Wellmaker Owns His Mistakes Ahead of UFC Vegas 122

Malcolm Wellmaker says his two-fight UFC losing streak exposed real flaws in his game, and he's bringing a retooled approach into his fight against Otari Tanzilovi at UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Wellmaker (10-2) lost for the first time as a pro to Ethyn Ewing last November, then dropped a second straight decision when he was submitted by Juan Diaz in May, falling to 2-2 inside the Octagon after signing out of Dana White's Contender Series in 2024. He faces Tanzilovi (10-2) looking to snap that skid.

What Does Wellmaker Say Went Wrong Against Ewing

Wellmaker says he went into the Ewing fight underestimating his opponent. "My confidence was a little bit high," Wellmaker said. "I respected him, but not enough. And so, you know, that was a mentality shift, but also like a skill thing too, man." He framed both losses as lessons rather than setbacks, saying they sharpened him rather than damaged him. "I never had to deal with the loss part until recently, and fortunately those words stuck with me," he said. "So, when I lost my fights, I mean, yeah, that hurt, but, you know, they took nothing away from me. That made me better."

Why Wellmaker Moved To American Top Team

Wellmaker joined American Top Team after back-to-back losses and has been working with new coaches and training partners there. He says the environment change is part of fixing the gaps the two defeats revealed, without abandoning what got him to the UFC in the first place. He wants to keep the aggressive, power-punching style that carried him through his first two Octagon wins, but apply it with more structure. "I need to go in there, still be aggressive, still try to put this power on people, knock them out cold, but, you know, just do it in a more strategic manner," Wellmaker said. "Never let a win go to your head, and never let a loss go to your heart."

Betting Angle

Fighters on a two-fight skid after a hot UFC start are tricky betting propositions, and Wellmaker fits that profile exactly. Books tend to discount him until he proves the gym change translates inside the cage, so expect any value to hinge on whether oddsmakers see Tanzilovi, also 10-2, as the sharper matchup stylistically. Bettors should watch early-fight output closely. Wellmaker has said he wants to stay aggressive but more controlled, and if he reverts to pure brawling under pressure, the same holes that Ewing and Diaz exploited could resurface regardless of which gym logo is on his shorts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Malcolm Wellmaker fighting at UFC Vegas 122?

Malcolm Wellmaker faces Otari Tanzilovi at UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

What is Malcolm Wellmaker's current UFC record?

Malcolm Wellmaker is 2-2 in the UFC after signing via Dana White's Contender Series in 2024, having lost his last two fights to Ethyn Ewing and Juan Diaz.

Why did Malcolm Wellmaker switch training camps?

Malcolm Wellmaker joined American Top Team after consecutive losses to Ethyn Ewing and Juan Diaz, saying he wanted to address weaknesses those fights exposed.