Fan favorite fighter Kris Moutinho is set for a return to the UFC on short notice.
After a brief two-fight run with the promotion from 2021 to 2022, which included a notable battle against Sean O’Malley, the 32-year-old bantamweight is returning to face local favorite Malcolm Wellmaker at UFC Atlanta on June 14.
Multiple sources familiar with the promotion`s plans confirmed the news on Wednesday.
Despite his previous 0-2 record in the UFC, Moutinho left a strong impression with his resilience and fighting spirit. He engaged in a memorable war with O’Malley in 2021, ultimately losing by TKO late in the third round, and then suffered a defeat to Guido Cannetti before his departure from the organization.
Following these losses, Moutinho rebounded impressively on the regional circuit, securing five consecutive victories, all of which ended inside the distance.
His return pits him against one of the promotion`s rising talents, Malcolm Wellmaker, who earned his UFC contract with a spectacular knockout performance on the Contender Series.
Wellmaker, undefeated in his nine professional fights, made a stunning UFC debut in April, finishing Cameron Saaiman in under two minutes. After this victory, he expressed a desire to fight in his home state of Georgia at UFC Atlanta, a wish that now appears granted.
The Wellmaker vs. Moutinho bout is a late addition to the UFC Atlanta card, which is headlined by a five-round welterweight clash between former champion Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley.
