The UFC Vegas 113 prelim fights are scheduled to take place on the Saturday before this year’s Super Bowl, hosting intense matchups that promise high stakes and thrilling action. Set at the Meta Apex in Enterprise, Nevada, this event marks the first UFC Fight Night of 2026, with UFC’s top fighters vying to make an impact ahead of the main card.
Preliminaries for UFC Vegas 113 will begin at 5 pm ET/2 pm PT on Paramount Plus, followed by the main card starting at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on the same streaming platform. The fight card currently includes 13 bouts, pending any last-minute changes.
Highlighting the Main Preliminary Bout: Alex Morono vs. Daniil Donchenko
The featured welterweight fight on the undercard will showcase UFC veteran Alex Morono facing off against rising star Daniil Donchenko. Morono, who is set to enter the Octagon for the 38th time, holds an overall MMA record of 24-12 with 1 no contest and a UFC record of 13-9 with 1 no contest. His opponent, Donchenko, carries a professional record of 12-2 and is relatively new to the UFC, boasting a 1-0 UFC record so far. Both fighters will compete in a maximum of three rounds, each lasting five minutes.
Morono enters this fight under pressure, having lost four of his last five bouts, including a recent first-round knockout by Carlos Leal in March of the previous year. This contest is crucial for him as it marks the final fight on his current UFC contract. Morono has expressed his intention to retire while still active in the UFC, but a loss here could potentially force an early exit from the promotion.
In contrast, Donchenko approaches this matchup in solid form, having won five consecutive professional fights leading up to the event. His UFC debut came after a brief delay when he secured a first-round victory over Rodrigo Sezinando in The Ultimate Fighter Welterweight Final last September. This bout represents a classic clash between a seasoned professional near the end of his career and a promising newcomer striving to establish himself in the UFC.
Secondary Highlight: Niko Price Versus Nikolay Vertennikov
The co-featured preliminary fight will also take place at welterweight, featuring Niko Price facing off with Nikolay Vertennikov. Vertennikov holds a 13-7 MMA record, with a 1-3 outcome in UFC fights, while Price is at 16-9 with two no contests professionally and a UFC record of 8-9 with two no contests. Vertennikov enters this fight with a mixed recent record of two wins and three losses in his previous five fights.
Vertennikov’s last bout was a unanimous decision loss to Punahele Soriano at UFC 320. Originally, Vertennikov was scheduled to fight newcomer Jose Henrique Souza, who withdrew unexpectedly during fight week. This sudden change means Vertennikov had limited time to adjust his strategies for a new opponent.
Price accepted this fight on short notice, stepping in despite facing some difficulties lately, including a losing stretch with one win and four losses in his past five fights. His most recent defeat occurred last June when he was submitted by Jacobe Smith at UFC 317. Taking a bout with minimal preparation is a challenging task, and a win for Price here would be a remarkable comeback.
Strawweight Clash: Bruna Brasil Faces Ketlen Souza
The UFC Vegas 113 undercard will also feature a competitive strawweight bout between Bruna Brasil and Ketlen Souza. Brasil arrives with an 11-5-1 overall MMA record and a balanced 3-3 UFC record, having recently secured a unanimous decision victory over Ming Shi in the Road to UFC event held in Shanghai last August. She has maintained a roughly .500 winning percentage in the UFC so far.
Ketlen Souza, on the other hand, holds a 15-6 professional record with a UFC tally of 2-3. Her recent performances have been inconsistent, as she experienced two consecutive losses after previously winning two bouts in a row. Souza’s last fight ended in a narrow split decision loss to Piera Rodriguez at the same Meta Apex venue which hosts this weekend’s event. Her performance on Saturday will depend on whether she can regain the dominant form that saw her win five straight fights between May 2021 and January 2023.
Additional Preliminaries to Watch
The preliminary card will also include several notable matchups across different weight classes. These bouts include:
- A bantamweight fight featuring Said Nurmagomedov (18-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) taking on Javid Basharat (14-2, 1 NC MMA, 3-2, 1 NC UFC).
- A women’s flyweight showdown between No. 12-ranked contender Wang Cong (8-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) and No. 13-ranked contender Eduarda Moura (12-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC).
- A bantamweight contest pitting Muin Gafurov (20-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) against Jakub Wiklacz (17-3-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC).
- A women’s bantamweight bout featuring Klaudia Sygula (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) battling Priscilla Cachoeira (13-7 MMA, 5-7 UFC).
These additional prelim fights bring a variety of styles and storylines, enhancing the intensity of the UFC Vegas 113 event.
Anticipation and Stakes Leading into UFC Vegas 113
As fight week unfolds, pressure builds among fighters who are navigating contract renewals, career turning points, and sudden opponent changes. Alex Morono’s situation draws particular scrutiny, as his performance could determine whether he continues his career under the UFC banner. Meanwhile, newcomers like Daniil Donchenko and Eduarda Moura aim to solidify their reputations on a high-profile platform.
The setting at the Meta Apex in Enterprise, Nevada, adds familiarity for fighters like Ketlen Souza, giving some home-cage edge while underscoring the venue’s growing legacy in hosting pivotal UFC events. The unusual timing—on the eve of one of America’s biggest sports spectacles—means the fights could attract additional attention from fans seeking intense combat sports action before the Super Bowl festivities begin.
The UFC Vegas 113 preliminary fights will not only set the tone for the evening but could also reshape several fighters’ paths within the organization. Observers and fans alike will watch closely to see who overcomes adversity and who falters, setting the stage for the night’s main events.
