UFC Dallas main event, co-main event announced

The UFC is headed back to Dallas for the first time since 2022 and it's bringing a fun featherweight main event with it. Yair Rodriguez vs. Steve Garcia is sliding from a three-round fight at UFC 335 in December to a five-round fight Jan. 16. The event at American Airlines Center kicks off the promo

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The UFC is headed back to Dallas for the first time since 2022 and it's bringing a fun featherweight main event with it.

Yair Rodriguez vs. Steve Garcia is sliding from a three-round fight at UFC 335 in December to a five-round fight Jan. 16. The event at American Airlines Center kicks off the promotion's 2027 schedule and is co-headlined by a middleweight fight between former KSW double champion Roberto Soldic and Daniel Rodriguez (first reported by The Starched).

The promotion announced both bouts, as well as a welterweight clash between Ignacio Bahamondes and Chidi Njokuani (first reported by Heavy), during the UFC 334 broadcast Saturday.

Rodriguez (20-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) has not competed since an April 2025 win over Patricio Freire. The victory

snapped a two-fight losing skid. Rodriguez was booked to fight Jean Silva in September but withdrew.

Garcia (19-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC) aims to bounce back from a UFC Freedom 250 loss to Diego Lopes in June. The back-and-forth battle ended with Garcia losing by second-round TKO. The defeat snapped a seven-fight winning streak.

Soldic (22-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was long considered one of the best fighters outside the UFC prior to his signing. He dominated multiple divisions for KSW and captured champ champ status before a 1-1 stint with ONE Championship. Soldic finally signed with the UFC in early 2026 and debuted with a unanimous decision win vs. Khaos Williams.

Rodriguez (20-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) aims to bounce back from a 30-second knockout loss to Uros Medic in August. The fight was his first after an eight-month prison sentence in Mexico. Rodriguez said the arrest was marijuana-related. Prior to the Medic loss, Rodriguez had won three fights in a row.

Bahamondes (18-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) moved to welterweight after 10 UFC fights at lightweight and won his divisional debut in September. He won a unanimous decision over Muslim Salikhov and aims to carry that momentum into the upcoming matchup.

Njokuani (26-12 MMA, 6-5 UFC) snapped a two-fight skid in August when he defeated Joel Alvarez by unanimous decision. The victory moved him to 4-2 in his most recent six outings.