Manoel Sousa is slated to make his return at UFC Dallas on January 16. The booking is described as being in the works and is not yet official.
Manoel Sousa is reportedly in line to return at UFC Dallas on January 16, though the booking is not yet official. The matchup is described as being in the works, and no opponent has been named.
Sousa, a 29-year-old Brazilian who trains out of Academia Octogono, carries a 15-1-0 record into any potential return. The orthodox fighter stands five-foot-nine (175 cm) with a 70-inch (178 cm) reach.
His most recent recorded fight came on August 8, 2026, at UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld, where he beat Richie Miranda by unanimous decision. That followed a third-round KO/TKO of Bolaji Oki on March 14 at UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos. Sousa therefore shows two straight wins in the UFC records, one by stoppage and one on the scorecards.
If the January 16 date holds, it would come roughly five months after the Miranda win. His previous gap, between the Oki and Miranda fights, was about five months as well, so the reported timeline fits his recent activity.
His numbers show a fighter who does most of his work standing and mixes in submission threats. Sousa lands 4.27 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He is not a heavy wrestler by volume, averaging 0.36 takedowns per 15 minutes, but he attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, which suggests he hunts for finishes when a fight reaches the mat.
Why it matters
- Sousa would be looking to stretch his winning run to three straight UFC fights.
- His 15-1-0 record keeps him in the conversation as a prospect worth watching as he builds momentum.
- With no opponent reported, the style matchup remains unknown and will shape how significant the booking turns out to be.
The report has not been officially confirmed by the UFC, and details such as the opponent and weight class could change before any announcement.
