Expect some fireworks at UFC 249 this Saturday night when heavyweights Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik step foot inside the Octagon.
The two are part of the return UFC card set for the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The main card airs live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
In the headline bout, Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje meet for the interim UFC lightweight title. The co-main boasts Henry Cejudo defending his bantamweight gold against former champion Dominick Cruz.
Francis Ngannou
A former UFC heavyweight title challenger, Francis Ngannou has rebounded nicely from a pair of 2018 losses to score three consecutive wins.
Ngannou fell to Stipe Miocic for the title back at UFC 220 in January 2018 and dropped another decision to Derrick Lewis a few months later at UFC 226.
Late that year, though, he rebounded to finish Curtis Blaydes in 45 seconds and earn Performance of the Night honors. In 2019, Ngannou stopped Cain Velasquez in just 26 seconds and finished off the year by besting his second straight former UFC champion with a finish of Junior dos Santos in just 71 seconds.
Overall, Ngannou sits at 14-3 with 10 knockout and four more submission wins on his resume.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik
The 32-year-old Jairzinho Rozenstruik from Suriname continues his step up in competition with Ngannou, a former UFC title contender.
It marks the third consecutive fight vs. either a former champion or contender, and yet, Rozenstruik is still unbeaten.
Last year, he earned a 29-second finish of former UFC titleholder Andrei Arlovski in New York City. Rozenstruik followed that up by topping Alistair Overeem, ending the contest with four seconds left in the fifth round.
UFC 249 Fight Card
MAIN CARD (ESPN+ Pay-Per-View)
Interim UFC Lightweight Championship
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
UFC Bantamweight Championship
Henry Cejudo (c) vs. Dominick Cruz
Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Featherweight: Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar
Heavyweight: Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan de Castro
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN)
Welterweight: Donald Cerrone vs. Anthony Pettis
Heavyweight: Alexey Oleinik vs. Fabricio Werdum
Strawweight: Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
Middleweight: Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)
Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Charles Rosa
Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey