Malcolm Wellmaker returns to UFC bantamweight action against Otari Tanzilovi at Vegas 122

Malcolm Wellmaker returns to the Octagon this Saturday, October 10, facing Otari Tanzilovi in a bantamweight bout at UFC Vegas 122 from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Wellmaker is looking to snap a two-fight losing streak.

Wellmaker, nicknamed "The Machine," enters fight week at 10-2-0. The 32-year-old American trains out of Faglier's MMA and fights from a switch stance, standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach. He lands 4.58 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, numbers that point to a fighter who prefers to win on the feet. He does not take opponents down, averaging no takedowns per 15 minutes.

Tanzilovi, a 28-year-old from Georgia, carries the same 10-2-0 record into the matchup. The orthodox fighter stands five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach and lands 4.2 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 68 percent accuracy. His grappling is the notable difference: he averages 4.5 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Beyond the cage

Wellmaker's path to the UFC is unusual. Before committing to MMA, he made music as part of the producer duo "Wolves" and co-produced the beat for Chief Keef's "Ignorant." The track was created in 2014 and released years later.

Why it matters

• Wellmaker needs a result to avoid a third straight loss and to stabilize his position in the bantamweight division.
• Both fighters share an identical 10-2-0 record, making this a meeting of evenly matched résumés.
• The style contrast is clear: Wellmaker's accurate striking against Tanzilovi's takedown volume, with the Georgian's 68 percent striking accuracy also making him a threat on the feet.