In September, Serhiy Sidey secured a UFC contract with a first-round TKO win over Ramon (The Savage) Taveras on Dana White’s Contender Series. Despite a contentious stoppage, the 27-year-old bantamweight from Burlington, Ont., impressed UFC president Dana White, who criticized the referee’s decision but affirmed Sidey’s deserving victory.
With a “to be continued” tag, Sidey’s journey unfolded further. Taveras, granted a second chance, returned to the Contender Series, swiftly defeating Cortavious (Are You Not Entertained?) Romious in a 29-second slugfest. This victory earned Taveras a coveted UFC contract and set the stage for a rematch with Sidey.
Both fighters, among the 46 athletes earning UFC berths in the seventh season of White’s developmental series, aim to settle the score on the UFC 297 undercard. The main event features American Sean (Tarzan) Strickland defending his middleweight title against No. 2 Dricus (Stillknocks) Du Plessis of South Africa at Scotiabank Arena. The co-main event sees American Raquel (Rocky) Pennington face No. 3 Mayra (Sheetara) Bueno Silva of Brazil for the vacant women’s bantamweight crown.
For Sidey, being one of the nine Canadians on the 12-fight card is a dream come true. Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, he reflects on visualizing his UFC debut during the previous event in Toronto in 2018. The fighter, who trains at Aegis MMA in Oakville, Burlington Training Centre, and Niagara Top Team in St. Catharines, views this rematch as a chance to erase any doubt surrounding his first encounter with Taveras.
Confident in his abilities to secure victory, Sidey dismisses controversy and emphasizes the opportunity to showcase his skills in front of a hometown crowd. Born in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Sidey moved to Canada at the age of six. Despite initially being a “very very scrawny kid” with a love for extreme sports and a lack of self-confidence, Sidey found inspiration in the film “Never Back Down” and embraced combat sports training.
Entering high school, Sidey joined a local gym, where he became hooked on sparring and gradually built his confidence. His parents, both doctors in Ukraine, supported his dedication to combat sports. Sidey, who holds a degree in criminal justice from the University of Guelph-Humber, has balanced his academic pursuits with a successful fighting career.
With a 4-2-0 amateur record, Sidey won regional bantamweight titles in the Battlefield Fight League and BTC Fight Promotions. Despite a setback in 2020, losing a decision to Mateo Vogel, Sidey has since claimed six consecutive victories, including four first-round finishes. Notably, Vogel competes in the main event of Unified 55 in Toronto, coinciding with Sidey’s journey.
Beyond his fighting career, Sidey contributes to the combat sports community by coaching boxing and kickboxing. As he prepares for the rematch with Taveras, the 27-year-old is not just chasing victory; he is fulfilling a dream and representing the culmination of dedication, skill, and hometown pride on the grand stage of UFC 297.
In September, Serhiy Sidey etched his name in the UFC annals, securing a contract with a decisive first-round TKO victory over Ramon (The Savage) Taveras on Dana White’s Contender Series. Despite a controversial stoppage, the 27-year-old bantamweight from Burlington, Ontario, garnered praise from UFC president Dana White, who criticized the referee’s decision but unequivocally acknowledged Sidey’s deserving win.
The narrative continued with a tantalizing “to be continued” tag. Taveras, handed a second lease on his UFC aspirations, swiftly returned to the Contender Series, dispatching Cortavious (Are You Not Entertained?) Romious in a lightning-quick 29-second slugfest. This triumph not only sealed Taveras’s spot in the UFC roster but also set the stage for a riveting rematch with Sidey.
Both pugilists, among the 46 contenders earning coveted UFC berths in the seventh season of White’s developmental series, are set to settle the score on the UFC 297 undercard. The marquee bout features American Sean (Tarzan) Strickland defending his middleweight title against the formidable No. 2 Dricus (Stillknocks) Du Plessis of South Africa at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. The co-main event showcases the clash between American Raquel (Rocky) Pennington, ranked No. 2 among 135-pound contenders, and the formidable No. 3 Mayra (Sheetara) Bueno Silva of Brazil for the vacant women’s bantamweight crown.
For Sidey, being among the nine Canadians featured on the 12-fight card is the realization of a lifelong dream. Expressing profound gratitude for the opportunity, he fondly recollects visualizing his UFC debut during the previous Toronto event in 2018 when he was 3-0-0 and less than six months into his professional career.
Training diligently at Aegis MMA in Oakville, Burlington Training Centre, and Niagara Top Team in St. Catharines, Sidey perceives this rematch as an opportunity to dispel any lingering doubts from their initial encounter. Undeterred by the controversy surrounding the first fight, Sidey exudes confidence and underscores the chance to exhibit his skills in front of a hometown crowd.
Born in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Sidey transplanted to Canada with his family at the tender age of six. Initially, a self-described “very very scrawny kid” with a penchant for extreme sports and a deficit of self-confidence, Sidey found his calling after watching the 2008 film “Never Back Down.” Inspired, he promptly enrolled in a local gym, embarking on a journey that would shape his identity.
Entering high school, Sidey, buoyed by parental support, immersed himself in combat sports training, gradually building both his skills and self-assurance. His parents, both medical professionals in Ukraine, transitioned to different roles in Canada, with his father now working as a nurse and his mother as a health inspector.
With a 4-2-0 amateur record, Sidey ascended through the ranks, securing regional bantamweight titles in the Battlefield Fight League and BTC Fight Promotions. Despite a setback in February 2020, where he succumbed to a decision loss against Mateo Vogel, Sidey has since orchestrated an impressive comeback, stringing together six consecutive victories, including four first-round finishes.
Remarkably, Vogel finds himself in the main event of Unified 55 in Toronto, coinciding with Sidey’s journey on the grand stage of UFC 297. A testament to his dedication, Sidey managed to harmonize his academic pursuits, earning a degree in criminal justice from the University of Guelph-Humber.
Beyond the octagon, Sidey remains committed to nurturing the combat sports community, lending his expertise as a coach in boxing and kickboxing. As he readies himself for the impending rematch with Taveras, the 27-year-old is not merely chasing victory; he is embodying a dream, representing the culmination of unwavering dedication
