MarQuel Mederos Aims for Knockout Against Austin Hubbard at UFC Fight Night

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Lightweight contender MarQuel Mederos is eager to silence his critics as he prepares to face Austin Hubbard at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg on Saturday, March 29, 2025. After a year on the sidelines, Mederos is not only looking to secure a win, but also aiming to finish his opponent.

“I’m putting so much emphasis on going out there and putting on a performance,” Mederos said in an interview. “It doesn’t do you any justice to eke out decision victories. They want finishes. So, Austin’s never been finished, and I want to be the only guy to finish him.”

Mederos, who boasts a professional record of 9-1-0, made his UFC debut last February against Landon Quinones, winning by unanimous decision. However, the 28-year-old is aware that a decision win won’t satisfy his supporters, especially leading into this fight against the more seasoned Hubbard, who has a record of 17-8-0.

This matchup comes after Mederos had planned fights with Nazim Sadykhov and Evan Elder, both of which fell through. Despite the challenges, he remains focused and ready to prove himself in the Octagon.

“I don’t feel as if anything in the external can affect your internal,” Mederos said. “Those are weak-minded people. I definitely want to make a statement.”

For this fight, Mederos has changed training camps from Factory X in Colorado to the MMA Lab in Glendale, Arizona. He believes the new environment will enhance his performance. “The Lab was just a good fit,” he explained. “It helped to push my game.”

Mederos’ last year included not only the challenges of recovering from an injury but also personal milestones, including the birth of his second child. Now that he’s back, he aims to balance the desire to win with the ambition to dominate the fight.

“I don’t think the ‘it’s a win, I’ll take it’ mentality gets you to the top,” Mederos said. “The goal should be to dominate. If you’re winning in the process, we love it.”

UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg will be held at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, with preliminaries starting at 4 PM ET and the main card at 7 PM ET. Fans can expect a highly competitive night featuring Mederos as he attempts to add a performance to his record that exceeds expectations.