Overview
- The TUF 34 bantamweight final between Ilimbek Akylbek and Mehemmedeli Osmanli is scheduled for Saturday at UFC Fight Night 289 at Meta APEX.
- Akylbek told reporters through a Russian-language interpreter that the late-season sparring conflict was limited to training and is not personal.
- Osmanli has publicly pushed a brash narrative, accusing Akylbek of trying to injure him on the show and predicting a decisive win.
- Both fighters were teammates on Team Bisping and the on-show sparring incident, in which Osmanli alleged Akylbek elbowed him, has driven much of the pre-fight coverage.
- The bout pairs Akylbek (10-3) against Osmanli (12-1) and doubles as a competitive resolution to the TUF storyline while giving both young fighters a higher-profile platform.