Welcome to the Friday edition of the Knockdown Daily. Today is a very light issue! To prepare you for the beginning of the weekend, we have some quick notes about changes happening around the MMA world.
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Notes On: UFC, Bellator, Cage Warriors, LFA, ONE & CES
Undefeated heavyweight Shamil Gaziev (11-0) will make his UFC debut at UFC 296 on December 16th, facing Martin Buday (13-1), as first reported by Nolan King of MMA Junkie. Gaziev earned a UFC contract in September, submitting Greg Velasco in the first round with a rear naked choke on “Dana White’s Contender Series.” Buday is a tough first challenge for him — the 31-year-old has yet to lose through four UFC bouts.
Another Canadian talent has joined UFC 297 on January 20th, per Mike Heck of MMA Fighting. Mike Malott (10-1-1) will get a big step up in opponent when he looks for his fifth UFC win, facing veteran Neil Magny (28-11). Malott has finished all of his UFC opponents in either the first or second round since his 2022 debut.
Three fights have joined Bellator 301, which will take place on November 17th from Chicago, Illinois, USA:
Undefeated featherweight prospect Jefferson Pontes (6-0) will make his Bellator debut against Cody Law (7-2). Pontes enters the promotion with six wins from the regional scene in Brazil since 2019. Law snapped the sole losing streak of his career earlier this year with a win over Edwin Chavez.
Ramazan Kuramagomedov (11-0) will meet 30-fight vet Randall Wallace (20-9-1). Kuramagomedov won his Bellator debut in June with a first-round finish against Jaleel Willis. Wallace is entering Bellator after putting together five consecutive wins on the regional scene.
27-fight Pancrase vet Isao Kobayashi (27-5-2) will return to Bellator to face Yves Landu (27-5-2). Kobayashi had a two-fight Bellator stretch from 2015 to 2016, losing in both appearances. He comes back to the promotion after stringing together six wins and earning the featherweight belt in Pancrase. Landu has earned four wins through five Bellator appearances, including a May win over Piotr Niedzielski.
Cage Warriors will crown a new bantamweight champion at their Newcastle event on November 25th. Fighting for the vacant 135-pound bout will be Liam Gittins (11-4) and Reece McEwan (7-1), as announced by the promotion Thursday. Gittins, a Cage Warriors veteran, is currently on a four-fight winning streak — the longest of his promotional run. McEwan has yet to lose in Cage Warriors through four appearances since 2022.
Also on Cage Warriors 164, bantamweight Kennedy Freeman (3-0) will make her promotional debut against Annabruna Rados (2-2).
Rising featherweights Icaro Brito (7-1) and Demison Rodrigues (8-1) will meet at LFA 171 on November 3rd. Brito won his LFA debut just over a month ago, stopping Junior Duarte with strikes.
CES 75 will take place tonight from the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, USA. UFC vet Charles Rosa (14-8) will make his return to the regional scene in the main event, facing Jonathan Gary (13-13-2) at featherweight.
Also on the card, Don Shainis (13-5) and Regivaldo Carvalho (8-4) will battle for the promotion’s featherweight belt. UFC alum Eric Spicely (13-8) will fight Justin Sumter (8-5) lower in the lineup as well. You can see the full card on Tapology.
This morning at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, ONE Championship will present its 37th Friday Fights card. Muay Thai talents Rafi Bohic and Antar Kacem are scheduled to meet in the main event. Lower on the card, three MMA bouts will take place. Here are those matchups:
Moris Boleyan (7-0) vs. Baatarchuluun Gantogtokh (5-1) (Bantamweight)
Carlo Bumina-ang (2-0) vs. Denis Andreev (1-0) (Featherweight)
Percival Oumo Mwambi (0-0) vs. Kamron Ortikov (1-0) (Catchweight 130 lbs)