Five Reasons to Watch UFC Phoenix This Weekend

The next installment of UFC on ESPN+ is coming to us this weekend from Phoenix, AZ, and with it comes the promise of a lot of violence. Like, a whole lot.

The main event will see the former heavyweight great Cain Velasquez emerge from the shadows to face Francis Ngannou. If you’ll recall, Ngannou punched his way up to the top of the mountain, only to get out-worked by Stipe Miocic (who then got smoked by Daniel Cormier). I guess that makes Ngannou the division’s number three guy?

Regardless, that makes Velasquez the mysterious old star who keeps chilling on the bench because of injuries. But he was at one time the best! That counts for something!

Paul Felder is taking on James Vick in the co-main, and if you’ll recall, besides being one hell of a dude on the mic (his commentating side gig), he’s a beast of a Muay Thai ace. Since Vick likes to strike, this one could be bloody.

Elsewhere on the card, we have two on-again-off-again rising stars in Aljamain Sterling and Jimmie Rivera fighting each other. These guys were two stars from the Northeast regional scene, but were called up to the UFC before they could fight each other. So really, this match-up is a sweet one for us Northeasterners.

And of course, Kron Gracie is making his Octagon debut against Alex Caceres. His last name is Gracie, folks. That’s all you need to know.