A lightweight bout is the first addition to the UFC’s return to New Zealand.
Magomed Mustafaev (15-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will take on Brad Riddell (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC Auckland. The fight was first reported by journalist Igor Lazorin.
UFC Auckland takes place Feb. 22 (Sunday, Feb. 23 locally) at Spark Arena in Auckland. The card is likely to stream on ESPN+.
Mustafaev returned from a layoff of two and a half years in April and picked up a first-round finish of Rafael Fiziev in Russia. He earned a “Performance of the Night” bonus for the TKO. He was scheduled to take on Don Madge at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, but was forced out due to undisclosed reasons. Mustafaev has finished all 15 of his pro MMA wins.
The New Zealand-born Riddell made good on his UFC debut in a “Fight of the Night” unanimous decision win against Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 243. The former kickboxer trains with the likes of UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and lightweight contender Dan Hooker at the City Kickboxing gym in Auckland.
