Fan favorite Kris Moutinho is poised to make his comeback to the UFC octagon.
The 32-year-old bantamweight, recognized for his memorable and resilient performance against Sean O`Malley during his initial two-fight run with the promotion between 2021 and 2022, is stepping up on short notice to compete at UFC Atlanta on June 14. He is scheduled to face undefeated prospect Malcolm Wellmaker, who is considered a local favorite in Georgia.
News of this matchup was confirmed by sources with knowledge of the promotion`s plans, following an initial report by MMA Mania.
Despite finishing his first UFC tenure with an 0-2 record, including losses to O`Malley (via late third-round stoppage) and Guido Cannetti, Moutinho left a strong impression on fans and analysts alike due to his remarkable toughness and `never quit` attitude inside the cage.
Following his release from the UFC, Moutinho successfully rebuilt momentum on the regional mixed martial arts circuit, securing five consecutive victories. Notably, none of these bouts went the distance, with Moutinho finishing all five opponents.
His opponent, Malcolm Wellmaker, is an exciting, undefeated talent holding a professional record of 9-0. Wellmaker earned his spot in the UFC with a spectacular knockout performance on Dana White`s Contender Series and made a significant splash in his official octagon debut in April, dispatching Cameron Saaiman in under two minutes. Wellmaker had previously expressed a desire to compete at UFC Atlanta due to his ties to the state.
The addition of the Wellmaker vs. Moutinho bout is a late but compelling pairing for the UFC Atlanta event. The card is headlined by a five-round welterweight encounter between former champion Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley.
