Tag: UFC on ESPN 19

5 burning questions heading into UFC on ESPN 19

MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle walks you through five key questions UFC on ESPN 19 should answer.

Out-of-control COVID spread is slowly grinding society to a halt again, and that includes damage done to the UFC’s weekly fight cards.

But there’s that sweet, sweet ESPN money to grab, dammit, and a quota of annual fight cards to fulfill, so the UFC’s show must go on.

The promotion returns to the UFC Apex on Saturday for UFC on ESPN 19. For the third time in the past four events, a positive COVID-19 diagnosis has forced a main event change. This time, middleweight Kevin Holland had to drop out after contracting the virus, and he’ll be replaced by first-time UFC headliner [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] in his matchup with [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag].

Beyond that, there are plenty of fights, but not much in the way of star power.  But we’ve noted this several cards in a row, and each of these cards have delivered solid action, so we’re willing to bet the card delivers bang for your buck once again.

UFC on ESPN 19 airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.

Without further ado, then, here are five burning questions heading into UFC on ESPN 19.

UFC on ESPN 19 weigh-in results and live video stream

Check out the results from the official UFC on ESPN 19 fighter weigh-ins.

LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC on ESPN 19 fighter weigh-ins, which kick off at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

The weigh-ins take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The same venue hosts Saturday’s card, which has a main card on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

Among those weighing in are Jack Hermansson (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) and short-notice replacement Marvin Vettori (15-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC), who meet in the main event, and Jamahal Hill (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Ovince Saint Preux (25-14 MMA, 13-9 UFC), who fight in the co-feature.

The full UFC on ESPN 19 weigh-in results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Jack Hermansson () vs. Marvin Vettori ()
  • Jamahal Hill () vs. Ovince Saint Preux ()
  • Gabriel Benitez () vs. Justin Jaynes ()
  • Montana De La Rosa () vs. Taila Santos ()
  • John Allan () vs. Roman Dolidze ()
  • Movsar Evloev () vs. Nate Landwehr ()

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Jose Quinonez () vs. Louis Smolka ()
  • Jordan Leavitt () vs. Matt Wiman ()
  • Cody Durden () vs. Jimmy Flick ()
  • Damon Jackson () vs. Ilia Topuria ()
  • Jake Collier () vs. Gian Villante ()

UFC on ESPN 19 pre-event facts: Ovince Saint Preux on cusp of more history

The best facts and figures about UFC on ESPN 19, which features a Jack Hermansson vs. Marvin Vettori middleweight main event.

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The UFC’s final month of action this year begins on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 19, which takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.

After multiple changes to the headliner, [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) will take on [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] (15-4-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) in a middleweight bout that has implications for the title picture.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check out 35 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 19.

Jamahal Hill rips ‘dumb as (expletive)’ result change for marijuana before UFC on ESPN 19

Jamahal Hill had some strong words for Nevada’s marijuana testing policies after a recent win was taken away ahead of UFC on ESPN 19.

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of UFC on ESPN 19.

Hill (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) discussed his light heavyweight co-main event against Ovince Saint Preux (25-14 MMA, 13-9 UFC), his frustration with the Nevada Athletic Commission overturning his most recent result because of a marijuana test, where he fits into the top of the 205-pound division, and more.

In regards to the positive marijuana test that saw his first-round knockout win over Klidson Abreu at UFC on ESPN 9 in May overturned to a no contest, Hill thinks the commission is wasting resources by testing for the drug and insisted he never used in-competition.

“I think it’s (expletive) stupid,” Hill said. “I think it’s dumb as hell. I think everything I’ve had to deal with as a result of that is dumb as (expletive). I really think they need to focus energy on things that actually matter and not goofy (expletive) like that.”

Watch Hill’s complete virtual media day interview below.

UFC on ESPN 19 takes place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.

UFC on ESPN 19’s Marvin Vettori talks matchup with Jack Hermansson

UFC on ESPN 19’s Marvin Vettori talks matchup with Jack Hermansson

UFC on ESPN 19’s Marvin Vettori talks matchup with Jack Hermansson

UFC on ESPN 19: Taila Santos virtual media day

UFC on ESPN 19: Taila Santos virtual media day

UFC on ESPN 19: Taila Santos virtual media day

Ovince Saint Preux unfazed by UFC on ESPN 19 underdog status: ‘They don’t know any better’

Ovince Saint Preux isn’t taking the oddsmakers’ selection personally.

[autotag]Ovince Saint Preux [/autotag]has been here before.

Entering UFC on ESPN 19, the longtime light heavyweight contender isn’t bothered he’s fighting another relative newcomer – and the odds for the fight don’t faze him.

Across major online sportsbooks, Saint Preux (25-14 MMA, 13-9 UFC) sits around +140 on average, according to BestFightOdds. The underdog status means nothing to Saint Preux, who said he doesn’t take it personally.

“No, it’s just they don’t know any better,” Saint Preux said Thursday during virtual media day. “A lot of times people look at (and) kind of relate it to boxing. They’ll be like, ‘This person is going to lose because this person is an undefeated boxer or whatnot.’ In mixed martial arts, it’s completely different.

“If you stay in this game long enough, you’re not going to be undefeated. It’s point blank. It’s really hard to be undefeated because, you know, that day is going to come when you catch an ‘L.’ Even in this 205-pound division right now, the talent level if you’re just coming in and you want to jump right on top and start fighting the top guys in the division, it’s not going to take long for you to get that first ‘L.'”

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Saint Preux made his promotional debut in April 2013 after a two-year stint in Strikeforce. His UFC on ESPN 19 opponent, Jamahal Hill (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), made his first UFC walk in January 2020.

While he understands an up-and-comer’s willingness to fight the best right away, Saint Preux thinks experienced fighters (himself, in particular) are terrible matchups for fighters trying to quickly carve out their path.

“The 205 division, for an up-and-coming guy, I think would be one of the worst guys to actually go in (there) with,” Saint Preux said. “But it is what it is. Some guys feel like they have it. Some guys want to jump into the top (fights), but it’s different. This game is different. You’ve got guys who have been around for a while like (me). You’ve got experience-level behind it. It’s not only that, but it just experiences being in the cage with top-level guys and whatnot.

“These guys coming up, yes, I mean, anything can happen within a fight. But the circumstances between that fight with what I’ve got going on, and I’ve been through fighting-wise and whatnot, is going to make it a lot more difficult for him.”

UFC on ESPN 19 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.

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