UFC
Page: 5
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
The wait for the highly anticipated UFC 289 match is almost over.
Saturday (June 10) will bring MMA fighter Amanda Nunes back to defend her title against No. 5-ranked contender Irene Aldana. The fight (along with preliminary matches) will take place at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
For those who can’t make it to Vancouver to watch all the action live, you can take advantage of streaming options and catch the action from the comfort of your couch. Other fights you can look forward to watching include the Women’s Flyweight Bout, Middleweight Bout, Bantamweight Bout, Featherweight Bout and more.
Early preliminary matches will begin at 7 p.m. ET all leading up to the championship matchup of Nunes vs. Aldana at 10 p.m.
Rather than hunt for the nearest sports bar, continue reading to see how you can stream UFC 289.
How to Watch UFC 289
For those unable to catch the action inside the arena, UFC 289 is available to watch exclusively through pay-per-view on ESPN+.
You can get an ESPN+ subscription for $9.99/month, or save over 15% with an ESPN+ Annual Plan at $99.99/year. You can also bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu for $13.99/month here.
ESPN+ $9.99/month
Besides the UFC 289, ESPN+ members can watch live games in other sports, NFL drafts, NFL playoffs, MLB games and exclusive on-demand videos, as well as access content from what was formerly known as ESPN Insider. In addition to games, ESPN+ has original shows to stream on-demand, including game recaps, NBA finals and analyses hosted by Peyton Manning, a shorter version of NFL Primetime, as well as full replays of historic NFL games.
WWE and the company that runs Ultimate Fighting Championship will combine to create a $21.4 billion sports entertainment company.
A new publicly traded company will house the UFC and World Wrestling Entertainment brands, with Endeavor Group Holdings Inc. taking a 51% controlling interest in the new company. Existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49% stake.
The companies put the enterprise value of UFC at $12.1 billion and WWE’s value at $9.3 billion.
The new business, which does not yet have a name, will be lead by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. Vince McMahon, executive chairman at WWE, will serve in the same role at the new company. Dana White will continue as president of UFC and Nick Khan will be president at WWE.
“Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Monday.
He also provided some idea of where the focus of the new company will be, saying that it will look to maximize the value of combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster their brands.
Ties already exists talent wise between WWE and UFC, with stars such as Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey crossing over between the two businesses.
The deal between Endeavor and WWE catapults WWE into a new era, after functioning as a family-run business for decades. McMahon purchased Capitol Wrestling from his father in 1982, and took the regional wrestling business to a national audience with the likes of wrestling stars such as Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The company, which changed its name to World Wrestling Federation and later World Wrestling Entertainment, hosted its first WrestleMania in 1985.
McMahon, in an interview with CNBC, addressed the notion that there was doubt among some WWE fans and industry experts that he would ever make a deal for the business. “It’s the right time to do the right thing. And it’s the next evolution of WWE,” he said.
The announcement of the WWE sale arrives after McMahon, the founder and majority shareholder of WWE, returned to the company in January and said that it could be up for sale.
Rumors swirled about who would possibly be interested in buying WWE, with Endeavor, Disney, Fox, Comcast, Amazon and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund all in the mix.
McMahon acknowledged to CNBC that there were several suitors for WWE, but that combining with Endeavor is the right move.
“It makes all the sense in the world for all these synergies that we have to extract all of the value that we can out of the marketplace,” he explained.
Media industry analysts viewed WWE as an attractive target given its global reach and loyal fanbase, which includes everyone from minors to seniors and a wide range of incomes.
The company held its marquee event, WrestleMania, over the weekend. Last year, WWE booked revenue of $1.3 billion.
The company is also a social media powerhouse. It surpassed 16 billion social video views in the final quarter of last year. It has nearly 94 million YouTube subscribers and has more than 20 million followers on TikTok. Its female wrestlers comprise five out of the top 15 most followed female athletes in the world, across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, led by Ronda Rousey with 36.1 million followers.
WWE had more than 7.5 billion digital and social media views in January and February of this year, up 15% from the same time frame a year ago.
The new company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the “TKO” ticker symbol. Its board will have 11 members, with six being appointed by Endeavor and five being appointed by WWE.
“We like the assets of UFC and also WWE in a world where linear TV is losing market share to streaming, thus live sport content is in high demand,” wrote Jeffries analyst Randal Konik said in a note to clients.
The transaction, which was approved by the boards of Endeavor and WWE, is targeted to close in the second half of the year. It still needs regulatory approval.
Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., based in Stamford, Connecticut, are up 33% this year, but fell 5% at the opening bell Monday. Shares of Endeavor, based in Beverly Hills, California, slipped less than 1%.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
For UFC 285, Jon Jones is returning to the ring for the first time in three years, making his long-awaited heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane on Saturday (March 4). The PPV fight will stream on ESPN and ESPN+.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the must-watch UFC 285 fight, including how and when to watch, fight card details and more.
UFC 285 prelims will take place Saturday, March 4, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. The main card PPV fight will take place at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will only be available on ESPN+.
UFC 285 prelims will be available to watch on ESPNews, ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
Jon Jones is finally returning to the UFC to take on Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC heavyweight title. Francis Ngannou, who held the title, was stripped of his position following a contract dispute in January, allowing Gane another shot at the belt after he was defeated by Ngannou last year.
Gane is known as one of the most technically skilled heavyweight fighters in the league and is sure to be a tough competitor against Jones.
Jones is favored to win among betters, but Gane has fought six times in the time Jones has been away from the octagon, preparing his move into the heavyweight.
Jones, 35, and Gane, 32, are also in a close race when it comes to measurements. Both fighters are 6 feet 4 inches tall, with Jones weighing 255 pounds and Gane coming in at 247 pounds. Jones also has a slightly larger reach of 84.5 inches compared to Gane’s 81.
The UFC 285 PPV fight will be available exclusively on ESPN+. Already subscribed? Click here to log in and follow directions to order the fight, or click the buy button below.
New to ESPN+? It’s the go-to streaming destination for dedicated sports fans. From UFC to NFL, sports lovers will find a variety of live and on-demand programming, including PPV sporting events, documentaries and exclusive series.
ESPN+ is $9.99 a month (or $99.99 a year) to subscribe to the service by itself. To expand your streaming library, bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu for $12.99 a month.
UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane
To watch UFC 285, subscribe to either ESPN+ or the bundle deal and add the PPV fight. The Disney bundle includes Hulu’s ad-supported plan and can be canceled anytime. PPV purchases are non-refundable.
In addition to the main event, the co-main event features Valentina Shevchenko facing off against Alexa Grasso, Geoff Neal vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Mateusz Gamrot against Jalin Turner and Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett.
UFC 285 preliminary fights include Cody Garbrandt vs. Trevin Jones, Derek Brunson vs. Dricus Du Plessis, Viviane Araújo vs. Amanda Ribas and Julian Marquez vs. Marc-Andre Barriault. Early preliminary fights include Ian Machado Garry vs. Song Kenan, Mana Martinez vs. Camerono Saaiman, Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci, Da’mon Blackshear vs. Farid Basharat and Kamuela Kirk vs. Esteban Ribovics.
UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov are gearing up to face off in UFC Fight Night 217. The light heavyweight bout will take place at UFC APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday (July 14) and stream live on ESPN+.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Strickland was announced as a replacement for Kelvin Gastelum days before UFC 67. Gastelum was forced to withdraw due to a mouth injury.
“I’m extremely disappointed to say the least. This is not how I wanted to start 2023,” Gastelum tweeted on Monday (Jan. 9). “I worked my ass off & battled through a lot of [adversity] and was ready to put on a hell of a show this weekend. I apologize to Imavov and his camp, as well as @ufc and all the fans.”
Keep reading for fight details and directions on how to watch.
UFC Fight Night: How to Watch Strickland vs. Imavov
The Strickland vs. Imavov UFC bout streams exclusively on ESPN+. Live coverage begins Friday with UFC Live presented by DraftKings Sportsbook: Strickland vs. Imavov airing at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and UFC Fight Night Pre-Show presented by DraftKings Sportsbook: Strickland vs. Imavov at 6:05 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Saturday’s main card event, featuring Strickland and Imavov on the main card and Dan Ige. vs. Damon Jackson on the co-main card, is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Prelims start at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
Punahele Soriano vs. Roman Kopylov, Ketlen Vieira vs. Raquel Pennington, Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Raoni Barcelos, Claudio Ribeiro vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan and Mateus Rebecki vs. Nick Fiore are some of the undercard fights scheduled for Saturday.
ESPN+ subscribers can log-in via the app or ESPN.com to stream UFC Fight Night on Saturday. Not subscribed? ESPN+ is $9.99 for the monthly subscription and $99.99 for the annual plan. Get the Disney+ bundle with ESPN+ and Hulu and save over 45% a month.
ESPN+ $9.99/month
You can stream UFC, NFL, MLB, golf, soccer, basketball, college sports, PPV events and other exclusives alongside fascinating documentaries and documentary series such as Man in the Arena with Tom Brady, Al Davis vs. The NFL, Derek Jeter’s The Captain and the entire 30 for 30 library.
The ESPN+ app is available on Apple, Android, and Amazon Fire devices, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Oculus Go and more. See a full list here.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
This article is sponsored content.
Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will attempt to regain his title when he faces off against Islam Makhachev in UFC 280 this weekend. The PPV fight will stream exclusively on ESPN+.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about UFC 280, including how and when to watch, fight card details and more.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
When Is UFC 280?
UFC 280 prelims will take place Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. The main card PPV fight will only be available on ESPN+.
UFC 280 prelims begin at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT on ESPNews, ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
What Makes UFC 280 a Must Watch?
The match between former lightweight champion, Oliveira and Makhachev is one of the year’s most anticipated UFC fights, as it will determine a new chapter for both fighters.
UFC 280 is the first fight for Oliveira since he was stripped of the lightweight title and disqualified for being underweight at UFC 274 in May. If Oliveira wins the title back, he will likely go on to fight Alex Volkanovski, who is a backup fighter for the UFC 280 main card event after doctors cleared him to fight following a hand injury over the summer.
Makhachev might be the underdog at UFC 280, but don’t count him out just yet. Keep reading for details on how the two fighters match up.
Oliveira vs. Makhachev: How They Match Up
Brazil’s Oliveira is favored to win among betters; however, Russia’s Makhachev will prove to be a tough competitor, as he has won 10 consecutive bouts since the only loss of his MMA career to Adriano Martins at UFC 192 in 2015.
Oliveira, meanwhile, is just as impressive. He has won 11 fights in a row, with 10 via stoppage. Oliveira beat Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje in succession via stoppage.
Oliveira, 33, and Makhachev, 31, are also in a close race when it comes to measurements. Both are 5-foot-10-inches and 155 pounds. However, Oliveira has a slightly larger reach of 74 inches compared to Makhachev’s 70.
How to Watch UFC 280 on ESPN+
The UFC 276 PPV fight will be available exclusively on ESPN+ for $74.99. Already subscribed? Click here to log in and follow directions to order the fight, or click the buy button below.
New to ESPN+? It’s the go-to streaming destination for dedicated sports fans. From UFC to NFL, sports lovers will find a variety of live and on-demand programming, including PPV sporting events, documentaries, and exclusive series.
ESPN+ is $9.99 a month (or $99.99 a year) to subscribe to the service by itself. To expand your streaming library, bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu for $13.99 a month.
UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev
$74.99
To watch UFC 280, subscribe to either ESPN+ or the bundle deal and add the PPV fight for $74.99. The Disney bundle includes Hulu’s ad-supported plan and can be canceled anytime. PPV purchases are non-refundable.
Who Else Is On the UFC 280 Fight Card?
In addition to the main event, the co-main event features Aljamain Sterling facing off against TJ Dillashaw, Petr Yan versus Sean O’Malley, Beneil Dariush against Mateusz Gamrot, and Katlyn Chookagian versus Manon Fiorot.
UFC 280 preliminary fights include Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady, Makhmud Muradov vs Caio Borralho, Volkan Oezdemir vs Nikita Krylov, Zubaira Tukhugov vs Lucas Almeida, Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev, Armen Petrosyan vs. AJ Dobson, Muhammad Mokaev vs. Malcolm Gordon, and Karol Rosa vs. Lina Lansberg.
UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev
$74.99