LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 03: (R-L) Austin Bashi kicks Dorian Ramos in a featherweight struggle throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season eight, week 4 at UFC APEX on September 3, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
A extremely touted featherweight prospect has booked his UFC debut following a formidable look on Dana White’s Contender Sequence.
Austin Bashi (13-0) will face Christian Rodriguez (11-2) on the UFC’s first card of 2025, a Struggle Evening occasion in Las Vegas on January 11.
UFC officers introduced the pairing on social media. And whereas one other UFC Apex occasion to kick off 2025 may trigger some groans amongst followers, the addition of the undefeated Bashi will add a purpose to observe.
Bashi, a former Lights Out Championship and Shamrock FC bantamweight champ, moved to featherweight firstly of 2024, and has continued to search out success in his new weight class. Posting a 2-0 file this 12 months, he’s completed each of his opponents, most not too long ago submitting Dorian Ramos on DWCS in September.
Christian Rodriguez (11-2) has misplaced solely to Julian Erosa and Jonathan “JSP” Pearce, who’ve each discovered success beneath the UFC banner. “Ceerod” has change into one thing of a litmus take a look at for decent prospects, having fought (and defeated) each Raul Rosas Jr. and Cameron Saaiman early of their UFC runs.
UFC Vegas 101 takes place on January 11, 2025 on the UFC Apex, with the next bouts reported:
César Almeida vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan
Christian Rodriguez vs. Austin Bashi
Trey Ogden vs. Thiago Moisés
Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov
Uroš Medić vs. Punahele Soriano
Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Nicolle Caliari
Preston Parsons vs. Andreas Gustafsson
José Johnson vs. Felipe Bunes
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris
Nurullo Aliev vs. Yanal Ashmouz
Victoria Dudakova vs. Fatima Kline
