UFC celebrates Black History Month

02 February 2023

UFC, has started its annual Black History Month celebration. During this time, UFC will honour the accomplishments of Black and African American UFC competitors. In honour of their contributions to advancing UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts, African American and Black UFC competitors, both past and current, will have personal accounts highlighted by UFC throughout the month of February.

Derrick Lewis, a former contender for the UFC heavyweight title who is presently rated No. 7 in the division, will battle Serghei Spivac on February 4 at UFC APEX in Las Vegas in the main event of UFC FIGHT NIGHT: LEWIS vs. SPIVAC, the inaugural event of Black History Month.

As well as competing in UFC 284: MAKHACHEV vs. VOLKANOVSKI, which takes place on Saturday, February 11, in Perth, Australia, and UFC FIGHT NIGHT: VERA vs. SANDHAGEN, which occurs on Saturday, February 18, at UFC APEX, are a number of top-ranked African American and Black UFC athletes.

On February 25, the final day of UFC's Black History Month celebration, Ryan Spann, the No. 11 light heavyweight in the division, will face Nikita Krylov in the main event of UFC FIGHT NIGHT: KRYLOV vs. SPANN at UFC APEX.

UFC will celebrate Black History Month on its digital and social media channels with unique content, including stories, vignettes, and an interactive timeline that will be posted weekly at UFC.com/black-history. Throughout the month, UFC will also air unique content including watermark inclusion, athlete features, and vignettes.

Additionally, UFC will provide unique material for ESPN's Black History Month-themed programming by examining some of the most thrilling fights that will have Black and African American athletes competing on the roster in 2022. The first episode of UFC Unleashed: Black History Month will air on ESPN2 on Sunday, February 5 at 9 p.m. ET.