Rinat Fakhretdinov will fight UFC newcomer Carlos Leal at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, after Leal stepped in for Nursulton Ruziboev, who withdrew for undisclosed reasons.
Rinat Fakhretdinov is set to fight at UFC 308. Yup, it’s happening!
Sources tell MMA Fighting that Fakhretdinov will face Carlos Leal, a newcomer to the UFC scene. The showdown is slated for the Oct. 26 pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi. Eurosport spilled the beans first.
Leal’s stepping in for Nursulton Ruziboev. Why? Well, Ruziboev had to bow out due to some mysterious reasons. So, Leal’s making his octagon debut with just a week’s notice. Talk about pressure!
This guy’s no stranger to the ring, though. He’s a seven-fight PFL veteran and boasts a 3-0 record with LFA. Nicknamed “The Lion,” he made it to the PFL 2023 playoffs but got knocked out by Sadibou Sy. Since then? He’s been on fire, finishing his last two opponents in the first round.
Fakhretdinov’s on a roll too. Unbeaten in his last 11 fights and inside the octagon, he recently snagged a split decision win over Nicolas Dalby at UFC Saudi Arabia in June.
Oh, and don’t forget—UFC 308 will be headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway for the featherweight title. Can’t wait!