UFC Fight Night: MarQuel Mederos vs Mason Jones Preview & Prediction

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

A lightweight banger is on deck for Saturday night's main card, as the surging Mason Jones looks to maintain momentum against MarQuel Mederos.

MarQuel Mederos vs Mason Jones facts

What time are MarQuel Mederos and Mason Jones expected to walk out? 22 August 2026 at 11:00 pm

Where is UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues? Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 285

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

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

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues main card

Anthony Hernandez vs Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)

Serghei Spivac vs Vitor Petrino (Heavyweight)

Reinier de Ridder vs Roman Dolidze (Light Heavyweight)

Mason Jones vs MarQuel Mederos (Lightweight)

Carli Judice vs Jeisla Chaves (Women's Flyweight)

Terrance Chatman vs Anthony Wint (Heavyweight)

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs Rodrigues prelims

Jamall Emmers vs Lerryan Douglas (Featherweight)

Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Shamil Gaziev (Heavyweight)

Nasrat Haqparast vs Chris Padilla (Lightweight)

Marcio Barbosa vs Ryan Kuse (Featherweight)

Gauge Young vs Stanley Dorsainvil (Lightweight)

Wesley Schultz vs Jackson McVey (Middleweight)

Shanelle Dyer vs Elise Reed (Women's Strawweight)

MarQuel Mederos: The American aims to keep his undefeated UFC record intact

Posting a record of 3-0-1 prior to making his fifth walk to the Octagon, MarQuel Mederos (11-1-1) has yet to taste defeat under the UFC banner. A high output striker, Mederos has excellent calf kicks and solid takedown defense. He can also scramble extremely well, meaning that while he’s been taken down in his UFC career, he’s been able to get the fight back into his wheelhouse and take over. The American rattled off three consecutive wins by decision to start life in the promotion, before battling to a hard fought, if somewhat, controversial, draw against Chris Padilla in his last appearance.

Mason Jones: Will "The Dragon" roar his way to victory once again?

Currently riding a three fight win streak, Mason Jones (18-2, 1 NC) has been must see TV since returning to the UFC last year after going 1-2 in his first stint with the promotion. A two weight world champion in Cage Warriors, Jones fights like a man possessed, putting up huge numbers as he attempts to drown his opponents under his pressure. He has excellent boxing combinations and leverages his judo background to produce an extremely well-rounded fighting style, allowing him to feel confident wherever the bout takes place. He’s beaten Jeremy Stephens, Bolaji Oki, and Axel Sola since returning, earning performance bonuses in his last two fights.

MarQuel Mederos vs Mason Jones prediction

With all due respect to Mederos, Jones should be fighting ranked opposition here. He’s an absolute dog who always comes to scrap and has had nothing but straight wars since returning to the UFC. It’s not like he’s been fighting scrubs either; he’s fresh off snatching the previously undefeated Axel Sola’s “0” last time out.

Mederos is a solid opponent in his own right, but I haven’t seen anything from him in his UFC run that indicates he’s a lock to slow “The Dragon’s” current roll. He has yet to score a finish since joining the promotion and has had close fights with opponents that I think the Jones of 2026 would absolutely steamroll.

I think that Jones could well bombed with something nasty in the early goings here; it seemingly happens in every fight. However, not only is the Welshman incredibly difficult to finish, he’s super well-rounded and has the option to force this one to the mat if he gets hurt early. It doesn’t hurt that Mederos has been taken down at least once in all of his UFC fights to date.

I see Mederos having success early before “The Dragon” comes roaring back in the later rounds, leaning on his toughness and cardio to pile on the pressure down the stretch. Jones either outdogs the American to a decision in a brawl or finds a late finish as Mederos flags in the later rounds.

Prediction: Mason Jones to win