Kurt Holobaugh, the lightweight champ of “The Ultimate Fighter 31”, is gearing up for his third go-around. He’s hoping this time will be the charm.
Holobaugh, with a record of 20-7, 1 NC, is stepping back into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ring. He’s set to face Trey Ogden, who’s got a 16-6, 1 NC record under his belt. The showdown is slated for a UFC Fight Night event on March 23.
The two lightweights will duke it out at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. MMA Fighting was the first to report the news on Thursday. Both fighters have since confirmed the match on their respective Instagram pages.
Holobaugh’s victory in the TUF 31 finals was his first UFC win. He defeated Austin Hubbard, his Team Chandler teammate, with a triangle choke. The win was a long time coming, as it was his fifth appearance with the promotion.
Holobaugh, a Louisiana native, first made his mark in the UFC after the merger with Strikeforce in 2013. Despite a one-and-done loss, he returned in 2018 after being signed from the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series. After a second departure in 2019, “The Hurt” scored two knockouts over Joziro Boye and Jose Luis Verdugo. These victories earned him a spot on the reality show.
Ogden last fought in November 2023. He was victorious with an arm-triangle choke on Nikolas Motta in the third round. The referee, Mike Beltran, intervened, believing Motta was unconscious. Motta protested, leading to a replay review.
In the end, officials ruled Beltran’s intervention was premature. The result was changed to a no contest, much to the chagrin of “Samurai Ghost” and his fans. The mishap earned Sherdog’s 2023 “Robbery of the Year” honors. Ogden’s win bonus was revoked due to the reversed call.
The UFC Fight Night card on March 23 will be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. No headliner has been announced yet. The lineup so far includes a featherweight match between Julian Erosa and Ricardo Ramos. A bantamweight bout between Davey Grant and Cody Gibson is also on the cards.