Zac Pacleb

Las Vegas

Digital Content Manager at UFC

writer, digital content manager @ufc(dot)com || one-half of @blindspotters || soft-spots: liverpool fc, one tree hill, burritos || Arizona State alum || he/him

Articles

Julianna Peña And The Legacy Of Two-Time Women’s Champions

4 days ago | ufc.com | Zac Pacleb

When Julianna Peña recaptured the bantamweight title at UFC 307, she also joined a special group of fighters. Only five other women have earned two-time champ status, and only Amanda Nunes did so in the bantamweight division. Having regained her throne, Peña gets her second chance to successfully defend the belt when she takes on Kayla Harrison in the co-main event at UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs O’Malley 2 on June 7.
Get To Know Patchy Mix

4 days ago | ufc.com | Zac Pacleb

Q&AUFC.com: How does it feel to finally be here in the UFC? PM: “It feels great, man. You know, years of hard work and dedication to finally get here, to getthe contract and to have it all set. My debut is just surreal. I’m very excited and I'm just very grateful.” UFC.com: This bout is sort of a short-notice one. How did you prepare for it? GET YOUR TICKETS: UFC 316 | UFC Atlanta | UFC Baku | UFC 317 | UFC NashvillePM: “I stay ready all year long. I help a lot of guys with their camps.
Macy Chiasson Feels Everything Coming Together

1 week ago | ufc.com | Zac Pacleb

When Macy Chiasson won The Ultimate Fighter in November 2018, she had just four professional bouts on her record. At that point, most fighters are still working through the regional scene, but winning the tournament meant Chiasson, then 27, would have to take those early career lumps at the highest level of the sport. In the ensuing seven years, that’s what happened. There were highs, including four finishes and three performances bonuses, but there were lows, too.
Main Event Preview | UFC Fight Pass Invitational 11

1 week ago | ufc.com | Zac Pacleb

When Ffion Davies and Adele Fornarino compete at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 11 on May 29, it not only will be the first headlined by female athletes, but also a marquee matchup in the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Davies and Fornarino have endless accolades to their names from European to world championships and have met just once before in 2022, when Davies submitted Fornarino.
Under the Radar | Ludovit Klein

1 week ago | ufc.com | Zac Pacleb

The quality of fighters competing in and around the lightweight rankings is no secret, so even though the Slovakian doesn’t have a number next to his name, it doesn’t mean he isn’t deserving of the opportunity, either. However, Klein didn’t find his groove in the Octagon right away when he made his promotional debut as a featherweight in September 2020. WATCH: Ludovit Klein's Fight Week Interview Although he scored a first-round knockout over Shane Young, Klein missed weight.
Matchup To Watch | Ketlen Vieira vs Macy Chiasson

1 week ago | ufc.com | Zac Pacleb

The women’s bantamweight belt is going up for grabs next week when champion Julianna Peña defends her title against Kayla Harrison, but question marks surround what comes next for the winner of the June 7 bout. There is some speculation that former two-division champion and soon-to-be Hall of Fame member Amanda Nunes might come out of retirement to face either woman, but if that isn’t the case, either Ketlen Vieira or Macy Chiasson could put themselves on the on-deck circle with a win on May 31.
Charles Oliveira | Journey Back To The Title Shot

2 weeks ago | ufc.com | Zac Pacleb

Charles Oliveira might have the highest approval rating of any fighter on the roster. The all-action Brazilian is almost always in an entertaining fight and holds the record for most finishes in UFC history with 20. His 28-fight journey to the lightweight title was one filled with ups, downs and a nine-fight winning streak that quieted any and all criticisms about his toughness and heart the early chapters of his career built.
Michael Morales | Ready For A Showcase In The Spotlight

3 weeks ago | ufc.com | Zac Pacleb

Perhaps the most enticing attribute of Morales, beyond the physical tools and rapidly sharpening skillset, is his composure. Almost always smiling, Morales’ victories in the Octagon have, for the most part, felt like a steady dismantling of his opponents rather than one-way blowouts. While the latter does wonders for stealing headlines and social media circulation, Morales’ performances have a maturity about them.
Dana White Announces UFC 317 Main Event, Major Summer Matchups

3 weeks ago | ufc.com | Kevin D. Schuster |Zac Pacleb

UFC CEO Dana White announced via Instagram Live on Tuesday the main and co-main events for UFC 317, set to headline the promotion’s annual International Fight Week on June28. In the main event, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will take on former featherweight titleholder Ilia Topuria for the vacant lightweight title.
Crying While Watching Joy Ride & Other Thoughts About Mother’s Day

3 weeks ago | zacpacleb.substack.com | Zac Pacleb

An actual fact about myself that I believe to be odd is that, of the many movies I’ve watched in the last five years or so, none has made me cry harder than Joy Ride. I find it strange because Joy Ride is a comedy in which four Asian-American women travel across China and hijinks ensue. Those hijinks include: taking a smorgasbord of drugs, posing as a K-pop group and NBA all-star Baron Davis showing up for an insane sequence I won’t spoil. And yet! I genuinely sobbed both times I watched it.