Brian Kelleher vs. Mario Bautista added to UFC on ESPN 38 lineup

Bautista’s management, Iridium Sports Agency, first brought word of the bout. UFC on ESPN 38 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on June 25 and is headlined by a lightweight tilt pitting Mateusz Gamrot against Arman Tsarukyan.
 
Kelleher is 1-1 thus far in 2022. After outpointing Kevin Croom at UFC on ESPN 32 on Jan. 15, “Boom” was submitted in the opening round by Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 272 on March 5. The New Yorker is 8-6 during his tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion after stints with Riong of Combat, Cage Fury Fighting Championships and Bellator MMA.

Bautista enters the matchup having won three of his last four Octagon appearances. Most recently, the 28-year-old MMA Lab representative earned a unanimous decision over Jay Perrin at UFC Fight Night 201 on Feb. 19.