Santiago Ponzinibbio is set to return to action against Sam Patterson in a welterweight bout at UFC Fight Night 282 on July 25 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Promotion officials announced the matchup on Friday morning, confirming Ponzinibbio’s first booking since his most recent outing.
Ponzinibbio has not competed since a TKO loss to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 67 in May 2025. Before that setback, he scored a knockout win over Carlston Harris at UFC Fight Night 249 and was later scheduled to face Vicente Luque at UFC Fight Night 261 before withdrawing due to injury.
Patterson enters UFC Fight Night 282 looking to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Michael Page at UFC Fight Night 270 in March, a result that snapped his four-fight first-round finish streak.
