Austin Vanderford, the former Bellator standout and husband of ex-UFC fighter Paige VanZant, is set to return to the Octagon as he looks to make a bigger impact in the UFC. Vanderford (13-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is slated to face promotional newcomer Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 266 on Feb. 21 at Houston’s Toyota Center.
The matchup was confirmed to MMA Junkie by two sources familiar with the booking, though the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The news was initially reported by Leo Guimaraes.
Vanderford’s UFC Journey
Vanderford made his UFC debut in February, earning a second-round TKO victory over Nikolay Veretennikov. He returned in October but suffered a second-round submission loss to Ramiz Brahimaj. Prior to joining the UFC, Vanderford built his reputation as a former Bellator title challenger, posting a 5-2 record in the promotion between 2019 and 2022.
At 35, Vanderford aims to reestablish himself in the middleweight division and climb the UFC ranks after a mixed start to his tenure with the organization.
Meet the Debutant: Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani, 26, has been on the UFC’s radar for some time. He earned his spot in the promotion after a spectacular knockout of Jack Congdon on Dana White’s Contender Series in September, extending his winning streak to four.
This fight will mark Lebosnoyani’s UFC debut and presents an opportunity for the young contender to make a strong first impression on the world stage.
UFC Fight Night 266 Highlights
In addition to Vanderford vs. Lebosnoyani, UFC Fight Night 266 will feature several other compelling bouts, including:
- Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez
- Serghei Spivac vs. Ante Delija
- Alibi Idiris vs. Ode Osbourne
- Michel Pereira vs. Zach Reese
- Alden Coria vs. Luis Gurule
- Seok Hyeon Ko vs. Jacobe Smith
Fans can expect an action-packed card when the event takes place in Houston on Feb. 21.
