Brian Kelleher’s next fight will kick off his 2022 campaign.
Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that a bantamweight matchup between Kelleher and Saidyokub Kakhramonov will take place at the UFC’s event on Jan. 15, which does not currently have an announced location or venue. MMA DNA was first to report the booking.
Kelleher will make his 36th professional appearance, 13th inside the octagon. After a 3-1 run in 2020, “Boom” has competed twice in 2021 — a unanimous decision loss to Ricky Simon at UFC 258 and a bounce back decision victory over Domingo Pilarte at August’s UFC Vegas 34 event.
Kakhramonov had a successful promotional debut, one that he took on less than a week’s notice, by submitting Trevin Jones at UFC Vegas 34. The 25-year-old Uzbekistan-born fighter has won three straight, and four out of five, which includes capturing the vacant CFFC bantamweight title prior to getting his UFC opportunity.