By:  | November 22, 2023 1:13 pm

The light heavyweight bout between Zhang Mingyang and Brendson Ribeiro has been moved to UFC 298. The two had originally been set to face off in Shanghai next month but will now be fighting in Los Angeles on February 17th.

Mingyang had been booked to face Tyson Pedro at UFC 284 in February. He pulled out of that contest due to an undisclosed injury but will finally be making his promotional debut a year later

When the Shanghai event was moved to Las Vegas he had to withdraw from the card as there was not enough time to secure a visa. Mingyang (16-6) is on a ten fight winning streak that culminated in a KO victory over George Tokkos at a Road to UFC event last year.

Career renaissance

Ribeiro (15-5) will also be making his UFC debut. He is riding a three fight winning streak and earned the contract after knocking out fellow Brazilian Bruno Lopes at Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this month.

Lopes had come into that contest with an 11-0 record so Ribeiro made a big impression by finishing him in the first round. It was a major upset as the odds were +600 in favour of the undefeated light heavyweight.

Ribeiro has been a professional since 2015 and won his first seven fights. But he endured a mediocre spell midway through his career with just five victories in 11 bouts.

The 27 year old has well and truly turned things around and was crowned as Shooto Brazil light heavyweight champion last year.

Japanese welterweight

Also confirmed for this card is Yusaku Kinoshita (6-3). The Japanese welterweight has been stopped in the opening round of both his UFC fights to date.

Kinoshita scored a big stoppage win of his own at Dana White’s Contender Series last year. But he hasn’t been able to replicate that form inside the actual octagon.

At UFC 298 he faces Danny Barlow (7-0). The American is also a Dana White’s Contender Series alumni and will be making his UFC debut on February 17th.

Featherweight king

Alex Volkanovski (26-3) came up short in his rematch with Islam Makhachev. He might have slipped down the pound for pound rankings after that loss but there is no question the Australian is the best featherweight on the planet.

He will be putting his UFC featherweight title on the line against Ilia Topuria (14-0). The #5 ranked Georgian has won six out of six since signing for the promotion.

UFC 298, Los Angeles, February 17th
Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Ilia Topuria (For featherweight title)
Zhang Mingyang vs. Brendson Ribeiro (Light heavyweight)
Danny Barlow vs. Yusaku Kinoshita (Welterweight)
Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Justin Tafa (Heavyweight)