The UFC Rio lineup has seen last-minute changes but remains on schedule. The promotion returns to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 11 at the Farmasi Arena. Fans will witness a high-profile Fight Night event in the “Cidade Maravilhosa” with an exciting card.
Vicente Luque Gets New Opponent
The welterweight clash between Vicente Luque and Santiago Ponzinibbio fell through after Ponzinibbio withdrew due to injury, according to MMA journalist Alvaro Colmenero. Luque will now face Joel Alvarez, who moves up to the 170-pound division. The Brazilian fighter, known as “The Silent Assassin,” last competed at UFC 316 in June, losing by submission to Kevin Holland in the second round. Luque has two wins in his last six fights and holds a 16-7 UFC record, finishing 14 of his victories.
Alvarez, nicknamed “El Fenomeno,” has not fought since December 2024, when he knocked out Drakkar Klose in the first round at UFC Tampa. He rides a three-fight winning streak and maintains a perfect finishing record across his 22-3 professional record, including a 7-2 run in the UFC.
Other Key Bouts on the Card
The UFC Rio headliner was initially a lightweight clash between former champion Charles Oliveira and Rafael Fiziev. Fiziev withdrew due to injury, and the UFC works to find a replacement for “Do Bronx.” The co-main event features former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo against Montel Jackson in a bantamweight bout.
Main Card
- Lightweight bout: Charles Oliveira vs. TBA
- Bantamweight bout: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Montel Jackson
- Welterweight bout: Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown
- Heavyweight bout: Jhonata Diniz vs. Mário Pinto
- Heavyweight bout: Valter Walker vs. Mohammed Usman
- Welterweight bout: Vicente Luque vs. Joel Alvarez
Preliminary Card
- Flyweight bout: Jafel Filho vs. Clayton Carpenter
- Featherweight bout: Lucas Almeida vs. Michael Aswell
- Heavyweight bout: Vitor Petrino vs. Thomas Petersen
- Featherweight bout: Ricardo Ramos vs. Kaan Ofli
- Flyweight bout: Lucas Rocha vs. Stewart Nicoll
- Strawweight bout: Julia Polastri vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
The UFC Rio card promises action across every weight class. Fighters and fans alike look forward to a stacked night of competitive matchups in Brazil’s vibrant MMA scene.
