The UFC’s upcoming Fresno card is nearing completion with the addition of a bantamweight bout between Frankie Saenz and Octagon newcomer Merab Dvalishvili.
Saenz-Dvalishvili was recently posted to the official UFC Fresno event page following an initial report by MMA DNA.
The 37-year-old Saenz (11-5) will be looking to turn his fortunes around after losing three straight bouts vs. Augusto Mendes, Eddie Wineland, and Urijah Faber. Hailing from Phoenix, Ariz., Saenz emerged as a surprising contender after winning a unanimous decision over the heavily-favored Iuri Alcantara on Feb. 22, 2015. He won his first three UFC fights before going on his current skid.
Dvalishvili (7-2) is a native of the country of Georgia, but he now trains at the Serra BJJ Academy in Huntington, N.Y. He’s been a standout in the Ring of Combat promotion and he brings a six-fight win streak into his UFC debut.
In Dvalishvili’s most recent contest, he needed just 15 seconds to knock out Raufeon Stots with a spinning backfist:
UFC Fight Night 123 takes place at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. on Dec. 9, and it is scheduled to be headlined by a featherweight bout between Cub Swanson and Brian Ortega.
See the updated card below (bout order to be determined):
More News
UFC269: Venezuelan Julianna Peña Submits Brazilian Amanda Nunes, Becomes the new UFC World Champion
Oliveira, Poitier Make Weight for UFC World Title
Hot UFC269: this Saturday Oliveira vs Poirier Ready for War in Las Vegas