UFC Fight Night 289: Elves Brener vs Josiah Harrell Preview & Prediction

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Two fighters looking to bounce back meet on the prelims, as Elves Brener aims to snap a three-fight losing streak against the relentless Josiah Harrell.

Elves Brener vs Josiah Harrell facts

What time are Elves Brener and Josiah Harrell expected to walk out? 27 September 2026 at 1:15 am

Where is UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 289

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos main card

Raul Rosas Jr. vs Raoni Barcelos (Bantamweight)

Norma Dumont vs Ailin Perez (Women's Bantamweight)

Luis Hernandez vs Sedriques Dumas (Light Heavyweight)

Mehemmedeli Osmanli vs Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu (Bantamweight)

Melissa Amaya vs Valesca Machado (Women's Strawweight)

UFC Fight Night 289: Rosas Jr. vs Barcelos prelims

Brady Hiestand vs Rinya Nakamura (Bantamweight)

Rodolfo Vieira vs Robert Bryczek (Middleweight)

Rodolfo Bellato vs Christian Edwards (Light Heavyweight)

Josiah Harrell vs Elves Brener vs Josiah Harrell (Lightweight)

Montel Jackson vs Ricky Simon (Bantamweight)

John Castaneda vs Alateng Heili (Bantamweight)

Vanessa Demopoulos vs Yazmin Jauregui (Women's Strawweight)

Elves Brener: Chute Boxe brawler looking to end his losing skid

Elves Brener (16-6) arrives on a three-fight losing streak, dropping decisions to Myktybek Orolbai and Esteban Ribovics either side of a third-round TKO loss to Joel Alvarez, and he hasn’t competed since August 2025. Those were all quality opponents and hard-fought wars though. With eleven submission wins, Brener is dangerous on the ground and excellent in scrambles, and his takedown defence is solid. He loves a brawl and tends to get better as the fight settles, but that willingness to trade sees him get caught on the feet.

Josiah Harrell: “The Muscle Hamster” drops to lightweight after a rough debut

Josiah Harrell (11-1) suffered the first loss of his career on his UFC debut, a brutal first-round KO against unbeaten welterweight prospect Jacobe Smith at UFC Houston. There’s no shame in losing to a talent like Smith, but the manner of that defeat leaves a question mark. Now dropping to lightweight, where he’ll be a better size though still far from a big 155er, Harrell brings a relentless, high-paced pressure-grappling style built around getting opponents down and punishing them with vicious ground and pound and elbows. On the feet, he throws a bit of everything but lacks real power, speed or technique.

Elves Brener vs Josiah Harrell prediction

Both men fight to break their opponents, pushing a high pace and looking to wear them down, but Brener has done it against a far higher level of opposition, with six UFC fights to Harrell’s one. He’s also the bigger man, with around three inches of height and four inches of reach. 

This is a similar puzzle to the one Brener faced against Orolbai, a relentless pressure fighter mixing strikes to set up takedowns, and he’ll need to have learned from that loss. Harrell isn’t a volume striker, so expect him to use his striking to disguise level changes and shoot at high volume. Brener’s offensive wrestling isn’t great, so his job is to defend, keep the striking pressure on and make Harrell pay for his entries. On the ground it’s hard to see Brener being submitted, as he’s too slick in the scrambles. Harrell’s only real path to a finish is smothering him and landing enough ground and pound. 

Both men have the cardio for three rounds, but Brener’s experience and extra ways to win, on the feet and on the floor, should pull him through. With Harrell the slight favourite, there’s value on the underdog.

Prediction: Elves Brener to win