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 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 November 2023 list below.
Talita Alencar
Record when signed: 4-0-1
Signing type: Straight up
Weight class: Strawweight
Age: 33
Debut: Dec. 9 vs. Rayanne Dos Santos (14-6) at UFC Fight Night 233 in Las Vegas
A multitime IBJJF champ, Talita Alencar was part of a rare one-contract-earning draw on Dana White’s Contender Series in September. Although her opponent Stephanie Luciano was awarded a contract, Alencar was passed over. It didn’t take the UFC to circle back to the submission specialist, however, as she’ll make her promotional debut on a few weeks’ notice against a fellow debutant.
Lee Chang-ho
Record when signed: 9-1
Signing type: Road to UFC
Weight class: Bantamweight
Age: 29
Debut: TBA – Road to UFC Final vs. Xiao Long (26-7 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
With back-to-back wins over Rana Rudra Pratap Singh and Daermisi Zhawupasi on Road to UFC cards, Lee Chang-ho hopes to clinch the bantamweight tournament championship against Xiao Long whenever the promotion rebooks their matchup. Chang-ho has experience in several notable promotions including BRAVE CF and ONE Warrior Series.
Shin Haraguchi
Record when signed: 7-0
Signing type: Road to UFC
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 25
Debut: TBA – Road to UFC final vs. Zhu Rong (24-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
A skilled freestyle wrestler who competed on the international level, Shin Haraguchi has dominated throughout his professional MMA career. He only turned professional in September 2021 yet finds him one win away from Road to UFC tournament champion notoriety. He holds consecutive victories over Windri Patilima and Jae Hyun Park under the Road to UFC banner.
Xiao Long
Record when signed: 26-7
Signing type: Road to UFC
Weight class: Bantamweight
Age: 25
Debut: TBA – Road to UFC final vs. Chang Ho Lee (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Xiao Long looks to make good on his second chance at a long-term UFC contract. Following a failed bid vs. Cristian Quinonez on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, Long has won four straight fights including two-straight in Road to UFC.
Ji Niushiyue
Record when signed: 13-2
Signing type: Road to UFC
Weight class: Flyweight
Age: 22
Debut: TBA – Road to UFC final vs. Rei Tsuruya (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Nicknamed “Little King Kong,” Ji Niushiyue went 6-2 for notable Chinese regional promotion WLF before other promotional stops throughout Asia. In May, he defeated Billy Pasulatan by first-round TKO under the Road to UFC banner, and circled back to defeated Sueng Guk Choi by unanimous decision in the tournament semifinal.
Myktybek Orolbai
Record when signed: 12-1-1
Signing type: Short notice
Weight class: Welterweight/lightweight
Age: 25
Debut: UFC Fight Night 232 win Nov. 18 vs. Uros Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) via submission (rear-naked choke)
Myktybek Orolbai received his first UFC call on less than one week’s notice and absolutely seized the moment. In one of the more buzz-causing promotional debuts of 2023, Orolbai became the first male fighter from Kyrgyzstan to compete in the UFC. He survived an early onslaught from Uros Medic to rally and get a smothering submission victory. He will drop to lightweight for his next bout.
Zhu Rong
Record when signed: 24-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC
Signing type: Road to UFC
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 23
Return: TBA – Road to UFC final vs. Shin Haraguchi (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Unlike his other Road to UFC counterparts, Zhu Rong has UFC experience. When he signed with the promotion in 2021 at age 21, Rong was the youngest fighter on the roster. He went 1-2 for the promotion but missed weight twice and was released. Since then, Rong has sought another UFC opportunity. He’s won three fights in a row including two in Road to UFC: a first-round TKO vs. Sung Chan Hong and a unanimous decision vs. Sang Uk Kim.
Rei Tsuruya
Record when signed: 8-0
Signing type: Road to UFC
Weight class: Flyweight
Age: 22
Debut: TBA – Road to UFC final vs. Ji Niushiyue (13-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
One of the more decorated Road to UFC competitors, Rei Tsuruya is a former Pancrase flyweight champion. He has seven career finishes including three knockouts and four submissions. Road to UFC wins to date include Ronal Siahaan and Mark Climaco.
Li Kai Wen
Record when signed: 12-5
Signing type: Road to UFC
Weight class: Featherweight
Age: 28
Debut: TBA – Road to UFC final vs. Yi Zha (24-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
A seasoned veteran of 12 bouts under the ONE Championship banner, Li Kai Wen has racked up quite the highlight reel of knockouts throughout his near-decade-long pro career. His Road to UFC victories that led him to his current position came against Kai Lu (via 66-second knockout) and Kouya Kanda (via unanimous decision).
Yi Zha
Record when signed: 24-4
Signing type: Road to UFC
Weight class: Featherweight
Age: 26
Debut: TBA – Road to UFC final vs. Li Kai Wen (12-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
With 28 professional fights at only 26 years of age, Yi Zha has cage-smarts beyond his years. There have been ups and downs but the momentum has always carried him forward. In May, he submitted Wuziazibieke Jiahefu by armbar in his Road to UFC debut. In August, he punched his ticket to the final with a unanimous decision over Sang Won Kim.
