas.
UFC 248 will feature a championship doubleheader showcasing four elite competitors from all over the world.
Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya of New Zealand will put his title on the line against Yoel Romero, from South Florida by way of Cuba, in the main event.
The melting pot that is UFC 248 takes place March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Both Adesanya (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Zhang (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to remain undefeated in the UFC.
The finalized UFC 248 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero – for middleweight title
Champ Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – for strawweight title
[autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag]
[autotag]Li Jingliang[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]
[autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag]
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
[autotag]Shane O’Malley[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jose Quinonez[/autotag]
[autotag]Austin Hubbard[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mark Madsen[/autotag]
[autotag]Saparbek Safarov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag]
[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Deron Winn[/autotag]
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)
[autotag]Polyana Viana[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Emily Whitmire[/autotag]
[autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag]
[autotag]Danaa Batgerel[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Guido Cannetti[/autotag]
A middleweight bout between Rodolfo Vieira and Saparbek Safarov is the latest addition to UFC 248.
[autotag]Rodolfo Vieira[/autotag] has his first fight for 2020 booked.
Jiu-jitsu standout Vieira (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets [autotag]Saparbek Safarov[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in a middleweight bout at UFC 248. MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with a person with knowledge of the matchup following an initial report by MMA DNA.
UFC 248 takes place March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
[lawrence-related id=478296,477828,475943]
Vieira, a decorated grappler who won an Abu Dhabi Combat Club gold medal in 2015 and is a multiple-time IBJJF champion, will be looking to remain undefeated in his MMA career. Vieira most recently fought in August with a successful UFC debut. He submitted Oskar Piechota in the second round at UFC on ESPN+ 14 in Uruguay.
Safarov most recently was seen this past March at UFC on ESPN+ 5 in London. He outpointed Nicolae Negumereanu to win his first bout in the promotion after losses in his first two UFC fights to Tyson Pedro and Gian Villante.
With the addition, the UFC 248 lineup now includes:
Champ Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – for women’s strawweight title
