Magomed Zaynukov Returns to America for UFC Dallas in January
The viral lightweight known as John Pork is reportedly set to face undefeated Piero Guaylupo at UFC Fight Night 296 in Dallas.
Magomed Zaynukov, the lightweight better known to UFC fans as John Pork, is reportedly heading back to America. According to multiple reports first broken by MMA.pe, Zaynukov will face undefeated Peruvian prospect Piero Guaylupo at UFC Fight Night 296 in Dallas on January 16, 2027.
The matchup has not been officially announced by the UFC, but Zaynukov confirmed to Okko MMA that he is back in camp and training. He said a fight has been set, though the date has not been finalized. He also revealed he had surgery and is just now getting back into the swing of things.
Zaynukov came into the UFC with serious hype off the Contender Series and earned the John Pork nickname that turned him into a viral sensation. His UFC debut came in October 2025. His only legal fight since then was a decision win over Damian Rzepecki in Abu Dhabi in July 2026.
The bigger question hanging over this booking is whether Zaynukov can even enter the United States. He instigated a brawl in the crowd at UFC 322 that drew attention from the NYPD and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. If he clears that hurdle, he faces a tough test in Guaylupo, who enters at 12-0 after punching his ticket to the UFC with a win in September.
Zaynukov told Okko MMA he wants to fight someone in the top 15 soon, but for now the UFC has matched him with an unranked opponent who brings an unbeaten record and nothing to lose.
John Pork is one of the most entertaining characters in the UFC right now, and I'm genuinely curious if he can even get into the country. The guy started a brawl at UFC 322 that had the NYPD involved. That's not the kind of thing that gets quietly swept under the rug when you're trying to fly into Dallas on a foreign passport.
If he makes it, the Guaylupo fight is a smart booking. You've got a viral lightweight with knockout power against an undefeated prospect nobody outside Peru has heard of. One of them is getting a highlight reel moment, and the UFC gets to figure out if either guy is worth investing in.
Zaynukov wants a top-15 opponent, and I respect the ambition. But first he has to prove he can stay out of trouble long enough to actually compete. The talent is there. The question is everything else around it.
