Former UFC Champ Junior dos Santos to Face Kubrat Pulev at Triad Combat Event

Former heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos is set to make his first combat sports appearance since being released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A bout between dos Santos and Kubrat Pulev is in the works for the Triller-promoted Triad Combat early next year. TMZ Sports was first to report the matchup, which is currently being targeted for February. The Triad Combat rule set is touted as a hybrid of boxing and MMA. Fighters are allowed to throw strikes from the clinch as well as spinning backfists and hammerfists. Kicks, knees, elbows are not allowed, nor is fighting on the ground. Combatants are allowed to stand on their opponent’s foot while throwing punches, however.

Triller Triad Combat held its inaugural event on Nov. 27. In the main event, Pulev authored a standing KO of another former UFC heavyweight king, Frank Mir, 1:59 into the first-round of their bout. Pulev owns a 28-2 professional boxing record, with his only two losses coming against Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko.

Dos Santos hasn’t competed since December 2020, when he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 256. The 37-year-old Brazilian lost his last four bouts within the Las Vegas-based promotion prior to his release.