UFC Fight Night: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sam Patterson Preview & Prediction
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Welterweights throw down in the penultimate bout on the prelims, with Santiago Ponzinnibio taking on Sam Patterson at 170 pounds.
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sam Patterson facts
What time are Santiago Ponzinibbio and Sam Patterson expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 282
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov main card
Magomed Ankalaev vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov (Flyweight)
Islam Dulatov vs Wellington Turman (Welterweight)
Magomed Zaynukov vs Damian Rzepecki (Lightweight)
Rizvan Kuniev vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Abubakar Vagaev vs Saygid Izagakhmaev (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov prelims
Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen (Heavyweight)
Dustin Jacoby vs Muhammad Said (Light Heavyweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sam Patterson (Welterweight)
Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola (Lightweight)
Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Mike Davis (Lightweight)
Cody Gibson vs Abdul Hussein (Bantamweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio: "The Argentine Dagger" looks to defy the odds and Father Time
Once touted as a future title challenger at 170 pounds, Santiago Ponzinnibio (30-9) makes his twenty first walk to the UFC octagon come Saturday night. A seven fight win streak with four finishes between 2015 and 2018 once had “The Argentine Dagger” knocking on the door of the Top 5, but he’s had a rough go of things since a three year lay-off slowed his momentum. Ponzinibbio was starched by Li Jingliang in his return and is just 3-5 since, losing by brutal KO once again to Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez. Ponzinibbio is still crafty and throws with solid power, but his chin has clearly deteriorated as he approaches his fortieth birthday.
Sam Patterson: The English finisher returns with a point to prove after "MVP" snapped his win streak
Returning for his second bout of 2026, a unanimous decision loss to Michael Page in March halted what had been an extremely impressive run for Sam Patterson (14-3-1). Prior to that, the Englishman was riding a four fight win streak with four first round finishes, a remarkable turn of events considering that he lost his debut by KO in just over a minute. The Contender Series graduate is long and rangy for the weight class at 6’3” with a 78” reach; Patterson hits like a truck and has superb scrambles and submissions. At 30 years old, he looks to be hitting his prime and will have a point to prove after a frustrating bout against one of the most elusive strikers in the UFC.
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sam Patterson prediction
This is an extremely rough matchup for Ponzinibbio, something reflected by the current odds. “The Argentine Dagger” is 39, has been stopped by TKO in two of his last three losses, and is on the wrong end of a significant discrepancy in height and reach, facing a younger, more prolific finisher who is extremely dangerous in the early goings. In short, England look poised to exact some MMA based vengeance against Argentina.
Patterson may have come up short against “MVP” in his last appearance, but it’s hard to hold that against him considering Page’s borderline infuriating point striking approach. Ponzinnibbio is not going to bounce around on the outside attempting to pot shot Patterson at range, he’s going to try and meet fire with fire, engaging him in the pocket and looking to find a KO blow.
It’s an approach that is going to end badly for him. Even in victory, the Argentine has been hurt and wobbled in each of his last five fights, something that bodes ill when faced with a striker of Patterson’s power and accuracy. I think the Englishman is going to land something big in the opening minutes here, either following up with ground and pound for the finish or latching up a submission to force a tap from Ponzinibbio.
Prediction: Sam Patterson to win by stoppage
