The UFC roster is bigger than ever – and it continues to expand.
Fresh faces appear on nearly every card, whether onboarded as short-notice opening fillers, “Dana White’s Contender Series” signees, or the increasingly rare straight-up additions. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of the hustle and bustle of the mixed martial arts news beat, but here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.
“Fresh Ink” is your list of fighters added to the UFC roster the previous month and provides background on who they are and where they came from.
Check out the July 2023 list below.
Yanis Ghemmouri
Record when signed: 12-1
Signing type: Straight up
Weight class: Featherweight
Age: 28
Debut: Sept. 2 vs. Caolan Loughran (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night in Paris
The UFC’s return to Paris continues to be spruced up with local talent. Among the French fighters set to compete is promotional newcomer Yanis Ghemmouri, a teammate of UFC lightweight Fares Ziam. Prior to his UFC signing, Ghemmouri competed for BRAVE CF where he was undefeated with two knockout wins in three appearances.
Bogdan Guskov
Record when signed: 14-2
Signing type: Straight up
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Age: 30
Debut: TBA
Fighting out of GOR MMA in Moscow, Bogdan Guskov is part of a wave of three fighters from the gym to sign with the UFC in recent months (alongside Sharabutin Magomedov and Valter Walker). Born in Uzbekistan, Guskov competed across eastern Europe during his rise up the MMA ladder. He enters the UFC with a 100 percent finishing rate in victories, including 12 knockouts and two submissions.
Bassil Hafez
Record when signed: 8-3-1
Signing type: Short notice
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 31
Debut: July 15 loss to Jack Della Maddalena (14-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) via split decision at UFC on ESPN 49 in Las Vegas
Bassil Hafez faced a tall task for his UFC debut and while he didn’t win, he gained a lot of fans for his effort. On less than one week’s notice, Hafez signed with the UFC to fight Jack Della Maddalena. Not only did Hafez hold his own, he found much success in the fight – and even won the bout on one judge’s scorecard. Regardless of outcome, Hafez, a former CFFC welterweight champion, exponentially grew his stock.
Josiah Harrell
Record when signed: 7-0
Signing type: Short notice
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 24
Debut: July 8 vs. Jack Della Maddalena (14-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) at UFC 290 in Las Vegas – canceled
The past month has been hectic for Josiah Harrell, to say the least. After he tackled an opponent through the cage door at an LFA event, Harrell received a short-notice offer to fight the aforementioned Della Maddalena at UFC 290. Harrell flew to Las Vegas, cut weight, and made his mark on the scales. However, a pre-fight medical test detected a potentially life-threatening brain disease, moyamoya. Harrell was pulled from the fight but remains on the UFC roster as he awaits brain surgery. Harrell recently told MMA Junkie he remains optimistic and vows he will one day make the UFC walk as to add to an already impressive resume that includes seven finish victories in as many appearances.
Caolan Loughran
Record when signed: 6-1
Signing type: Straight up
Weight class: Bantamweight
Age: 28
Debut: Sept. 2 vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (12-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night in Paris
Ireland has a fourth native representative on the UFC roster. Weeks after Shauna Bannon joined Ian Garry and Conor McGregor in the UFC, Caolan Loughran enters the mix. The Cage Warriors bantamweight champion at the time of his signing, Loughran earned the title in May with a second-round knockout of Dylan Hazan. The TKO was his seventh career finish.
Rhys McKee
Record when signed: 13-4-1
Signing type: Straight up
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 27
Debut: Sept. 2 vs. Ange Loosa (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night in Paris
Welcome back to the UFC, Rhys McKee. After his first promotional stint came to an abrupt end in late 2020 after just two fights (against Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Morono), McKee immediately began his rebuild. After a knockout win over Aleksi Mantykivi, McKee won the vacant Cage Warriors welterweight championship with a finish of Justin Burlinson. In April, McKee defended that title successfully with a doctor stoppage win over fellow UFC alum Jim Wallhead.
Charlie Radtke
Record when signed: 7-3
Signing type: Straight up
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 33
Debut: Sept. 9 vs. Blood Diamond (3-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) at UFC 293 in Sydney
Charlie Radtke has quietly dominated in CFFC over the past two years. When the UFC call came, he answered. Currently on a four-fight winning streak, Radtke is the CFFC welterweight champion and has five finishes in seven pro appearances. He’ll travel across the world into enemy territory for his first promotional bout this September.
It appears Radtke was signed in the month of June, though his signing did not come to light in the international spotlight until July.
Mairon Santos
Record when signed: 13-1
Signing type: Short notice
Weight class: Featherweight
Age: 23
Debut: Saturday vs. Sean Woodson (9-1-1 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 50 in Nashville, Tenn.
When the UFC called, Mairon Santos answered. In need of a replacement on days’ notice, Santos signed with the UFC to fight lengthy featherweight Sean Woodson. Santos is a battle-tested Brazilian fighter with some big regional wins for LFA, ARES FC, and Shoot Brazil, among other promotions. In 13 wins, Santos has seven finishes by strikes.
Val Woodburn
Record when signed: 7-1
Signing type: Short notice
Weight class: Middleweight
Age: 29
Debut: July 8 loss to Bo Nickal (4-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) via TKO at UFC 290 in Las Vegas
Val Woodburn was all set to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series this summer when a UFC opportunity arose and he pounced. While his debut only lasted 38 seconds and he was flattened by Bo Nickal, Woodburn is through the door – and that aspect is well-earned. A stocky, compact middleweight with finishing abilities, Woodburn dominated while in Florida-based promotion Combat Night. All of his pre-UFC bouts came under that promotion’s umbrella. Woodburn picked up five finishes and the promotion’s 185-pound belt while there.
