When the UFC returns to Winnipeg for the first time in nearly a decade, there will be plenty of local talent taking centre stage.
The UFC announced on Thursday that middleweight Julien Leblanc was added to the Fight Night card on April 18, making the Gatineau, Que. native the fourth Canadian to join the card.
Leblanc will be making his promotional debut when he steps into the cage at Canada Life Centre, taking on Swiss 185-pounder Robert Valentin.
The 34-year-old Leblanc holds a 10-2-0 record in professional MMA while riding a five-fight win streak. His last three bouts ended via stoppages, most recently earning a second-round submission victory against Ryan Rohovich in Nov. 2025.
As for Valentin (10-6-0), the 30-year-old is still in search of his first UFC victory after starting his career under the banner with a 0-3-0 record since debuting in August 2024. Two of those three losses have come via TKO, most recently losing to Ateba Gautier in Jul. 2025 after just 1:10 of action in the opening round.
Leblanc joins Melissa Croden, Jasmine Jasduvicius and headliner Mike Malott as the other Canadiens fighting on home soil in Winnipeg come April. It'll be just the third time the UFC has visited Canada's "Gateway to the West," and first since December 2017.
Malott will be challenging No. 11-ranked welterweight Gilbert Burns in the main event bout of the card.
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