Dana White recently appeared on the Full Send Podcast. The UFC head honcho talked for the best part of an hour but it wasn’t what he said which is making headlines so much as what the video inadvertently showed.
During the footage a poster appeared on the wall of Dana White’s office which featured several matchups which have not been officially confirmed. Among them was a bantamweight bout pitting Rinya Nakamura against Brady Hiestand at UFC Fight Night 236 on February 10th.
Dana White x Full Send Podcast pic.twitter.com/BHSTZ9zv9A
— Full Send Podcast (@fullsendpodcast) November 28, 2023
Not confirmed
While this fight is clearly in the works it has not been officially confirmed. If it does push through then Nakamura (8-0) will be looking to build on a very successful 2023.
The 28 year old won the Road to UFC bantamweight tournament to earn a full time spot on the roster. Nakamura is a decorated wrestler who only made his MMA debut in 2021.
Nakamura is coming off a decision win over Fernie Garcia at UFC Singapore. Hiestand (7-2) also holds a decision win over Garcia and reached the final of TUF 29 to earn his spot on the roster.
He is coming off a stoppage win over Danaa Batgerel at UFC Vegas 71.
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Five wins
The event is set for the Apex Centre and will also feature Loma Lookboonmee. The Thai strawweight will be facing Bruna Brasil at UFC Fight Night 236 which is set for Las Vegas on February 10th.
She has won her last two fights but only got to compete once in 2022. Loma submitted Elise Reed in the second round at UFC 284 but subsequently suffered an arm injury in training which required surgery.
Brasil earned a contract after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series. Her UFC debut did not go to plan as she was knocked out by Denise Gomes, who Loma holds a win over.
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Best of the rest
The poster which was visible on the video had a main event that has yet to be officially announced. Lightweights Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov are penciled in to face off in the headliner.
The event also features a middleweight fight between Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer. The former is ranked #10 while the latter will be looking to break into the top 15 with a win here.
UFC Fight Night 236, Las Vegas, February 10th
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (Lightweight) *TBC
Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brad Tavares (Middleweight)
Michael Johnson vs. Darrius Flowers (Lightweight)
Trevin Giles vs. Carlos Prates (Welterweight)
Loma Lookboonmee vs. Bruna Brasil (Strawweight)
Rinya Nakamura vs. Brady Hiestand (Bantamweight) *TBC
