Venue: The O2 Arena, London, England
Prelims Start Time: 1:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM GMT (main card at 4:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM GMT)
Broadcast: Prelims and main card on Paramount+ (US); regionally adjusted equivalents.
Weight Class: Heavyweight (265 lbs) – Preliminary card bout.
This heavyweight prelim features undefeated Portuguese powerhouse Mario Pinto (fighting out of London) against short-notice Brazilian debutant Felipe Franco (“Negão”). Originally scheduled as Pinto vs. Mick Parkin, the bout flipped when Parkin withdrew due to injury. The card headlines Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy and is stacked with European talent, but this big-boy scrap brings legitimate knockout power, size disparity, and home-crowd energy for Pinto inside the O2.
Tale of the Tape
- Mario Pinto (Portugal/England): 28 years old, 6’5”, 79” reach. Orthodox. Style: Athletic finisher with elite power, fluid movement, and improving grappling. Record: 11-0-0 (2-0 UFC).
- Felipe Franco (Brazil): 25 years old, 6’1”, 76” reach. Orthodox. Style: Explosive striker/grappler with heavy hands and ground-and-pound. Record: 10-1-0 (UFC debut).
Pinto holds clear size, reach, and experience edges. Both made weight cleanly. Finishing rates are high for both (~70%+), with Pinto’s UFC wins coming via stoppage and Franco boasting dominant recent first-round finishes outside the Octagon.
Injury Report
No injuries reported for either fighter. Mick Parkin was removed from the original matchup due to injury (announced March 16, 2026), prompting Franco’s short-notice call-up (less than one month). Both camps have proceeded without disruption, and both cleared medicals. All updates from UFC, fighter social media, and media as of March 18, 2026 confirm normal preparations.
Fighter Matchups & Styles
Pinto is the rangier, more athletic specimen who mixes crisp striking at distance with opportunistic takedowns and ground control. He excels at conserving energy while landing heavy power shots or transitioning to dominant positions. Franco is the compact, explosive finisher who relies on raw power (overhands, kicks) and follows hurt opponents to the mat for devastating ground-and-pound or subs. He rarely initiates grappling but thrives once on top. The key clash is Pinto’s size/reach + Octagon IQ vs. Franco’s short-notice explosiveness and debut pressure. Pinto should control range and pace; Franco wins only with an early bomb or scramble.
Recent Form
Mario Pinto (11-fight win streak, 2-0 UFC with back-to-back stoppages):
- Oct 11, 2025 – TKO (punches/ground strikes) Jhonata Diniz (R2, 4:10) – UFC Fight Night.
- Mar 1, 2025 – KO (punch) Austen Lane (R2, 0:39) – UFC Fight Night (Performance of the Night).
- Oct 2024 – KO Lucas Camacho (R1) – DWCS (contract win).
Pinto has looked sharper and more composed in the UFC, mixing striking and wrestling effectively.
Felipe Franco (2-fight win streak since DWCS loss; UFC debut):
- Feb 7, 2026 – SUB (RNC) Douglas Felipe Santos (R1, 4:07) – regional.
- Dec 11, 2025 – KO (strikes) Kleberson Tavares (R1, 0:32) – regional.
- Sep 9, 2025 – SUB (RNC) loss Freddy Vidal (R3) – DWCS.
Franco has bounced back with quick finishes but faces a massive step-up in competition and weight on short notice.
Fight History Summary
Pinto turned pro in 2021, compiled 11 straight finishes or decisions (7 KO/TKO, 1 SUB, 3 DEC), earned DWCS honors, and is 2-0 in the UFC with stoppages. Never lost; trains at FightZone London. Franco turned pro with a 10-1 record (6 KO/TKO, 4 SUB). Only loss came on DWCS; teammate of Jailton Almeida. This is his Octagon debut and first true heavyweight test under UFC rules after short-notice replacement.
FIGHT ODDS
Mario Pinto – 750
Felipe Franco + 600
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 20, 2026
