Four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and seven-time World Cup winner Rodolfo Vieira now officially has a date for his second Octagon appearance. Per the UFC’s official website, the grappling specialist will take on Russian brawler Saparbek Safarov at UFC 248, in Las Vegas.
After a successful Octagon debut, when he tapped out Oskar Piechota via arm-triangle choke back in August, Rodolfo Vieira (6-0) scored the fifth submission victory of his mixed martial arts career. Before he joined the UFC, the 30-year-old notably competed in Russian promotion Absolute Championship Akhmat, where he scored three victories.
Dropping to middleweight for the first time in the UFC, Saparbek Safarov (9-2) did score his first ever Octagon win in his last outing, outpointing Nicolae Negumereanu en route to a unanimous decision win this past March.