Tag: Brendan Fitzgerald

UFC 309: How to watch Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic title fight, New York lineup, odds, more (Updated)

Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC 309 on pay-per-view, ESPNews, Hulu, FX and ESPN+.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The UFC’s 13th and penultimate pay-per-view event of 2024 goes down Saturday in the “Big Apple.”

Here’s how to watch UFC 309 with the heavyweight title on the line at the top of the card at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Broadcast and streaming info

Jon Anik

UFC 309 has a main card that begins at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on pay-per-view (via ESPN+). The four-fight preliminary card airs on ESPNews, FX and Hulu at 8 p.m. ET. Three early prelims air on Hulu and stream on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.

[autotag]Dan Hellie[/autotag] will host the official UFC 309 weigh-in show on Friday.

He’ll be joined by UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag], coach [autotag]Din Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Laura Sanko[/autotag].

Former UFC title challengers [autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] and [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag], as well as retired lightweight contender [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] will serve as a desk analysts on the UFC 309 post-fight show and throughout the card, when necessary. [autotag]Brendan Fitzgerald[/autotag] will serve as the host.

Longtime UFC correspondent [autotag]Megan Olivi[/autotag] will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC 309 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event.

[autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC 309.

He will command play-by-play alongside color commentators and UFC Hall of Famer Cormier and [autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag].

(Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)

Main event: Jon Jones

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 04: Jon Jones looks on during the UFC heavyweight championship fight against Ciryl Gane of France during the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 04, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775947443 ORIG FILE ID: 1471352966

Record: 27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC
Opponent: Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Key wins: Ciryl Gane
Misc.: Won vacant heavyweight title with first-round submission of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. That was his debut at heavyweight after years as the light heavyweight champion. He’s been on the shelf with an injury till now.

Main event: Stipe Miocic

Stipe Miocic

Record: 20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC
Opponent: Jon Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Key wins: Daniel Cormier (twice), Francis Ngannou, Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum
Misc.: Lost the heavyweight title in March 2021 to Ngannou. Was set to fight Jones a year ago until Jones’ injury took him out. Miocic chose to wait for Jones’ return rather than fight, putting his current layoff at around 44 months. Prior to this, the longest Miocic ever had gone without a fight was 13 months.

Co-main event: Michael Chandler

Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Dustin Poirier (red gloves) and Michael Chandler (blue gloves) during UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC
Opponent: Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Key wins: Tony Ferguson, Dan Hooker
Misc.: Former Bellator champion has had mixed success in the UFC, including a knockout loss to Oliveira in a title fight that he’ll be trying to avenge as an underdog Saturday.

Co-main event: Charles Oliveira

May 15, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Charles Oliveira applies a hold against Michael Chandler uring UFC 262 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC
Opponent: Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Key wins: Beneil Dariush, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Chandler, Tony Ferguson
Misc.: Oliveira already has one win over Chandler – a knockout to win the vacant lightweight title in 2021. He defended it against Poirier and beat Gaethje – but in a fight for which he missed weight and was stripped of the belt. After a loss to new champ Islam Makhachev, he rebounded against Dariush, but lost a likely title eliminator to Arman Tsarukyan in April.

UFC 309 main card betting odds

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 03: (R-L) Viviane Araujo of Brazil punches Natalia Silva of Brazil in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 03, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Jon Jones (-625) vs. Stipe Miocic (+455) – for heavyweight title
  • Michael Chandler (+205) vs. Charles Oliveira (-250)
  • Paul Craig (+700) vs. Bo Nickal (-1100)
  • Viviane Araujo (+220) vs. Karine Silva (-270)
  • James Llontop (+550) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-800)

UFC 309 prelim betting odds

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/FX/Hulu, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Jonathan Martinez (+120) vs. Marcus McGhee (-140)
  • Eryk Anders (-120) vs. Chris Weidman (+100)
  • Damon Jackson (-180) vs. Jim Miller (+150)
  • David Onama (-1000) vs. Roberto Romero (+600)

UFC 309 early prelim betting odds

PRELIMINARY CARD (Hulu/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Jhonata Diniz (+125) vs. Marcin Tybura (-150)
  • Ramiz Brahimaj (+120) vs. Mickey Gall (-140)
  • Bassil Hafez (-+230) vs. Oban Elliott (-285)
  • Veronica Hardy (-150) vs. Eduarda Moura (+125)

UFC 309 preview videos

The greatest moments in UFC Apex history? The man on the mic for most of them has a few

The UFC Apex has produced some magical, shocking and mystifying moments ahead of Saturday’s seminal UFC Vegas 100 event, and Brendan Fitzgerald was on the call for many of them.

The 100th Fight Night event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas goes down Saturday with UFC Fight Night 247, and the seminal card has generated a lot of retrospective from within the MMA community.

UFC play-by-play commentator [autotag]Brendan Fitzgerald[/autotag] has been the voice of the action for more than 60 of those fight cards, and he’ll be on the mic again this weekend commanding the action from the commentary booth alongside Laura Sanko and UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping (ESPN+).

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the world was shut down in early 2020, the UFC Apex has been an instrumental part of the organization’s operation. It appears Fight Night events such as what we’ll get again just around the corner are not going anywhere, which means a slew of new moments and memories are still on the horizon.

But before this card happens, however, Fitzgerald reflected on some of the highs and the lows to happen at UFC Vegas events, from Anderson Silva’s underwhelming retirement, to all-time wars of Dustin Poirier vs. Dan Hooker and Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez, to epic knockouts by Derrick Lewis, Jiri Prochazka and others, as well as the strange, unexpected and historic instances.

Check out the video above as Fitzgerald and MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn go over some of the standout moments ahead of UFC Vegas 100.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 247.

UFC 308: How to watch Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway title fight, Abu Dhabi lineup, odds, more

Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC 308 on pay-per-view and ESPN+.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The UFC’s 12th pay-per-view event of 2024 goes down Saturday in the United Arab Emirates.

Here’s how to watch UFC 308 with the featherweight title on the line at the top of the card at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Broadcast and streaming info

Jon Anik, Paul Felder, Daniel Cormier

UFC 308 has a main card that begins at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on pay-per-view (via ESPN+). The nine-fight preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 10 a.m. ET.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag], [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Din Thomas[/autotag] will serve as a desk analysts on the UFC 308 post-fight show and throughout the card, when necessary. [autotag]Brendan Fitzgerald[/autotag] will serve as the host.

[autotag]John Gooden[/autotag] will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC 308 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event.

[autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside.

He will command play-by-play alongside color commentators and UFC Hall of Famer Cormier and Felder.

(Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)

Main event: Ilia Topuria

Jun 24, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Ilia Topuria (blue gloves) leaves the ring after he wins a unanimous decision against Josh Emmett (red gloves) in a featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC
Opponent: Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Key wins: Alexander Volkanovski, Josh Emmett, Bryce Mitchell
Misc.: Knocked out Volkanovski, who has three wins over Holloway, to win the title in February. Bonuses in four straight fights.

Main event: Max Holloway

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Max Holloway (blue gloves) fights Justin Gaethje (red gloves) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Record: 26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC
Opponent: Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Key wins: Justin Gaethje, Chan Sung Jung, Arnold Allen, Yair Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar, Frankie Edgar, Brian Ortega, Jose Aldo (twice), Charles Oliveira
Misc.: Has three straight wins since his third shot at Volkanovski in July 2022. His “BMF” win over Justin Gaethje was a double bonus winner and regarded as one of the greatest moments in MMA history. Holloway’s title run was one of the greatest, but it’s been nearly five years since he held the featherweight belt.

Co-main event: Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev def. Kamaru Usman, UFC 294

Record: 13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC
Opponent: Robert Whittaker (27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Kamaru Usman, Kevin Holland, Gilbert Burns, Li Jingliang
Misc.: Chimaev is back for the first time in a year. A severe illness took him out of the fight in June.

Co-main event: Robert Whittaker

Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov, UFC on ABC 6

Record: 27-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC
Opponent: Khamzat Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Ikram Aliskerov, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, Darren Till, Yoel Romero (twice), Ronaldo Souza, Derek Brunson
Misc.: Former champ has back-to-back wins over Costa and Aliskerov, the latter of which was a bonus-winning first-round knockout in June after Chimaev pulled out of their fight.

UFC debut: Carlos Leal

2023 PFL 9: New York at the The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (Cooper Neill / PFL)

Record: 21-5
Opponent: Rinat Fakhretdinov (22-1-1 MMA, 4-0-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Dilano Taylor, Ray Cooper III
Misc.: 30-year-old Brazilian has fought for Bellator and in two PFL seasons.

UFC debut: Raffael Cerqueira

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBTcZwBJg5R

Record: 11-0
Opponent: Ibo Aslan (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Misc.: 34-year-old Brazilian was supposed to fight on DWCS in September, but two opponents pulled out on him. When he was booked a third time, the opportunity came to just skip the line and go straight to the show against Aslan.

UFC 308 main card betting odds

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic, UFC 308

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 2 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Ilia Topuria (-245) vs. Max Holloway (+200) – for featherweight title
  • Khamzat Chimaev (-220) vs. Robert Whittaker (+180)
  • Magomed Ankalaev (-390) vs. Aleksandar Rakic (+290)
  • Dan Ige (+165) vs. Lerone Murphy (-195)
  • Shara Magomedov (-175) vs. Armen Petrosyan (+145)

UFC 308 prelim betting odds

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 16: (R-L) Chris Barnett punches Martin Buday of Slovakia in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET)

  • Ibo Aslan (-120) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (+100)
  • Rafael dos Anjos (+235) vs. Geoff Neal (-290)
  • Myktybek Orolbai (-280) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (+230)
  • Brunno Ferreira (+125) vs. Abus Magomedov (-150)
  • Chris Barnett (+400) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (-550)
  • Farid Basharat (-550) vs. Victor Hugo (+375)
  • Ismail Naurdiev (-120) vs. Bruno Silva (+100)
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov (N/A) vs. Carlos Leal (N/A)

UFC 308 preview videos

 

UFC Fight Night 245: How to watch Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira, start time, Las Vegas fight card, odds, more

Here’s what you need to know to watch UFC Fight Night 245 on ESPN+.

The UFC stays put for another home show this week with a pair of middleweight standouts at the top of a card that features nine bouts at featherweight or lighter.

Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 245 with 185-pounders in the headlining spot, plus bantamweights in the co-feature.

Broadcast and streaming info

Karyn Bryant and Michael Chiesa

UFC Fight Night 245 has a main card that starts at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET.

Veteran broadcaster [autotag]Karyn Bryant[/autotag] serves as desk anchor and host at UFC Fight Night 245.

“The Ultimate Fighter 15′ winner [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] and retired welterweight veteran [autotag]Alan Jouban[/autotag] join her as analysts at the desk.

[autotag]Brendan Fitzgerald[/autotag] will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC Fight Night 245.

He’ll command play-by-play and be joined in the booth by lightweight veteran [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag], as well as former UFC/WEC bantamweight champion [autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag].

(Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)

Main event: Anthony Hernandez

Anthony Hernandez

Record: 12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC
Opponent: Michel Pereira (31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Roman Kopylov, Edmen Shahbazyan, Marc-Andre Barriault, JunYong Park, Brendan Allen
Misc.: “Fluffy” has a five-fight winning streak, four of which have been by stoppage – and two of which have gotten him post-fight bonuses.

Main event: Michel Pereira

Michel Pereira

Record: 31-11 MMA, 9-2 UFC
Opponent: Anthony Hernandez (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Ihor Potieria, Michał Oleksiejczuk, Andre Petroski, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Andre Fialho
Misc.: Brazilian has an eight-fight winning streak and hasn’t lost since before the pandemic, when he landed an illegal knee on Diego Sanchez.

Co-main event: Rob Font

Rob Font

Record: 20-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC
Opponent: Kyler Phillips (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Key wins: Adrian Yanez, Cody Garbrandt, Marlon Moraes, Ricky Simon, Sergio Pettis
Misc.: Font will be looking to snap the second two-fight skid of his career. He’s dropped fur of his past five, but those losses have been decisions to the division’s elite: Jose Aldo, Marlon Vera, Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo.

Co-main event: Kyler Phillips

Kyler Phillips

Record: 12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC
Opponent: Rob Font (20-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Key wins: Pedro Munhoz, Raoni Barcelos, Song Yadong
Misc.: “The Matrix” has three straight wins since the lone setback of his UFC career.

UFC Fight Night 245 main card betting odds

Darren Elkins

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Anthony Hernandez (-150) vs. Michel Pereira (+125)
  • Rob Font (+300) vs. Kyler Phillips (-400)
  • Charles Johnson (-235) vs. Su Mudaerji (+190)
  • Jake Hadley (+125) vs. Brady Hiestand (-150)
  • Darren Elkins (+105) vs. Daniel Pineda (-125)

UFC Fight Night 245 prelim betting odds

Jessica Penne

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Asu Almabayev (-170) vs. Matheus Nicolau (+140)
  • Brad Katona (+220) vs. Jean Matsumoto (-270)
  • Joselyne Edwards (-235) vs. Tamires Vidal (+190)
  • Jessica Penne (+130) vs. Elise Reed (-155)
  • Alice Ardelean (+125) vs. Melissa Martinez (-150)
  • Robelis Despaigne (-450) vs. Austen Lane (+325)

UFC Fight Night 245 preview videos

UFC Fight Night 237 commentary team, broadcast plans set for return to Mexico City

The commentary team of Brendan Fitzgerald, Dominick Cruz and Paul Felder will call the action at UFC Fight Night 237 in Mexico City.

The UFC continues its February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 237, which goes down at Mexico City Arena in Mexico.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

* * * *

UFC Fight Night 236 commentary team set: Trio with former champs makes 2024 debut

The commentary team of Brendan Fitzgerald, Dominick Cruz and Daniel Cormier will make its 2024 debut at UFC Fight Night 236 on Saturday.

The UFC continues its February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 236, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there in “Sin City” to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

* * * *

UFC Fight Night 234 commentary, broadcast plans set for fist event of 2024

The talent lineup for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 234 is set, which is the first UFC event of 2024.

The UFC opens its 2024 schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 234, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there in “Sin City” to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

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UFC on ESPN 52 commentary, broadcast plans set: Two Hall of Famers call action

Broadcast assignments are set for UFC on ESPN 52 in Austin, the final UFC event outside of Las Vegas in 2023.

The UFC opens its December schedule Saturday with UFC on ESPN 52, which goes down at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there in the “City of the Violet Crown” to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

UFC Fight Night 232 commentary, broadcast plans set: Who’s working final Apex event of 2023?

Check out the broadcast details for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 232, which has an early start for the final Apex event of the year.

The UFC wraps up its November schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 232, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there in “Sin City” to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

UFC Fight Night 231 commentary, broadcast plans set: Who’s on the call for Sao Paulo return?

Check out broadcast lineup for UFC Fight Night 231 on Saturday, the promotion’s first trip to Sao Paulo in nearly four years.

The UFC kicks off its November schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 231, which goes down at Ginasio Do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there in Brazil to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will work as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.