Venue and Event Details
The Meta APEX (formerly UFC Apex) is UFC’s intimate, state-of-the-art 1,200-seat facility in Enterprise, Nevada (Las Vegas Valley). It features a regulation Octagon optimized for broadcast and close-quarters action. As a standard Fight Night, the event is invitation/broadcast-focused with no public ticket sales.

Fight Card Format: 13 bouts (5 main card on Paramount+, 8 prelims). This light heavyweight bout sits on the main card as a featured showcase. All non-headliner bouts are three rounds.

Start Times (all ET): Prelims begin at 5:00 p.m.; Main Card at 8:00 p.m. Live on Paramount+ (U.S.).

Weight Class: Light Heavyweight (205 lbs).

Injury Report and Card Notes
No injuries or withdrawals have been reported for this main-card bout or the broader card. Both Yakhyaev and Ribeiro made weight successfully. The lineup remains fully intact with all athletes medically cleared.

Key Fighter Matchups and Full Card Highlights
The card mixes veterans and prospects. Standouts include the main event (Moicano vs. Duncan) and co-main (Jandiroba vs. Ricci). Spotlight main-card feature:

Light Heavyweight Main Card: Abdul-Rakhman “The Hunter” Yakhyaev (8-0-0, Turkey/Chechnya) vs. Brendson “The Gorilla” Ribeiro (17-9-0, 1 NC, Brazil).

Yakhyaev (6’2″, ~78″ reach, Orthodox, age 25): Undefeated blue-chip prospect and finishing machine (3 KOs, 4 subs; 6 first-round finishes). Explosive power, elite grappling, and 100% takedown accuracy/100% takedown defense in UFC so far.

Ribeiro (6’3″, ~81″ reach, Orthodox, age 29): Veteran power striker/grappler with early danger but defensive vulnerabilities. UFC record sits at 2-4 (recent skid).
A classic prospect showcase: Yakhyaev’s perfect record and rapid finishes vs. Ribeiro’s experience and desperation in a high-stakes light heavyweight scrap.

Recent Fighter Forms and Fight History (Focus on Key Bouts)

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev: Perfect 8-0, with both UFC wins coming in under a minute (33-second rear-naked choke sub vs. Rafael Cerqueira, Nov. 22, 2025; 30-second TKO vs. Alik Lorenz on DWCS, Aug. 2025). Pre-UFC: Multiple first-round subs and KOs in ARES FC and regional scenes. Strengths: Blistering pace, finishing rate (7 of 8 wins by stoppage), and well-rounded athleticism. No weaknesses exposed yet.

Brendson Ribeiro: 2-4 in UFC with a current two-fight losing skid via first-round TKO (to Oumar Sy in 4:42, Sep. 2025; to Azamat Murzakanov in 3:25, Jun. 2025). Prior: Sub win over Diyar Nurgozhay (Mar. 2025) and split decision over Caio Machado. Strengths: Early power and grappling bursts, but poor striking defense (absorbs high volume) and takedown defense (~18%) have been exploited.

Fight History: First meeting—no prior bouts. Yakhyaev enters as the heavy favorite in a classic “can he be stopped?” showcase against a veteran on the roster bubble.

FIGHT ODDS

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev            – 1750
Brendson Ribeiro                             + 900

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 3, 2026

Venue and Event Details
The Meta APEX (formerly UFC Apex) is UFC’s intimate, state-of-the-art 1,200-seat facility in Enterprise, Nevada (Las Vegas Valley). It features a regulation Octagon optimized for broadcast and close-quarters action. As a standard Fight Night, the event is invitation/broadcast-focused with no public ticket sales.

Fight Card Format: 13 bouts (5 main card on Paramount+, 8 prelims). This bantamweight bout is featured on the main card. All non-headliner bouts are three rounds.

Start Times (all ET): Prelims begin at 5:00 p.m.; Main Card at 8:00 p.m. Live on Paramount+ (U.S.).

Weight Class: Bantamweight (135 lbs).

Injury Report and Card Notes
No injuries or withdrawals have been reported for this main-card bout or the broader card. Both Ewing and Estevam successfully made weight with no issues noted. The lineup remains fully intact with all athletes medically cleared. Estevam’s move up from flyweight (where he previously missed weight in two of his first three UFC bouts) adds intrigue, but he has committed to a full camp at 135 lbs.

Key Fighter Matchups and Full Card Highlights
The card mixes veterans and prospects. Standouts include the main event (Moicano vs. Duncan), co-main (Jandiroba vs. Ricci), and the Yakhyaev showcase. Spotlight main-card bantamweight:

Bantamweight Main Card: Ethyn “The Professor Finesser” Ewing (9-2-0, USA) vs. Rafael “Macapá” Estevam (14-0-0, Brazil).

Ewing (5’8″, age 28): High-flying prospect with elite striking creativity and scrambling ability. UFC debut: Impressive short-notice unanimous decision win over heavily favored Malcolm Wellmaker (UFC 322, Nov. 2025).

Estevam (5’8″, age 29): Undefeated grappling specialist making his bantamweight debut after going 3-0 in the UFC at flyweight (all decisions, most recently over Felipe Bunes in Aug. 2025).
A highly anticipated prospect clash pitting Ewing’s momentum and debut hype against Estevam’s perfect record and grappling pedigree in a stylistic wildcard at 135 lbs.

Recent Fighter Forms and Fight History (Focus on Key Bouts)

Ethyn Ewing: 5-0 in his last five fights overall (9-2 career). Most recent: Dominant short-notice UFC debut decision over Wellmaker after stepping in on days’ notice. Prior losses came early in his pro career; he has since shown elite fight IQ, volume striking, and durability. Strengths: Striking creativity, scrambling, and finishing rate (~78%).

Rafael Estevam: Perfect 14-0 overall and 3-0 in the UFC (all unanimous decisions: Charles Johnson, Jesus Aguilar, Felipe Bunes). Recent form shows consistent grappling control but lower finishing rate (50%) and occasional weight-cut struggles at lower divisions. Strengths: Elite takedowns, control time, and durability; now healthy and strong at 135 lbs.

Fight History: First meeting—no prior bouts. Both enter undefeated in the UFC with high expectations in a rankings-relevant bantamweight scrap.

FIGHT ODDS

Ethyn Ewing                       – 155

Rafael Estevam                 + 130

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 3, 2026

Venue and Event Details
The Meta APEX (formerly UFC Apex) is UFC’s intimate, state-of-the-art 1,200-seat facility in Enterprise, Nevada (Las Vegas Valley). It features a regulation Octagon optimized for broadcast and close-quarters action. As a standard Fight Night, the event is invitation/broadcast-focused with no public ticket sales.

Fight Card Format: 13 bouts (5 main card on Paramount+, 8 prelims). This featherweight bout is the main card opener (first fight on the main card). All non-headliner bouts are three rounds.

Start Times (all ET): Prelims begin at 5:00 p.m.; Main Card at 8:00 p.m. Live on Paramount+ (U.S.).

Weight Class: Featherweight (145 lbs).

Injury Report and Card Notes
No injuries or withdrawals have been reported for this main-card opener or the broader card. Both McMillen and Zecchini successfully made weight with no issues noted. The lineup remains fully intact with all athletes medically cleared. Zecchini’s extended layoff (approximately 2.5 years since his last fight in September 2023) is the primary storyline, but he has trained consistently and is cleared to compete.

Key Fighter Matchups and Full Card Highlights
The card mixes veterans and prospects. Standouts include the main event (Moicano vs. Duncan), co-main (Jandiroba vs. Ricci), and the Yakhyaev showcase. Spotlight main-card opener:

Featherweight Main Card Opener: Tommy “The Gun” McMillen (9-0-0, USA) vs. Manolo “Angelo Veneziano” Zecchini (11-4-0, Italy).

McMillen (6’0″, age ~28): Undefeated high-level prospect and Sean O’Malley training partner. Elite grappler with explosive finishes (89% finish rate career). UFC debut after a dominant Contender Series performance and regional run.

Zecchini (5’8″, age ~30): Veteran striker/finisher (91% finish rate) making his second UFC appearance after a long layoff. UFC record 0-1.
A classic prospect showcase: McMillen’s undefeated momentum and grappling vs. Zecchini’s striking power in a high-stakes featherweight debut for the Arizona native.

Recent Fighter Forms and Fight History (Focus on Key Bouts)

Tommy McMillen: Perfect 9-0 with an impressive finishing pedigree (multiple first-round stoppages). Most recent: Strong Contender Series win showcasing 15-minute durability and improvements. Prior regional wins include highlight-reel grapples and KOs. Strengths: Elite grappling, pace, and finishing ability; no weaknesses exposed yet.

Manolo Zecchini: 0-1 in the UFC with a loss in his promotional debut. Last fight: September 2023; extended layoff raises rust concerns. Pre-UFC: Strong regional finishes via striking. Strengths: Early power and aggression, but defensive vulnerabilities and inactivity are major question marks.

Fight History: First meeting—no prior bouts. McMillen enters as the heavy favorite in a setup-style debut against a layoff-returning veteran.

Tommy McMillen (-1200 to -1400) vs. Manolo Zecchini (+700 to +800): One of the heaviest favorites on

FIGHT ODDS

Tommy McMillen            – 1300

Manolo Zecchini              + 750

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 3, 2026

Injury Report

No major injuries have been reported for the main card or the featured Jose Delano vs. Robert Ruchala bout as of April 3, 2026. All listed fighters, including Delano and Ruchala, successfully made weight at early weigh-ins (Delano at 144.5 lbs, Ruchala at 146 lbs).

One earlier withdrawal occurred (middleweight Henrique pulled out vs. Charlie Radtke due to an undisclosed issue), and the card saw late additions (e.g., Kai Kamaka III vs. Dakota Hope on short notice). No active injuries affect Delano vs. Ruchala or the headline fights. The card remains intact heading into fight night.

Key Fighter Matchups

The event features a mix of ranked veterans, prospects, and debuts across 13 fights. The main card (8 PM ET) includes:

Lightweight (Main Event): Renato Moicano (20-7-1) vs. Chris Duncan (15-2)

Women’s Strawweight: Virna Jandiroba vs. Tabatha Ricci

Light Heavyweight: Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Brendson Ribeiro

Bantamweight: Rafael Estevam vs. Ethyn Ewing

Featherweight: Tommy McMillen vs. Manolo Zecchini

Featherweight (featured early/main card opener): Jose Delano (16-3-0) vs. Robert Ruchala (11-2-0) — the matchup highlighted in your query.

Prelims (5 PM ET) feature additional bouts like Guilherme Pat vs. Thomas Petersen, Alessandro Costa vs. Stewart Nicoll, and others (full 13-fight card.

Detailed Preview: Jose Delano vs. Robert Ruchala (Featherweight, 145 lbs)

Jose Delano (Brazil, age 29, Brazilian Top Team, 5’8″, 70″ reach, orthodox) makes his highly anticipated UFC debut. He enters on a 4-fight win streak with a pro record of 16-3-0 (4 KO/TKO, 5 submissions, 7 decisions). His recent form is excellent:

Aug. 19, 2025: Unanimous decision win over Manuel Exposito (DWCS Season 9) — earned a UFC contract with strong striking output and control.

Feb. 7, 2025: 1st-round KO/TKO win over Abu Muslim Alikhanov (LFA).

Mar. 23, 2024: 1st-round rear-naked choke submission win (LFA).

Delano is a well-rounded prospect with high striking volume (SLpM ~9.73, 65% accuracy), solid defense, and finishing ability. He has lost only once since 2023 (to UFC vet Gabriel Santos) and brings regional dominance from LFA into the Octagon.

Robert Ruchala (“Faker,” Poland, age 27, Grappling Kraków, 5’8″, 72″ reach, 11-2-0) looks for his first UFC win. He is 0-1 in the promotion after a competitive but clear unanimous decision loss to William Gomis in his debut (Sept. 6, 2025, UFC Paris). Prior to that, he was a decorated KSW competitor with finishes (3 KO/TKO, 3 submissions). Recent form: 1 loss in last 5 (the Gomis defeat), but he showed durability and grappling in the UFC debut.

Fight History & Styles: Delano is the more active, high-volume fighter with better recent competition depth. Ruchala brings power and grappling but struggled with pace and range against a taller, more experienced opponent in his UFC debut. This should be a competitive featherweight scrap—Delano’s pressure and versatility vs. Ruchala’s finishing threat—but most analysts view it as a step-up spot for the debuting prospect.

FIGHT ODDS

Jose Delano                        – 350

Robert Ruchala                 + 275

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 3, 2026