Venue Location
Arena CDMX (formerly Palacio de los Deportes), Mexico City, Mexico. Iconic multi-purpose arena in the heart of Mexico City at high altitude (~7,350 ft / 2,240 m), which typically rewards fighters with strong cardio, grappling control, or efficient striking over high-output brawlers. The Octagon setup favors technical middleweights who can manage pace and distance.
Ringwalks
Prelims: 4:00 PM CST / 5:00 PM ET (Paramount+)
- Main Card: 7:00 PM CST / 8:00 PM ET (Paramount+)
The Ryan Gandra vs. Jose Daniel Medina middleweight bout is on the preliminary card (approximately fight 7 of 13 overall). Expected walkouts in the 6:30–7:30 PM ET window depending on prior bout durations. Full event spans roughly 4–5 hours.
Injury Report
No reported injuries or withdrawals for either fighter as of February 23–24, 2026. Both are confirmed healthy and cleared.
- Ryan Gandra is coming off a strong Contender Series performance with no noted issues.
- Jose Daniel Medina has a history of durability (has absorbed significant damage in recent UFC losses) but no acute injuries publicized; his long UFC winless streak appears related to competition level rather than health. Altitude adaptation will be key for both, but neither has flagged concerns.
Fighter Matchups / Tale of the Tape
Ryan Gandra (“Problema”) vs. Jose Daniel Medina (“Chicho”) – Middleweight (185 lbs)
- Gandra: 30 years old (born May 8, 1995), 8-1-0 pro (UFC debut / DWCS winner), 6’1″ (186 cm), 74–74.5″ reach, orthodox, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Flávio Baiano Team. Well-rounded with elite finishing ability (6 of 8 wins by stoppage: 4–5 KO/TKO, 1–2 SUB) and high-level striking defense.
- Medina: 34 years old (born May 17, 1991), 11-6-0 pro (0-3 UFC), 6’0″ (183 cm), 74–74.5″ reach, orthodox, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia / Florida, USA, Kill Cliff FC. Power puncher (8 KO/TKO wins) with toughness but significant defensive holes and recent vulnerability to early finishes.
Style Breakdown: Gandra brings high-volume, accurate striking (sample SLpM 11.23, 51% accuracy, 79% defense) plus finishing instincts. Medina is a durable boxer with knockout power but low output (career SLpM 2.16), poor striking defense (46%), and very low takedown defense (27%). Gandra holds clear edges in youth, athleticism, technical striking, and finishing threat. Medina’s experience is his main asset, but recent Octagon performances show he gets overwhelmed quickly.
Recent Form
- Gandra (8-1, 7-fight win streak): Red-hot. Earned UFC contract with a dominant first-round KO/TKO (punches, 2:51) over Trent Miller on Dana White’s Contender Series (August 26/27, 2025). Prior regional run featured six finishes in seven wins. Excellent defensive metrics and finishing rate make him one of the hotter middleweight prospects.
- Medina (11-6, 3–4 fight losing streak in UFC/DWCS): Struggling at the highest level. Recent losses:
- Sep 13, 2025 – SUB (RNC) R1 vs. Duško Todorović (4:21)
- Mar 29, 2025 – KO/TKO (knee) R1 vs. Ateba Gautier (3:32)
- Aug 24, 2024 – UD loss vs. Zachary Reese
He has shown heart and power but has been finished or dominated in every UFC appearance. Layoff between fights has not helped his momentum.
Fight History / Key Notes
No prior meetings. Gandra is undefeated in his last seven and has never been finished (sole loss early in career by KO). Medina is 0-3 in the UFC with two first-round finishes against him and poor statistical output across the board (low volume, high absorption). Gandra’s DWCS performance highlighted superior pace and power; Medina’s recent fights show he is hittable and folds under sustained pressure. This is a classic prospect-vs-veteran spot on a Mexico City card where home-region energy (though neither is Mexican, the crowd favors exciting finishers) could play a role.
Betting Trends
- Strong lean on prospects with finishing streaks against winless UFC veterans—Gandra fits the profile perfectly (similar to past middleweight risers). Medina has been a popular “tough dog” but has gone 0-3 with quick stoppages or blowouts.
- Middleweight prelims in high-altitude venues often produce finishes; Gandra’s high-volume striking (excellent defense) should exploit Medina’s low output and poor TD defense (27%).
FIGHT ODDS
Ryan Gandra – 600
Jose Daniel Medina + 450
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 27, 2026
