A flyweight division attraction has been added to UFC 251 as #14 Raulian Paiva faces Zhalgas Zhumagulov.
MMA Junkie first reported the bout, which is expected to be a part of the preliminary card.
Paiva (19-3-0) has won just one of three under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Mark De La Rosa at UFC Fight Night Rio Rancho. Paiva competed on Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil Episode 3, defeating Allen Nascimento by split decision. Paiva has picked up nineteen wins as a professional MMA fighter and twelve of them came by way of decision.
Zhumagulov (13-3-0) is going to be making his UFC debut in this bout and does so on the strength of a four fight winning streak. Zhumagulov is a former Fight Nights Global Flyweight Champion, defeating Tyson Nam to win the gold at FNG 86. Zhumagulov has seen his last five fights go the distance and it has been over three years since the fighter got a finish.
UFC 251 takes place on Saturday, July 11 from Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi with Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
