The UFC will return to Ottawa for the first time since 2019, holding a Fight Night card on April 18, 2026, at a venue expected to be the Canadian Tire Centre, though official confirmation has not yet been issued. The promotion’s third visit to the city will feature a pivotal women’s flyweight main event, as top-10 contender Jasmine Jasudavicius takes on Brazil’s Karine Silva.
Jasudavicius, ranked sixth in the division, enters her first UFC headliner on Canadian soil. The St. Catharines native turned professional in 2019 and has built a reputation for her grappling and physicality. She has scored notable wins over Ariane da Silva and Priscila Cachoeira, and captured a UFC contract via Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021. Jasudavicius will look to bounce back from a recent defeat and capitalize on the home crowd support, stating, “I’m excited for this opportunity to fight at home and show the progress I’ve made.”
Karine Silva represents dangerous opposition. The Brazilian also joined the UFC through the 2021 Contender Series, and is recognized for her finishing ability, with three of her four UFC fights ending before the scorecards. Despite a setback against Maycee Barber, Silva remains ranked ninth and continues to push forward in a quickly evolving flyweight division. A win over Jasudavicius would represent the most significant of her career and could immediately elevate her to serious consideration among the division’s top contenders.
Both athletes share similar paths to the UFC and have emerged as strong finishers. Their headlining assignment carries clear title implications, particularly with the women’s flyweight hierarchy in flux and an open field for fresh challengers.
April’s Ottawa event follows a trend of the UFC revitalizing its presence in Canada. The Ottawa card is the first in the city since UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy in May 2019 and third all-time. After the pandemic and a relatively sparse schedule for Canadian markets, UFC resumed activity in the country, most notably with UFC 315 in Montreal last year, which drew a strong local turnout.
As of now, the only other confirmed bout is a bantamweight matchup between John Castañeda and Mark Vologdin. The rest of the card is expected to feature additional Canadian talent as the promotion continues to place emphasis on regional stars. Fans and analysts alike anticipate further clarity on ticket sales, broadcast details, and undercard matchups in the coming weeks.
The main event stands as a crucial juncture for both Jasudavicius and Silva, each looking to distinguish herself in a crowded flyweight title picture. Victory in Ottawa will likely move the winner within range of a future title eliminator, particularly given the bout’s placement as a five-round headliner in a reinvigorated Canadian UFC market.
MMA Hive will provide continued coverage as additional details and fights are announced for UFC Ottawa, including analysis of its implications for the women’s flyweight division and broader Canadian MMA developments.
