Popular fighter Kris Moutinho is set to return to the UFC.
Moutinho, a 32-year-old bantamweight, previously had a two-fight run in the promotion from 2021 to 2022, notably including a memorable battle against Sean O’Malley. He is now returning to face Georgia`s own Malcolm Wellmaker at UFC Atlanta on June 14.
News of Moutinho`s return was confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the promotion`s plans, following an initial report.
Despite an 0-2 record during his initial UFC tenure, Moutinho earned respect for his toughness and relentless fighting style, particularly in his 2021 bout with O`Malley, which he lost via late third-round stoppage. His second loss came against Guido Cannetti before his release.
Since leaving the UFC, Moutinho has rebuilt his record with five consecutive victories on the regional circuit, all ending before the final bell.
His return puts him against one of the UFC`s rising prospects in Malcolm Wellmaker, who made a significant impact by earning his contract with a devastating knockout on the Contender Series.
Wellmaker boasts an undefeated professional record of 9-0. He had a spectacular promotional debut in April, finishing Cameron Saaiman in under two minutes. After that victory, Wellmaker expressed a desire to fight in his home state of Georgia at UFC Atlanta, though it initially seemed unlikely.
This matchup between Wellmaker and Moutinho is a recent addition to the UFC Atlanta card, which is headlined by a five-round welterweight bout between former champion Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley.
Wesley Dunham