Loopy Godinez vs. Ketlen Souza has been added to UFC Fight Night 290, also referred to as UFC Vegas 122. The bout was reported on August 19, 2026, and gives the card a ranked strawweight matchup involving Godinez, who is listed at No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings. The booking matters because it strengthens a UFC Fight Night card with a meaningful divisional fight that could affect the strawweight pecking order. Godinez enters after a loss to Tatiana Suarez, while Souza gets a notable opportunity on a UFC main card stage. The next development is the fight itself, assuming both athletes remain healthy and make it to the event.
A ranked strawweight clash has been added to UFC Fight Night 290, with Loopy Godinez and Ketlen Souza set to meet at UFC Vegas 122. The matchup was reported on August 19, 2026, and slots a meaningful divisional contest onto the card.
Godinez enters the bout ranked No. 7 in the women's strawweight division according to the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings. The 32-year-old holds a professional record of 14-6 and stands five-foot-two with a 61-inch reach. She is an active striker, landing 4.51 significant strikes per minute, and complements her stand-up game with a strong grappling attack — averaging nearly three takedown attempts per 15 minutes and 0.9 submission attempts in the same span. She comes into this fight off a loss to Tatiana Suarez, the No. 2-ranked strawweight in the world.
Souza, nicknamed "Esquentadinha," represents Brazil and trains out of Carioca Academy. The 32-year-old carries a record of 16-6 and stands five-foot-three with a 63-inch reach. She brings sharp hands to the octagon, landing 4.01 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 56 percent — one of the better marks in the division. The opportunity to compete against a ranked opponent on a UFC Fight Night main card represents a significant platform for Souza.
Why it matters
- Godinez's No. 7 ranking means a win or loss will directly shift the strawweight standings
- Souza's high striking accuracy against Godinez's volume-and-grappling style sets up an intriguing stylistic clash
- The bout strengthens UFC Vegas 122 with a divisional fight that carries genuine title-picture implications
