Keep your eyes on this Heavyweight-turned Middleweight …
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is heading back to “Sin City” this weekend (Sat., Nov. 1, 2025) for UFC Vegas 110. In the main event, hard-hitting Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweights Steve Garcia and David Onama collide in their first headlining spot inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Checkout UFC Vegas 110’s entire card here.
There are several up-and-coming fighters featured throughout the card this weekend (see them
here), but let’s give you one to really keep your eyes on.
Without further ado …
UFC newcomer Donte Johnson makes his debut this weekend after earning a contract on Season 9 of Contender Series by knocking out Darion Abbey in just 64 seconds — as a Heavyweight. Now, only two months later, he’s dropping to Middleweight to take on the oft-troubled Sedriques Dumas.
That’s right — Johnson is moving down two weight classes. Granted, he weighed in at 209 pounds when he flattened Abbey, and with more time, he might have even made it to Welterweight.
So what makes Johnson special? Raw athleticism and frightening power.
The 26-year-old is a former college football player who once weighed a whopping 290 pounds, which explains his natural explosiveness. All six of his career wins have come by first-round knockout.
The concern? He’s still very green. Johnson only began training mixed martial arts (MMA) four years ago and has been a professional for just 15 months. That means he’ll be learning on the job in the world’s most competitive fight promotion.
His opponent, Dumas, also entered the UFC early — at just 7-0 — but now has seven fights inside the Octagon. Experience is experience, and that edge could matter.
Dumas will tower over Johnson, who stands just 5’8”. Most of Johnson’s previous opponents have been larger, but Dumas uses his reach effectively, which could pose real challenges. Still, Johnson’s power is a true equalizer, and we’ve seen Dumas get clipped by heavy hitters before.
I’m not crowning Johnson as the next big thing just yet, but he’s absolutely worth watching — not just because of his unique journey and athleticism, but also because, frankly, the rest of this “Prelims” lineup doesn’t offer much intrigue. If there’s one name to circle heading into UFC Vegas 110, it’s Donte “Lockjaw” Johnson.
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Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 110 fight card, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 7 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To checkout the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 110: “Garcia vs. Onama” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
