“The Career Ender” has his Octagon debut set.

Top Welterweight prospect and Contender Series standout Ronald Humphrey will make his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut against Nikolay Veretennikov at UFC 335 on Sat., Dec. 12, 2026, inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

MMA Junkie was first to report the matchup.

Humphrey (5-0) turned heads during his contract-winning appearance on Season 10 of Contender Series, stopping Alexis Miranda in the first round (watch highlights) before delivering one of the season’s most memorable post-fight interviews.

There is no doubt that plenty of eyes will be on the 26-year-old when he enters the Octagon. Humphrey arrives with considerable hype despite having only five professional fights under his belt.

“The Career Ender” owns a perfect 100 percent finishing rate, with all five of his victories coming in the first round. His resume includes four knockouts and one submission, and none of his opponents have survived long enough to hear the second-round horn.

Veretennikov (14-8), meanwhile, has struggled to find consistent success inside the Octagon, compiling a 2-4 promotional record.

The 35-year-old was knocked out by Khaos Williams in his latest appearance. Before that, however, he violently stopped fan favorite Niko Price in less than two minutes (watch highlights).

On paper, Veretennikov appears to be a favorable first matchup for Humphrey. However, he also owns considerably more professional and UFC experience than the undefeated newcomer.

We’ll soon find out whether “The Career Ender” can continue ending careers on the sport’s biggest stage.

Here is what UFC Vegas 335 looks like so far:

Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alex Pereira
Brandon Moreno vs. Charles Johnson
Chase Hooper vs. Chris Padilla
Maycee Barber vs. Carli Judice
Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Ronald Humphrey
Quentin Pasley vs. Junior Tafa