Debuting welterweights go head-to-head on Saturday, as China’s Ding Meng faces Brazil’s Jose Henrique at UFC Macau.
Meng (35–9) is coming off a second-round knockout of Mirali Huseynov in Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat in October. Henrique (8–1) returns to the cage for the first time since November 2024, when he stopped Porfirio Alves Jr. in the second round of their Centurion FC bout for his third-straight victory.
Meng enters as a -120 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Henrique is a +100 underdog, with the total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Meng vs. Henrique Preview
Ding Meng
They call him “The Assassin” for a reason.
Ding Meng — a pro since New Year’s Eve of 2015 — makes his first trip to the Octagon Saturday night with a remarkable resume. The Chinese contender, 31, owns a 35–9 professional record with a spit-take-inducing 28 knockouts, along with a pair of submission victories.
Meng struggled in his August 2024 appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, dropping a unanimous decision to Rami Hamed. He returned to action in October 2025, scoring a second-round stoppage of Mirali Huseynov in Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat. Meng looks to parlay that momentum into a strong showing in his native country.
Jose Henrique
Jose Henrique arrives in MMA’s flagship promotion under far different circumstances. The 24-year-old Brazilian signed with the UFC in 2023, but a failed out-of-competition drug test shelved him for two years.
Still just 24, “Canela” enters Saturday night looking to make up for lost time. After suffering his first professional loss — an August 2022 decision against Yusaku Kinoshita — on Dana White’s Contender Series, Henrique worked his way back with three straight wins on regional circuits, most recently notching a second-round knockout of Porfirio Alves Jr. in November 2024. A jiu-jitsu specialist with dangerous boxing, six of Henrique’s eight pro wins have come by KO.
Meng vs. Henrique Pick, Best Bet
Of the 43 combined victories between Meng and Henrique, 34 have come by knockout. With heavy hands on each side, both fighters are well-positioned to make a statement in their long-awaited UFC debuts. Count on a KO in Saturday’s welterweight duel.
