UFC Vegas 116 (UFC Fight Night: Sterling vs. Zalal / UFC Fight Night 274) is scheduled at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada (Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Valley), United States.
Prelims begin at 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT, with the main card starting at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT (7:00 PM CDT). The event streams live on Paramount+.
The card is headlined by a featherweight bout between former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and surging contender Youssef Zalal. The bout you asked about—Francis Marshall vs. Lucas Brennan (lightweight, 155 lbs)—is a last-minute addition to the preliminary card (approximately fight 3–4 of 13). Brennan signed with the UFC and accepted the fight on five days’ notice after the promotion scrambled to bolster the card.
Injury Report
No injuries have been reported for Francis Marshall or Lucas Brennan. Both fighters are expected to compete at full capacity. This matchup itself is a late addition to address card thinning; the broader UFC Vegas 116 event has seen multiple late changes and withdrawals (including Lucas Rocha’s injury pullout from a flyweight bout and prior adjustments elsewhere), but this lightweight prelim remains confirmed and on schedule.
Fighter Matchup: Francis Marshall vs. Lucas Brennan (Lightweight – 3 Rounds)
Francis Marshall (“Fire,” USA, age 27, Pellegrino MMA)
Record: 9-3-0 (UFC: 4-3-0)
Height/Reach: 5’9″ / 72″
Stance: Orthodox
Recent Form (last 4 fights): Win (submission – rear-naked choke, Rd 1 vs. Erik Silva – Feb 28, 2026); Loss (split decision vs. Mairon Santos – Mar 8, 2025); Win (split decision vs. Dennis Buzukja – Aug 24, 2024); Loss (KO/TKO – elbows, Rd 1 vs. Isaac Dulgarian – Aug 12, 2023).
Key Strengths: Well-rounded with 5 submission wins and 1 KO/TKO; solid takedown offense (2.86 TD avg.) and durability in tough spots. Has shown finishing ability early and the ability to grind decisions.
Fight History Notes: Entered via DWCS and has mixed results in the UFC (wins over Silva, Buzukja, Rojo; losses to higher-level strikers/wrestlers). Coming off a quick first-round sub win and motivated to build momentum in a short-notice spot for the opponent. Trains out of New Jersey.
Lucas Brennan (“Skywalker,” USA, age 25, Next Generation MMA / Syndicate MMA)
Record: 11-2-0 (UFC debut; ex-Bellator/PFL/XKO)
Height/Reach: 5’10” / 71″
Stance: Not specified (grappling-heavy)
Recent Form (last 4 fights): Win (submission – rear-naked choke, Rd 1 vs. Joshua Weems – Oct 10, 2025); Win (submission – rear-naked choke, Rd 1 vs. Austin Coleman – May 23, 2025); Loss (split decision vs. Mauricio Gomez – Dec 15, 2024); Loss (unanimous decision vs. Dimitre Ivy – Apr 4, 2024).
Key Strengths: Elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu background (multiple BJJ world finalist/champion pedigree); 8 career submissions (73% of wins), many first-round finishes. Son of former UFC veteran Chris Brennan; powerful grappler who can end fights quickly on the mat.
Fight History Notes: Strong early Bellator run (9-0 with 8 finishes) before PFL losses by decision. Rebounded with two quick subs in regional XKO bouts in 2025. Making UFC debut on extremely short notice; first father-son duo in the promotion with his dad.
Style Breakdown: This is a veteran-vs.-prospect grappler clash with a massive experience and preparation edge for Marshall. Brennan’s elite BJJ and finishing rate are dangerous, but his recent decision losses, striking limitations, and five-days’ notice make it a tough ask against a battle-tested UFC lightweight who just scored a first-round sub. Expect Marshall to use pressure and wrestling to neutralize Brennan’s submissions while looking to capitalize on any early mistakes or fatigue.
FIGHT ODDS
Francis Marshall – 550
Lucas Brennan + 425
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 24, 2026
