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Esteban Ribovics | Dana White's Contender Series Spotlight
Argentine Lightweight Esteban Ribovics Nears Biggest Opportunity Of His Career At UFC 327: Procházka vs Ulberg On April 11, 2026
Esteban Ribovics answers nearly every question in an interview in Spanish, but the Argentine lightweight speaks in plain English when asked what fans should expect when they tune in to one of his fights:
“Bang, bang.”
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By all accounts, “El Gringo” has lived up to that since earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2022 with a knockout win over Thomas Paull 90 seconds into their fight.
It took a moment for Ribovics to get going, splitting his first two trips to the Octagon: first a decision loss to Loik Radzhabov at UFC 285 before notching his first UFC win four months later over Kamuela Kirk.
With his feet wet in the ultracompetitive lightweight division, and his rookie year behind him, Ribovics found his footing in 2024. First came a matchup with fellow all-action 155er Terrence McKinney in St. Louis. Fight fans know when McKinney is involved, the live-by-the-sword American is either finishing his opponent quickly or vice versa. Ribovics ensured the early night was in his favor when he landed a high kick on McKinney 37 seconds into the bout. McKinney was left slumped against the fence, and Ribovics launched himself into a different stratosphere with the finish.
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Topping a first-round head kick knockout is a hard task, but Ribovics did exactly that when he faced Daniel Zellhuber at Noche UFC 306. Inside the Sphere, Ribovics and Zellhuber went toe-to-toe, the momentum tipping back and forth for the first 10 minutes. While Zellhuber had success when keeping things at a distance, Ribovics chipped away and found his range. In the third, Zellhuber stunned Ribovics early, but Ribovics responded with an even heavier shot to Zellhuber, forcing the Mexican to bob-and-weave for the majority of the final round. In the end, Ribovics earned the split-decision nod, and both men earned Fight of the Night honors as well as plenty of votes for Fight of the Year.
Esteban Ribovics Knocks Out Terrance McKinney In Round One | UFC St. Louis
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Esteban Ribovics Knocks Out Terrance McKinney In Round One | UFC St. Louis
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A war like that impacts any fighter, but Ribovics was undeterred when he returned to the Octagon six months later opposite Nasrat Haqparast. In another back-and-forth, Fight of the Night–earning bout, Ribovics landed on the wrong side of a split decision and saw his three-fight winning streak snapped.
MAIN EVENT: Jiří Procházka | Ready For The Hunt | Carlos Ulberg | One Win From Greatness
He responded well, however, when he got a chance to rectify his lost momentum against Elves Brener in August 2025. Ribovics stayed on the front foot for much of the fight, cutting the Octagon off well and keeping Brener in his range while mixing up his strikes sharply. The bout was contested at a high pace, which lasted all 15 minutes, and Ribovics walked away with a bounce-back victory and his third consecutive Fight of the Night bonus.
There are no easy fights at 155 pounds, and breaking into the rankings means taking on some of the most skilled mixed martial artists regardless of weight. For Ribovics, that chance manifested in the form of Top 10 mainstay Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 327. Quintessentially a striker-vs-grappler matchup, Ribovics will have his hands full stuffing Gamrot’s grappling-based attack, which has earned the Polishman wins over the likes of Arman Tsarukyan, Rafael dos Anjos and Jalin Turner.
WATCH: Hear What Mateusz Gamrot Had To Say Ahead Of Saturday's Fight
If Ribovics has shown anything, besides steady improvement you’d hope to see in a prospect, it’s that he won’t quit on himself and is willing to drag his opponent into the fire. What that translates to is something fans shouldn’t miss when his name is on the card.
In other words, expect more “bang, bang” in Miami.
UFC 327: Procházka vs Ulberg took place live from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on April 11, 2026. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!
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