UFC Event

The UFC returns to Macau, China next weekend for a rare early morning fight card headlined by the ‘God of War’

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UFC fans in North America should set their alarms nice and early this weekend as the promotion returns to Macau, China, for a solid Fight Night card headlined by former champions Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo.

Less than 48 hours after UFC 309, we're already talking about the next event on the MMA promotion's endless schedule; with this weekend's card featuring a rare early morning start time.

The UFC returns to Macau, China next weekend for a rare morning (US) fight card

After another successful PPV at Madison Square Garden, the UFC ball rolls into China this weekend for an above-average Fight Night card headlined by Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo.

The early heats start at 4pm local time, which translates to a rare start time of midnight on the west coast, 3am on the east coast and 8am UK time.

The fighters competing on the main card will then start making their ring walks from 7pm local time – that's 3am on the US west coast, 6am on the east coast and 11am here in Britain, on the 23rd. November.

Starting November 18, the main card will feature six fights, with six ranked contenders competing:

Petr Yan (3) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (5) – Bantamweight (Main Event)
Yan Xiaonan (2) vs. Tabatha Ricci (10) – Women's Strawweight (co-main event)
Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov – Welterweight
Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes – Women's Flyweight
Volkan Oezdemir (8) vs. Carlos Ulberg (10) – Light heavyweight
Zhang Mingyang vs. Ozzy Diaz – Light Heavyweight

The former bantamweight champion has only fought twice in the past two years, although 'No Mercy' managed to halt the hype train of China's own Song Yadong with an impressive UD win in March.

Meanwhile, Brazil's 'God of War' has had a much stronger schedule of late, with three wins in 13 months over Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt and Marlon Vera – all following his long-awaited move up to 135 pounds.

Seven more fights make up the preliminary and early preliminary card:

Baergeng Jieleyisi vs. Suyoung Yu – Bantamweight
Kiru Singh Sahota vs Donghun Choi – Flyweight
Shi Ming vs. Feng Xiancan – Women's Strawweight
Nyamjargal Tumendemberel vs. Carlos Hernandez – Flyweight
Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa – Flyweight
Xiao Long vs. Quang Le – Bantamweight
Maheshate vs. Nikolas Motta – Lightweight

A reminder that Baergeng Jieleyisi vs Suyoung Yu, Kiru Singh Sahota vs Donghun Choi and Shi Ming vs Feng Xiancan each represent the tournament finals of the recent Road to UFC Season 3 series.

UFC Fight Night: Yan vs Figueiredo is the seventh UFC event to date in China

UFC Fight Night: Yan vs Figueiredo represents the seventh UFC event staged in China (both in Mainland China and in the SAR divisions) and will mark the first time the promotion has returned to the country in over five years .

UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang – August 2019 in Shenzhen, China
UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Ngannou 2 – November 2018 in Beijing, China
UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs Gastelum – November 2017 in Shanghai, China
UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs Le – August 2014 in Macau, SAR, China
The Ultimate Fighter China: Kim vs Hathaway – March 2014 in Macau, SAR, China
UFC on Fuel TV: Franklin vs Le – November 2012 in Macau, SAR, China

UFC Fight Night: Yan vs Figueiredo takes place on Saturday, November 23 – live from the Galaxy Arena in Macau, SAR, China.