Diego Ferreira has signed a new contract with the UFC. The 41-year-old is expected to return at UFC Dallas on January 16. His opponent has not yet been determined.
Diego Ferreira has signed a new contract with the UFC and is expected to return at UFC Dallas on January 16, with his opponent yet to be determined.
The Brazilian lightweight is 41 years old and carries a 20-7-0 record. He trains out of Fortis MMA and fights from an orthodox stance.
A winning return
Ferreira comes off a unanimous decision victory over Billy Quarantillo on August 8, 2026, at UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld, his most recent recorded fight. That win ended a two-fight skid. He lost a unanimous decision to Grant Dawson at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025, then was stopped by Alexander Hernandez in the second round at Noche UFC on September 13, 2025.
If the January 16 date holds, Ferreira would be back in the cage roughly five months after the Quarantillo win.
The numbers
Ferreira lands 4.95 significant strikes per minute at 40 percent accuracy, a high-volume output that has defined his run at 155 pounds. He also mixes in grappling, averaging 1.08 takedowns and 0.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
At five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, he is not a physically imposing lightweight, so his offense relies on pace and activity rather than length.
Why it matters
- Ferreira is trying to build momentum after the Quarantillo win snapped a two-fight losing streak.
- At 41, each booking carries weight, and a new contract gives him a clear runway to keep competing at the top level.
- With no opponent set, the matchup he lands will shape what a win or loss means for his place in the division.
The UFC has not yet detailed the rest of the UFC Dallas card in connection with Ferreira's return.
