UFC 326 MMA Match Preview: Sumudaerji (18-7-0) vs. Jesus Aguilar (12-3-0)

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Early Prelims: 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT
Main Card: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcast: Paramount+ / UFC Fight Pass (Early Prelims) A classic flyweight grinder on the early prelims of a stacked Las Vegas card.

The taller, longer Chinese veteran Sumudaerji looks to extend a two-fight win streak and crack the top-15 against a dangerous Mexican submission specialist in Aguilar, who is riding momentum from a solid 2025 campaign but faces a significant step up in experience and physicality.

Fighter Records & Rankings Context

  • Sumudaerji (China): 18-7-0 overall (UFC: 6-4). Ranked around #22–26 in unofficial flyweight rankings. The 30-year-old is a well-rounded striker with excellent cardio and fight IQ, though he has been submitted in three of his four UFC losses.
  • Jesús Santos Aguilar (Mexico): 12-3-0 overall (UFC: 4-2). Unranked but climbing fast. The 29-year-old is a submission-heavy grappler (7 career subs, mostly guillotines) with surprising durability and power for the division.

Sumudaerji brings UFC experience and size (5’8″, ~72″ reach); Aguilar counters with elite grappling threat and finishing upside (first-round finishes in 4 of 12 wins).

Recent Form (Last 5 Fights)

Sumudaerji (2-3 in last 5, but 2-0 in 2025):

  • Aug 23, 2025: W UD vs. Kevin Borjas (UFC Fight Night Shanghai) – dominant 30-27 sweep on scorecards.
  • Apr 12, 2025: W SD vs. Mitch Raposo (UFC 314) – gritty split-decision war.
  • Oct 19, 2024: L UD vs. Charles Johnson – outstruck in a competitive decision.
  • Dec 9, 2023: L Sub (RNC) vs. Tim Elliott.
  • Jul 16, 2022: L Sub vs. Matt Schnell.

He has looked sharper post-2024, winning via volume striking and pace.

Aguilar (4-1 in last 5, 2-1 in UFC 2025):

  • Sep 13, 2025: W UD vs. Luis Gurule (Noche UFC) – controlled distance with grappling bursts.
  • Feb 15, 2025: L UD vs. Rafael Estevam – competitive but outworked.
  • Aug 17, 2024: W Sub (Guillotine, R1) vs. Stewart Nicoll (UFC 305).
  • Feb 24, 2024: W SD vs. Mateus Mendonca.
  • Jul 8, 2023: W KO (Punches, R1) vs. Shannon Ross.

Aguilar is 4-1 since joining the UFC full-time, with finishes mixed in, but decisions dominate recent output.

Injury Report

  • Sumudaerji: Fully healthy. Past knee issues (2022 pullout, occasional mentions in training) are resolved; he has completed full camps without flags and made weight cleanly in recent bouts. No concerns reported this week.
  • Jesús Santos Aguilar: Fully healthy. Short medical suspension after his September 2025 win (standard 10–21 days, long cleared). No weight issues or injuries noted for this camp; he has looked strong in embedded media and open workouts.

Both fighters enter 100% healthy — rare for flyweights on short notice.

Fighter Matchups & Styles

  • Striking: Sumudaerji has the clear edge — longer reach, better volume (4.5+ significant strikes/min), and sharp boxing. Aguilar is shorter (5’3″–5’4″, 62″ reach) and relies on forward pressure with occasional power shots.
  • Grappling: Aguilar’s wheelhouse — 7 submission wins (heavy guillotine threat) and strong top control. Sumudaerji has been finished on the ground multiple times but has improved takedown defense (~60–65% career).
  • Physicality & Cardio: Sumudaerji’s height/reach and gas tank give him the advantage in a 15-minute fight. Aguilar is compact and explosive early but can fade if kept at range.
  • X-Factors: Sumudaerji’s experience against ranked competition vs. Aguilar’s finishing threat (58% of wins by sub). Fight likely stays standing early, but any scramble favors Aguilar.

Fight History & Head-to-Head

First meeting — no prior history. Sumudaerji is 6-4 in the UFC with wins over solid veterans; Aguilar is 4-2 but has never faced anyone with Sumudaerji’s length or Octagon experience.

Betting Trends:

  • Sumudaerji’s last 4 UFC fights have gone the distance (2-2).
  • Aguilar’s UFC bouts: 3 decisions, 1 sub win, 1 sub loss.
  • Flyweight prelims with size mismatches favor the longer fighter ~68% of the time.
  • Over 2.5 rounds has hit in 7 of Sumudaerji’s last 8 fights.

FIGHT ODDS

Sumudaerji                        – 245

Jesus Aguilar                      + 190

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 6, 2026

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