UFC Fight Night 289: Mehemmedeli Osmanli vs Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu Preview & Prediction

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Team Bisping teammates turn rivals as Mehemmedeli Osmanli and Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu settle their differences in the TUF 34 bantamweight final.

Mehemmedeli Osmanli vs Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu facts

What time are Mehemmedeli Osmanli and Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu expected to walk out? 27 September 2026 at 2:15 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)

Mehemmedeli Osmanli: “The Ineffable” looks to cap off a show-stealing season

Mehemmedeli Osmanli (12-1) has been the standout finisher of TUF 34, submitting Artem Belakh with a rear-naked choke before putting Christian Strong to sleep with a buggy choke, the first in the show’s history. The 22-year-old from Azerbaijan hasn’t lost since 2022 and is a skilled all-rounder, with far more submissions than knockouts on his record. He fights out of southpaw with clean counter striking and nasty knees in the pocket, and once the fight hits the mat, he’s urgent with his ground and pound.

Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu: Kyrgyz grinder chasing a UFC contract

Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu (10-3) rebounded from back-to-back losses in ONE Championship with two submission wins, the most recent earning him the AFP bantamweight title last December. On the show, he edged Sean Mora by split decision before outpointing Xavier Franklin. Akylbek Uulu has never won by knockout, relying on his grappling with six submissions and four decisions. He pushes opponents back with cage pressure, feints, and patient, low-volume striking. He’s at his best with a hold of you, hunting trips in the clinch. The concern is his chin, as all three of his losses have come by knockout.

Mehemmedeli Osmanli vs Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu prediction

There’s bad blood here. The pair clashed during a sparring session in the house and had to be pulled apart by Bisping’s coaching staff, so expect neither man to be holding back on Saturday.

Both are capable grapplers, but their approaches differ. Akylbek Uulu is the more positional of the two, while Osmanli is more aggressive on top and hunts finishes from anywhere. Akylbek Uulu will want to walk Osmanli onto the cage and work his trips, but Osmanli’s scrambling and submission threat should make him think twice about what he’s getting into on the floor.

On the feet, that’s where Osmanli holds a clear edge. His counter striking is far cleaner, and Akylbek Uulu’s patient, low-volume pressure will give him plenty of looks at a man with a proven vulnerable chin. Expect Osmanli to piece his opponent up on the feet, or time an entry with the southpaw straight, then follow him to the mat for ground and pound or a submission.

Prediction: Mehemmedeli Osmanli to win inside the distance