Santiago Ponzinibbio returns against British finisher at UFC Abu Dhabi

Santiago Ponzinibbio will return to action at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 (UFC Fight Night 282) in a welterweight bout against British finisher Sam Patterson. The 13-fight card announcement came via UFC social media, though the Ponzinibbio–Patterson matchup's placement on the main card remains unconfirmed.

Argentina's Ponzinibbio, who turns 40 in September, has endured a difficult stretch in recent years. Once riding a seven-fight winning streak that featured victories over Neil Magny and Mike Perry, the "Argentine Dagger" has since compiled a 3–6 record since 2021. His most recent outing saw him knock out Carlston Harris in the third round in January 2025, but that came after a May 2024 loss to Daniel Rodriguez, who finished him with a body kick and follow-up strikes.

Patterson (14-3-1) enters on a similar downswing. The British fighter, known as "The Future," boasted a four-fight first-round finish streak before losing a decision to Michael Page in his last fight—notably the first time Patterson heard the final bell since June 2021 across an eight-bout span. Patterson carries a 93% stoppage rate, split nearly evenly between knockouts and submissions. A striking finish by Patterson would give him seven KOs and seven subs.

**UFC Abu Dhabi (July 25) Full Card:**