UFC Fight Night Bautista vs Oliveira: Preview, fight card, start time, where to watch & more
(Courtesy : UFC)
UFC Fight Night Bautista vs Oliveira comes in with a stacked card
The first Fight Night of the new year always feels a little different, and UFC Fight Night Bautista vs Oliveira carries that familiar buzz of promise.
Set for Saturday, February 7 (Sunday, February 8 local time in Asia), the UFC returns to its proving ground at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a deep card that blends rising contenders, established names, and stylistic intrigue from top to bottom. The event will stream live on Paramount+.
The prelims are scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET, with the main card following at 8:00 p.m. ET, making it an easy Saturday night watch for North American fans.
Headlining the show is a bantamweight main event between Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira, a matchup that pits Bautista’s pressure-heavy, well-rounded attack against Oliveira’s explosiveness and finishing instincts.
It’s the kind of pairing that often defines UFC Fight Night events: competitive, meaningful, and capable of producing a breakout moment.
The main card is stacked with compelling clashes, including Amir Albazi vs Kyoji Horiguchi, heavyweight firepower as Jailton Almeida meets Rizvan Kuniev, and a hard-hitting middleweight bout between Michal Oleksiejczuk and Marc-Andre Barriault.
Also featured are Jean Matsumoto vs Farid Basharat and Dustin Jacoby vs Julius Walker. The prelims are just as rich, with matchups including Alex Morono vs Daniil Donchenko, Niko Price vs Nikolay Veretennikov, Said Nurmagomedov vs Javid Basharat, and Priscila Cachoeira vs Klaudia Sygula.
From start to finish, this is one of those Apex cards that quietly promises fireworks, the perfect way to settle into the UFC calendar for 2026.
UFC Fight Night Bautista vs Oliveira: Main card
- Mario Bautista vs Vinicius Oliveira
- Amir Albazi vs Kyoji Horiguchi
- Jailton Almeida vs Rizvan Kuniev
- Michal Oleksiejczuk vs Marc-Andre Barriault
- Jean Matsumoto vs Farid Basharat
- Dustin Jacoby vs Julius Walker
UFC Fight Night Bautista vs Oliveira: Preliminary card
- Alex Morono vs Daniil Donchenko
- Nikolay Veretennikov vs Niko Price
- Bruna Brasil vs Ketlen Souza
- Said Nurmagomedov vs Javid Basharat
- Wang Cong vs Eduarda Moura
- Muin Gafurov vs Jakub Wiklacz
- Klaudia Sygula vs Priscila Cachoeira
Mario Bautista vs Vinicius Oliveira
As the UFC gears up for its third event of the year, fans are once again treated to a meaningful bantamweight matchup, with Top 15 contenders Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira set to collide in a main event that carries genuine divisional significance.
Bautista has quietly built himself into a Top 10 fixture, stringing together eight consecutive victories that included notable wins over Jose Aldo and Patchy Mix.
After seeing that momentum halted in his UFC 321 loss to Umar Nurmagomedov, the 32-year-old MMA Lab standout now looks to reset the narrative in his first UFC headlining assignment.
Standing opposite him is Oliveira, who has gone a perfect 4-0 since joining the roster. With recent decision wins over Said Nurmagomedov and Kyler Phillips, the aggressive Brazilian has surged to No. 11 and rides a six-fight winning streak into Saturday.
Either the veteran steadies the ship and holds position, or the bantamweight gains another fresh contender to track in 2026. Either way, fireworks feel inevitable.
Date, Time, and Venue
| Information | Details |
| Event Name | UFC Fight Night Bautista vs Oliveira |
| Date | Saturday, February 7, 2026 (Sunday, February 8 in UK/India/Australia) |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Venue | UFC Apex |
| Capacity | Approximately 1,000 (closed-venue setup) |
| Prelims Start Time (US) | 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT |
| Main Card Start Time (US) | 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT |
| Main Event Cage Walks (US) | Approx. 9:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM PT |
| Prelims Start Time (India) | 3:30 AM IST (Sunday, February 8) |
| Main Card Start Time (India) | 6:30 AM IST (Sunday, February 8) |
| Main Event Cage Walks (India) | Approx. 8:00 AM IST (Sunday, February 8) |
| Prelims Start Time (UK) | 12:00 AM GMT (Sunday, February 8) |
| Main Card Start Time (UK) | 3:00 AM GMT (Sunday, February 8) |
| Main Event Cage Walks (UK) | Approx. 4:30 AM GMT (Sunday, February 8) |
| Where to Watch (US) | Paramount+ |
| Where to Watch (UK & Europe) | UFC Fight Pass |
| Where to Watch (India) | Sony LIV / UFC Fight Pass |
| Where to Watch (Australia) | UFC Fight Pass / Kayo Sports |
When is UFC Fight Night Bautista vs Oliveira?
The event takes place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Due to time-zone differences, the card will air early Sunday, February 8, in the UK, India, and Australia.
What time do the prelims and main card start?
The prelims are scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET, with the main card starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Mario Bautista vs Vinicius Oliveira main event cage walks are expected at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET, depending on the length of the undercard.
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Blesson Daniel is a sub-editor who spends his days organizing words and managing social media, crafting bursts of creativity designed to make people smile. He occasionally dives into writing as well — whether it’s crafting articles, brainstorming ideas, or finding the perfect caption. Believing that every piece of writing offers an opportunity to tell a story, Blesson brings creativity and thoughtfulness to every project he takes on. When he’s not glued to his laptop, Blesson is likely planning his next travel adventure or losing himself in music. A passionate explorer of new places, sounds, and ideas, he believes in balancing work, play, and a good playlist in the background. Whether he’s editing, writing, or daydreaming about his next trip, Blesson is always chasing that sweet spot where creativity and curiosity collide to create something memorable.