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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
MMA
Bantamweight · Main event
WinnerBrady HiestandSUB · R2
Fight finished
Rinya Nakamura
Unibet1.30
« Bam Bam »
Sikjitsu
« Hybrid »
American Top
Each axis comes from a measured career average, scaled to a fixed 0–100 range.
UFC bantamweight bout between Brady Hiestand, United States, and Rinya Nakamura, Japan, scheduled for 26 September 2026 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, on UFC Vegas 121. The weight-class limit is 61,2 kg.
The exact number of rounds remains unknown; three rounds are plausible because it is not the main event, without official confirmation. The 22:00 UTC time corresponds to the start of the event, not necessarily the walkout time.
No prior bout that was actually contested is recorded. Their scheduled fight at UFC 298 in 2024 did not take place: Hiestand withdrew due to injury, and Nakamura fought Carlos Vera.
The absence of a direct matchup prevents any analysis based on a stylistic history between them.
No current injury, cancellation, or official change to the bout is known as of September 21, 2026. Hiestand previously had an injury-related withdrawal before their 2024 bout, but this does not document her current condition.
The weigh-in and actual medical status remain unknown.
Hiestand is listed as orthodox, with 4,80 takedowns per 15 minutes, approximately 46% accuracy, approximately 43% takedown défense, and 1,10 submission attempt per 15 minutes; his UFC sample is limited to approximately four fights. His path involves closing the distance, chaining takedowns, working against the cage, and seeking control or the back.
Nakamura is southpaw, with approximately 2,58 takedowns per 15 minutes, 81% accuracy, 100% takedown défense, and 1,40 submission attempts per 15 minutes, over approximately five UFC fights. He can impose his own wrestling, strike on exits, and exploit southpaw-versus-orthodox angles.
Favorable scenario for Hiestand: his wrestling volume neutralizes Nakamura’s published défense and produces long control sequences, possibly even a submission. Favorable scenario for Nakamura: he defends the entries, controls the early sequences, strikes on exits, and exploits Hiestand’s defensive limitations to win on the scorecards or finish the fight.
Hiestand has several three-round UFC decisions and a longer average fight time in the available aggregations; Nakamura has also won UFC decisions, but his last listed fight dates back to 2 August 2025 and ended in the first round.
Both fighters and the UFC bantamweight matchup are confirmed. No official replacement has been reported as of 21 September 2026.
The three- or five-round format remains unknown. The official weigh-in has not yet taken place as of the cutoff date.
Nakamura holds the clearest statistical advantage thanks to his published 100% takedown défense, wrestling accuracy, and finishing power. Hiestand retains a credible path by imposing a higher volume of wrestling, cage control, and progression to the back.
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