Santiago Ponzinibbio is finally set to return to action after spending more than a year out of competition. The veteran welterweight will square off with England’s Sam Patterson at UFC Fight Night 282, scheduled for July 25 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Ponzinibbio back after injury layoff
Ponzinibbio returns from a frustrating injury layoff with plenty to prove. His last outing ended in a TKO loss to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 67 in May 2025, but before that, the Argentine veteran reminded everyone of his finishing power with a knockout win over Carlston Harris at UFC Fight Night 249.
Ponzinibbio was scheduled to meet Vicente Luque at UFC Fight Night 261 last October, but an injury derailed those plans. Now, he heads to Abu Dhabi looking to restart his climb in the welterweight division.
Patterson aims to rebound in Abu Dhabi
Patterson will also be looking to return to the win column after falling to Michael Page by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 270 in March. The loss ended a strong run that saw the English welterweight record four consecutive first-round finishes.
With both fighters coming off defeats, the matchup presents an important opportunity to regain momentum in the UFC’s welterweight division when they meet on July 25 in Abu Dhabi.