MMA Junkie highlighted a cluster of UFC veterans scheduled to compete in MMA and bareknuckle boxing between July 17 and July 19. The piece is useful for tracking where former UFC names are landing next, with recent and upcoming action spread across multiple promotions. That matters because veteran appearances can influence free-agent value, cross-promotion visibility, and fan interest in legacy names. The article was published on 2026-07-17 and is focused on the immediate weekend window. Expect continued updates as more of those veterans complete their bouts and their next steps become clearer.
A cluster of UFC veterans is set to compete across multiple MMA and bare-knuckle boxing promotions during the July 17–19 weekend, offering a snapshot of where recognizable names from the Octagon are landing as they continue their careers outside the UFC.
Among those in action is Shunichi Shimizu, the 41-year-old Japanese veteran out of Polar Gym Osaka who carries a remarkable 30-18-11 record accumulated over a long career. The five-foot-five orthodox fighter has built his name on durability and volume in smaller regional promotions, though his statistical output reflects a grinding, survival-oriented style — averaging just 0.14 significant strikes landed per minute and connecting at 33 percent accuracy.
Daniel "Miojo" Lacerda, a 30-year-old Brazilian flyweight from American Top Team, presents a sharply different profile. His 11-6 record understates the chaos he generates inside the cage. Standing five-foot-six with a 70-inch reach, the switch-stance fighter averages a busy 3.95 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy, while also threatening with 2.32 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a well-rounded threat at the smaller weight classes.
Middleweight Krzysztof Jotko rounds out the highlighted veterans. The 36-year-old Pole, also out of American Top Team, owns a 24-6 record and brings a six-foot-one frame and a 77-inch reach to the southpaw stance. He averages nearly three significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy, with a supplementary ground game that adds takedown pressure to his toolkit.
Why it matters
- Veterans competing outside the UFC can rebuild momentum and increase free-agent market value
- Performances across multiple promotions in a single weekend raise cross-promotional visibility for all three fighters
- Lacerda and Jotko, both active with American Top Team, could be positioning themselves for future opportunities at the sport's highest level
