Manoel Sousa
Manumito
Brazil
UFC debut scheduled
Sousa is scheduled to compete against Bolaji Oki in a lightweight fight at UFC Vegas 114 on March 14, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Sousa entered Dana White's Contender Series to earn a UFC contract and successfully did so by logging a TKO win. For his first fight with the promotion, he takes on Oki, who went 1-1 in 2025.
Sousa entered Dana White's Contender Series to earn a UFC contract and successfully did so by logging a TKO win. For his first fight with the promotion, he takes on Oki, who went 1-1 in 2025.
Fight Log
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Newest lightweight in UFC
Sousa defeated Cristian Perez via TKO (punches) at 3:00 of Round 3 at Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series. After the show, he was one of five fighters to be awarded an official UFC contract.
ANALYSIS
Sousa was controlled for nearly the entirety of Round 1 and more than three minutes in Round 2, as Perez had a distinct advantage in the grappling department. In fact, Sousa only mustered a combined 16 significant strikes in those two frames entirely. The tide started to turn late in Round 2, however, and Sousa -- a -250 betting favorite -- came out aggressive in Round 3 in search of the finish. Suddenly, he was able to stuff the takedown attempts Perez sent his way, and he clocked his opponent with a big right. Perez shot desperately, but Sousa stuffed it, ended up in top position and started to lay down the ground-and-pound that would go on to finish the fight. Having fought for both Bellator and LFA, Sousa is more UFC-ready than most Contender Series products. He sports a 13-1-0 professional record at the age of 28.
Sousa was controlled for nearly the entirety of Round 1 and more than three minutes in Round 2, as Perez had a distinct advantage in the grappling department. In fact, Sousa only mustered a combined 16 significant strikes in those two frames entirely. The tide started to turn late in Round 2, however, and Sousa -- a -250 betting favorite -- came out aggressive in Round 3 in search of the finish. Suddenly, he was able to stuff the takedown attempts Perez sent his way, and he clocked his opponent with a big right. Perez shot desperately, but Sousa stuffed it, ended up in top position and started to lay down the ground-and-pound that would go on to finish the fight. Having fought for both Bellator and LFA, Sousa is more UFC-ready than most Contender Series products. He sports a 13-1-0 professional record at the age of 28.