Three UFC newcomers stepped under the bright lights at UFC Vegas 116 on April 25, 2026, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, with the rookie class finishing the night 1–2.
Adrian Luna Martinetti dropped a unanimous decision to Davey Grant in a bantamweight bout but still walked away with a bonus after the matchup was awarded Fight of the Night. Lucas Brennan also came up short, losing a lopsided decision to Francis Marshall in his lightweight debut.
Victor Valenzuela delivered the lone rookie victory of the event, earning a unanimous decision over Max Griffin in a welterweight fight. Valenzuela accepted the matchup on short notice and made the most of the opportunity.
Luna Martinetti entered the promotion with hype from a notable Contender Series fight, while Brennan brought experience from a career largely spent in Bellator. Valenzuela’s path included a knockout loss on Season 9 of Contender Series followed by a rebound knockout win over former UFC fighter Yusaku Kinoshita on the regional scene, setting the stage for his successful UFC debut at UFC Vegas 116.
