UFC Vegas 103 Preview: Rookie Report

You only get one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut!

UFC is headed back to its re-designed Apex facility this weekend (Sat., March 1, 2025) for UFC Vegas 103. In the main event, top Flyweight contender Manel Kape looks to secure a title shot as he takes on surging Asu Almabayev (check out the entire card here).

Only one fighter is making their Octagon debuts this weekend — let’s meet him.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Mario Pinto

Weight Class: Heavyweight

Age: 26

Record: 9-0

Mario Pinto received his UFC contract on season eight of Contender Series after searching Lucas Camacho in less than two minutes with a left hook followed by ground and pound … and he looked good doing it.

Pinto was born in Lisbon, Portugal, but now lives and trains in London, England, out of Fightzone London.

With the UFC Heavyweight division probably being in the worst state since the Tim Sylvia days, a young prospect like Pinto is a nice addition, although he isn’t a one-punch knockout type of Heavyweight.

Instead, the 26-year-old uses his athleticism, technique, and boxing to break down his opponents eventually. Once he finds the range and is comfortable, he will let his hands fly, which is evident in his five knockout wins.

His takedown defense is fine, and he rarely wrestles but will if he needs to – he does have one submission win on his record.

Is Pinto a world-beater? No, but he feels like he’s a new breed of Heavyweight in 2025.

The 6’5” Heavyweight is currently a -470 betting favorite over Austen Lane, who is coming off a fraud check win over knockout machine Robelis Despaigne.

Pinto should easily defeat Lane by controlling the distance and picking the former NFL player apart, but as they say, it only takes one punch – especially with Heavyweights.

Check out our prediction of Lane vs. Pinto here.

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 103 card right here, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 7 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 103: “Kape vs. Almabayev” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.