After a complete shutdown in recent times due to the coronavirus pandemic, if all goes well, this coming Saturday night, May 9th should see the UFC return to action in Jacksonville, California with a stacked UFC 249 card on pay-per-view.
The card is headlined by an interim lightweight title encounter as long-time No.1 contender Tony Ferguson goes up against Justin Gaethje’s brand of ultra-violence in a match-up that seems virtually guaranteed to be an all-action thriller.
There’s more title action in the co-main event, with Henry Cejudo finally looking to defend his bantamweight title against a legend of the division, former champion Dominick Cruz, who returns after another three-and-a-half year injury absence.
Two devastating heavyweight strikers also collide on the main card, with Francis Ngannou riding a three fight winning streak, all by way of first round T(KO), while the undefeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik has stopped his last three UFC opponents by KO.
Jeremy Stephens will be looking for his first win in five fights when he locks horns with Calvin Kattar, who lost to Zabit Magomedsharipov last time out, but is 4-2 overall in his UFC run to date.
Former NFL player Greg Hardy opens up the main card in his latest heavyweight encounter against Yorgan De Castro, who is 6-0 in his MMA career to date.
It’s worth also noting the strength of the prelims on this card, which will be fronted by Donald Cerrone looking to avenge an old loss to Anthony Pettis from seven years ago.
The prelims also feature the return of Fabricio Werdum after a two years suspension to take on Alexsei Oleinik, while Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza fights Uriah Hall and Carla Esparza goes up against Michelle Waterson.
Check out the full UFC 249 fight card below.
Main Card (PPV)
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz
Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar
Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro
Prelims (ESPN)
Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis
Aleksei Oleinik vs. Fabricio Werdum
Jacare Souza vs. Uriah Hall
Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
Early Prelims (ESPN+)
Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
Charles Rosa vs. Bryce Mitchell
Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey
