Brady Hiestand Returns to Face Nakamura

Brady Hiestand is set to step back into the Octagon after two years away, meeting Rinya Nakamura at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on September 26. The Spokane, Washington bantamweight returns after a difficult stretch that included a second ACL surgery, an experience he said tested him mentally more than physically. Hiestand had briefly considered walking away from fighting, but said the support around him and his continued time in the gym helped renew his commitment to the sport.

The return arrives after a promising opening UFC run for Brady Hiestand. Following a split-decision loss in the Ultimate Fighter Season 29 bantamweight finale, he put together three consecutive victories. He rallied to beat Fernie Garcia, then earned third-round finishes of Danaa Batgerel and Garrett Armfield. The Armfield finish brought Hiestand a Performance of the Night bonus. A fight planned for the fall of 2024 did not materialize after his injury setback, leaving this week as a meaningful point in a longer recovery rather than simply another booking. Hiestand said he was able to train as much as possible during the process and, once back, found his love for competition again. That context gives his matchup with Nakamura a clear frame: it is a return built on recovery, preparation and a chance to show where his game stands now.

Hiestand sees a changed game for his return

Brady Hiestand said his body feels “100 percent” as he prepares for Nakamura, and he described himself as a fighter at a different level from his first three UFC appearances. The most specific area he identified was striking. Hiestand said he entered the UFC with limited comfort on the feet, relying on an aggressive approach before looking to take opponents down and pursue submissions. He now believes added work on his hands, hand speed and timing will be evident when he competes in Las Vegas. That is not presented as a change in identity so much as an effort to make his existing strengths work within a broader game. Hiestand called himself a well-rounded fighter with elite-level grappling, while also emphasizing his desire to be more composed and effective standing up. His stated plan is to keep the approach simple, maintain hand position and stance, and apply his usual pace. The significance of that focus is straightforward: after a lengthy absence, Hiestand is measuring the return by his ability to perform the fundamentals and show the development he says occurred during his time away.

Nakamura provides a substantial test for that approach. The Japanese fighter was a world-class talent on the mats before moving to MMA after COVID delayed the 2020 Summer Games and his Olympic ambitions did not come to fruition. He enters the bout with an 11-1 record, including six knockouts and one submission, and is 3-1 in the UFC. Hiestand specifically acknowledged the challenge of facing an Olympic-level wrestler, making his comments about combining improved striking with grappling especially relevant to the matchup. Hiestand said he wants a finish and a bonus, but his broader emphasis was on delivering the best version of himself. He said he would be unhappy with his performance if he did not perform to his own standard, even while stressing that he intends to put sustained pressure on Nakamura. The bout therefore gives Hiestand an opportunity to turn his stated improvements into a performance after his extended layoff.

A pivotal week for Hiestand’s Sikjitsu team

Brady Hiestand’s return is part of a busy run of fights involving teammates from the small Washington state Sikjitsu team. On Tuesday, Jaden Ortega lost a hard-fought bout on Dana White’s Contender Series but earned a contract. On Friday, Devon Jackson is scheduled to challenge for the Tuff-N-Uff title. On Saturday, Melissa Amaya faces Tina Black in the Ultimate Fighter Season 34 finale after Hiestand’s contest. Hiestand said the gym has roughly 10 to 15 people coming through it, and he pointed to four members currently being in the UFC as evidence of its focus and mentality. He also noted that Michael Chiesa and Rick Little will be in the corners for both his and Amaya’s bouts, an arrangement he called stressful but positive because they are sharing the journey. For Hiestand, the week connects his individual return to a wider moment for the team and Spokane.

• Brady Hiestand is scheduled to face Rinya Nakamura in Las Vegas on September 26 after two years out of action.
• Hiestand said his return will feature greater comfort on the feet, with work on his hands, speed and timing alongside his grappling.

Brady Hiestand enters Saturday with a proven early UFC run behind him and a long recovery period now in the rear-view mirror. His fight with Nakamura is the scheduled next step, while his focus remains on fundamentals, pace and displaying the more complete fighter he believes he has become. With teammates active across the same week, Hiestand’s return also carries added importance for the Sikjitsu group he represents.