A heavyweight bout between Serghei Spivac and Mario Pinto has been set for UFC Saudi Arabia on December 5. The matchup was reported as a fight news update for the event.
Serghei Spivac and Mario Pinto will meet in a heavyweight bout at UFC Saudi Arabia on December 5, setting up a clash between a ranked veteran and an undefeated prospect on the rise.
Pinto, 28, arrives with a perfect 13-0 record and sits at number 15 in the heavyweight rankings. The Portuguese fighter, who trains with Urban Warriors, has won his last three recorded UFC fights, two of them by knockout or TKO. His most recent recorded fight came on September 5, when he stopped Ryan Spann in the second round. At six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach, Pinto lands 3.68 significant strikes per minute at a 70 percent accuracy rate, and he averages 4.41 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Spivac, 31, holds an 18-7 record and is ranked ninth at heavyweight. The Moldovan, known as "Polar Bear," lost a unanimous decision to Vitor Petrino on August 22, his most recent recorded fight. That followed a unanimous decision win over Ante Delija in February 2026. Spivac stands six-foot-three with a 78-inch reach, lands 3.35 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy, and averages 3.42 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Rankings: Pinto, ranked 15th, would be facing a fighter six places above him, giving the unbeaten Portuguese a chance to move into the top 10 with a win.
- Form: Pinto brings a three-fight winning streak, while Spivac is coming off a loss and needs a result to stay in the upper tier.
- Style: Both fighters are grappling-minded, with Pinto averaging 4.41 takedowns per 15 minutes to Spivac's 3.42, so the wrestling exchanges could shape the fight.
- Physical gap: Pinto is two inches taller and holds a one-inch reach advantage, and he is three years younger.
The striking numbers also favor Pinto on paper. His 70 percent accuracy is 24 percentage points higher than Spivac's 46 percent, and he lands slightly more per minute. Spivac, however, has fought more often at the top level, with a 7-fight loss column that includes decisions against durable heavyweights, while Pinto has yet to taste defeat.
The fight is set for the December 5 card in Saudi Arabia.
