Fan favorite fighter Kris Moutinho is making an unexpected return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster.
Following a brief two-fight run with the promotion in 2021 and 2022, which notably included a memorable and tough battle against Sean O’Malley, the 32-year-old bantamweight is set to compete again at UFC Atlanta on June 14th. He will be facing local favorite Malcolm Wellmaker.
During his initial UFC stint, Moutinho held an 0-2 record, but he left a lasting impression due to his remarkable durability and relentless fighting spirit. After pushing O’Malley deep into the third round before ultimately suffering a stoppage loss in 2021, he later fell to Guido Cannetti before his departure from the organization.
Since leaving the UFC, Moutinho has successfully rebuilt his record on the regional circuit, securing five consecutive victories, all of which ended before the final bell.
His comeback fight sees him matched against one of the UFC’s promising newcomers. Malcolm Wellmaker earned his contract on Dana White`s Contender Series after delivering a devastating knockout performance.
Holding an undefeated professional record of 9-0, Wellmaker made a significant impact in his UFC debut in April, quickly stopping Cameron Saaiman in less than two minutes. After his impressive win, Wellmaker expressed a desire to fight in his home state of Georgia, a wish that has now been granted with this late addition to the UFC Atlanta card.
The bout between Wellmaker and Moutinho is a recent addition to the UFC Atlanta event. The fight card is headlined by a five-round welterweight clash featuring former champion Kamaru Usman taking on Joaquin Buckley.
