A pair of fighters looking to keep their mild winning streaks intact in the crowded featherweight division have been booked for the UFC’s return to New Jersey next month.
Bill Algeo (18-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is set to take on Kyle Nelson (15-5-1 MMA, 3-4-1 UFC) when the UFC sets up shop in Atlantic City on March 30 for a Fight Night (ESPN) event at Boardwalk Hall. MMA Junkie confirmed the matchup with people with knowledge of the booking who asked to remain anonymous since the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.
A split decision setback against Andre Fili in September 2022 is all that stands between Algeo and what would be a five-fight winning streak – the kind of stretch that gets people’s attention at featherweight. But in 2023, he rebounded with a second-round submission of TJ Brown and a decision over Alexander Hernandez. His win over Brown was a $50,000 bonus winner.
After a rough stretch of four losses in his first five UFC bouts, Canada’s Nelson is 2-0-1 in his past three. After a majority draw with Doo Ho Choi a year ago, he picked up back-to-back unanimous decision wins over Blake Bilder and Fernanda Padilla. Now he’s looking for his first three-fight winning streak in six years.
With the addition, the UFC’s March 30 lineup now includes:
- Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Dennis Buzukja vs. Connor Matthews
- Loopy Godinez vs. Virna Jandiroba
- Jacob Malkoun vs. Andre Petroski
- Bruno Silva vs. Chris Weidman
- Sedriques Dumas vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
- Caolan Loughran vs. Angel Pacheco
- Rhys McKee vs. Chidi Njokuani
- Julio Arce vs. Herbert Burns
- Ibo Aslan vs. Anton Turkalj
- Bill Algeo vs. Kyle Nelson
Bill Algeo vs. Kyle Nelson headed to lineup for UFC’s return to Atlantic City