Unbeaten Rafael Estevam unfazed by UFC Vegas 115 underdog status

Brazilian fighter confident ahead of bantamweight debut against Ethyn Ewing

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:10pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and fierce expression of a UFC fighter, conveying the conceptual tension of an underdog challenger seeking to make his mark.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the raw intensity and explosive energy of an undefeated UFC fighter determined to prove his worth in a new weight class.Las Vegas Today

Despite being undefeated at 14-0 and having more UFC experience than his opponent, Brazilian fighter Rafael Estevam enters UFC Vegas 115 as the underdog against Ethyn Ewing. However, Estevam remains unbothered by the oddsmakers' assessment, stating he is 'forged in adversity' and ready to prove himself in his bantamweight debut.

Why it matters

Estevam's move up to bantamweight presents an intriguing matchup, as the unbeaten fighter looks to make a statement against a younger, but less experienced opponent in Ewing. The underdog status adds an extra layer of intrigue, as Estevam aims to silence the doubters and establish himself as a force in the new division.

The details

Estevam, who has a 14-0 professional record and 3-0 mark in the UFC, is stepping up from flyweight to bantamweight for this fight. He has notable wins over Charles Johnson, Jesus Aguilar, and Felipe Bunes. Meanwhile, Ewing is 9-2 overall and 1-0 in the UFC, having pulled off a short-notice upset over Malcolm Wellmaker in his debut last November.

  • UFC Vegas 115 takes place on Saturday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Rafael Estevam

A 14-0 Brazilian fighter who is making his bantamweight debut at UFC Vegas 115 after an impressive run at flyweight, where he defeated notable names like Charles Johnson, Jesus Aguilar, and Felipe Bunes.

Ethyn Ewing

A 9-2 fighter who is 1-0 in the UFC, having pulled off a short-notice upset over Malcolm Wellmaker in his debut last November.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's a natural thing when moving up a division, you know what to expect with a guy that's moving up, but I saw it as well that people are betting on me and believing in me as well. Bets have come in for me as an underdog. I think that it's natural to wait for something like that when you come into a new division. After Saturday, there will be no doubts, and you'll know exactly who Rafael 'Macapa' is.”

— Rafael Estevam, Fighter

“I'm forged in adversity. We train very hard, whether it's standing and we need to stand and do it, or whether it's going to the ground and do that. Whatever it is, we're ready for all adversity and all challengers, and we're ready to do whatever needs to be done on Saturday.”

— Rafael Estevam, Fighter

What’s next

The winner of the Estevam vs. Ewing fight at UFC Vegas 115 could potentially earn a top-15 ranking in the bantamweight division and move closer to a title shot.

The takeaway

Rafael Estevam's move up to bantamweight presents an intriguing matchup against the less experienced but talented Ethyn Ewing. Despite being the underdog, Estevam's undefeated record and confidence in his abilities suggest he is ready to prove he belongs in the new division and silence any doubters.