Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. For the first time in
Ultimate Fighting Championship history, the promotion has
signed a fighter from Hong Kong. On Friday,
MMA DNA reported that Sasha
Palatnikov (5-2) has signed with the UFC to meet fellow
newcomer Louis Cosce
(7-0) at UFC
255. The two welterweights will lock horns at the UFC Apex on
Nov. 21. Cosce has since confirmed his appearance on the card on
his Instagram page. He
will be competing alongside his brother Orion
Cosce, when the latter takes on Nicolas
Dalby also at welterweight.
Cosce earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series when he flattened
Victor
Reyna in 72 seconds in August. Throughout his relatively young
pro career that also saw him win by knockout in 18 seconds at a
Combate Americas card in 2019, Cosce has
finished all of his opponents in the opening round. Both he and his
brother are a perfect 7-0 as pros, although Orion has needed to go
into the third round on three separate occasions to beat his
foes.
Palatnikov comes into the promotion having scorched Paulo
Henrique at an Abu Dhabi Warriors Fighting Championship event
in September. His win in 83 seconds bounced him back from a loss to
current UFC fighter Mounir
Lazzez. The Hong Kong-based fighter previously won a title in
the Angel’s Fighting Championship organization at middleweight, and
he has alternated between 170 and 185 pounds for his last few
bouts. Palatnikov announced his signing on Thursday, writing on his
Instagram
that he signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.
UFC 255 will go down on Nov. 21 at the UFC Apex, and a pair of
flyweight championship affairs headline the card. The top-billed
fight sees Deiveson
Figueiredo defend his throne against Alex Perez,
while Valentina
Shevchenko looks to keep a tight grip on her crown against
Jennifer
Maia. The top-billed non-title fight is a light heavyweight
rematch between former champ Mauricio Rua
and “Bearjew” Paul
Craig.
