Lucas Brennan is finally set to make his UFC debut against Francis Marshall at UFC Vegas 116, after a long wait and multiple near misses.
Brennan’s Long Road to the Octagon
Brennan will face Francis Marshall on Saturday at the Meta APEX. Brennan received the offer a few days ago.
The 25-year-old prospect has been training full-time at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas since his last win in October 2025, hoping for a UFC opportunity. This is not the first time the UFC has offered him a fight.
Brennan said he didn’t know about the fight until Monday. Since October, he has been trying to get on every card, at both 145 and 155 pounds. This marks the eighth time he has been called to replace someone, but the first time it has actually materialised.
Eager to Fight
Brennan was ready to accept any chance to sign with the UFC, even on short notice.
Brennan said that if he hadn’t been signed, he would have aimed for Dana White’s Contender Series. He was then informed that the UFC wanted another fight on Saturday’s card. Brennan accepted, as did Marshall.
Brennan understands why people decline short notice fights, but he was eager for the opportunity. He said he was excited the fight with Marshall came through and that Francis is a tough opponent.
Staying Ready Pays Off
Brennan received the most short notice fight offers between October and December 2026 and accepted them all. He admits it was disheartening when the fights didn’t happen.
Brennan returned to training in case the UFC called again.
- Brennan has accepted eight short-notice UFC fights.
- He has been training full-time since October 2025.
- He will fight Francis Marshall at UFC Vegas 116.
The fight will take place at 155 pounds, making the weight cut easier for Brennan on short notice.