Malcolm Wellmaker returns from his first professional setback with a revamped approach as he prepares to face UFC newcomer Juan Diaz in the featured bout of UFC Vegas 117 on May 16, 2026.
The 30-year-old bantamweight, known as “The Machine,” steps back into action at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, after dropping a decision to short-notice replacement Ethyn Ewing late last year. Before that loss, Wellmaker had built momentum with back-to-back knockout wins over Cameron Saaiman and Kris Moutinho.
Reflecting on the layoff, Wellmaker admitted he initially pushed hard to get rebooked. “It was tough, man, because last year I competed really frequently and I was itching to get back in there,” he said. “I was calling my manager asking about this day, asking about that day, but after I realized it was going to be a little bit longer, I took advantage of that time.”
That time away led to changes in how he structures life as a full-time fighter. “I went from working 40-50 hours a week and fitting training around that to having a full schedule to put as many training blocks in it as I could — and that’s where I made the mistake,” Wellmaker explained. “I overshot it.”
Now, he says the focus has shifted. “I settled down, talked to my coaches and we focused on technical improvement — sharpening the mind instead of going super hard and breaking down the body,” Wellmaker said. “So the time turned out to be very developmental for me.”
