On Saturday, September 26, Australian junior-bantamweight Mai Soliman will face former world title challenger and perennial women’s contender Maria Micheo Santizo in a WBC junior-bantamweight title eliminator for the right to face current 115-pound world champion Adelaida Ruiz and/or newly crowned interim champ, Diana Fernandez.
WBC No. 3-ranked Soliman, 10-2 (6 KOs), of Sydney, New South Wales, via Cairo, Egypt, and Guatemala-born WBA No. 3-ranked (at flyweight) Micheo Santizo, 14-7-1 (8 KOs), will meet in the 10-round main event of Championing Mental Health 3: The Ring of Opportunity (CMH 3), broadcast live globally on UFC Fight Pass from The Commerce Casino and Hotel in Commerce, California.
Against Micheo Santizo, 28-year-old Soliman will be making her U.S. fighting debut and entering the ring for the first time since her unsuccessful world title bid against undefeated WBO junior-bantamweight champ, Mizuki Hiruta, where she lost a 10-round decision at the Pyramids of Giza this past May.
Now residing in now of Eastvale, California, 41-year-old “La Imparable” (The Unstoppable) Micheo Santizo lost a unanimous decision to unified IBF and WBO minimumweight champion Yokasta Valle in September 2023. A pro since 2018, Micheo Santizo has faced a long list of top contenders and future champions in the women’s flyweight ranks, including current unified IBF, WBC and WBO flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora and former undisputed minimumweight world champion Seniesa Estrada in addition to Valle.
In the co-main event, undefeated contenders Otar Eranosyan, 17-0 (9 KOs), and Duban Zuleta, 10-0-1 (8 KOs), will fight 10 rounds or less for the WBA NABA junior-lightweight title.
Since its inaugural event in May 2025, Championing Mental Health was established to spotlight the importance of mental health for boxers worldwide, helping them connect with mental health resources, education, and support.
A 10-fight undercard is also scheduled.
