The circumstances may be different, but the UFC’s promotional machine is back in full flow ahead of UFC 249 on Apr. 18.
With a full fight card, a location secured and even a title fight in the main event, the event is good to go, and the UFC’s newly-released promo says it’s their most stacked card of the year.
The event, which seemingly flies in the face of the rest of the sporting world, which remains under virtual lockdown due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, features a fight card packed with eye-catching matchups, headlined by the interim lightweight title battle between former interim champ Tony Ferguson and ex-WSOF 155-pound king Justin Gaethje.
As you’d expect, the promo for the event goes big on the Ferguson-Gaethje matchup, but also shines a light on three other big-ticket fights on the card. UFC president Dana White was the first to share it to the world via his Twitter account.
The heavyweight clash between rival knockout artists Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik gets second billing on the promo, followed by the other heavyweight bout on the card between heavy-handed prospects Yorgan De Castro and Greg Hardy. Also featured is the featherweight battle between hard-hitting 145ers Calvin Kattar and Jeremy Stephens.
The promo boldly declares UFC 249 to be “the most stacked card of the year.” Given the bout list for the Apr. 18 event, it’s a fair claim.
UFC 249 takes place at an unconfirmed location (believed to be the Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Leemore, Calif.) on Saturday, Apr. 18. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN+ pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET following the preliminary card on ESPN2 from 8 p.m. ET.
UFC 249 bouts include (bout order TBC):
- Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje – for interim lightweight title
- Jessica Andrade vs. TBA
- Yorgan De Castro vs. Greg Hardy
- Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price
- Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens
- Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Alexander Hernandez vs. Omar Morales
- Ray Borg vs. Marlon Vera
- Michael Johnson vs. Khama Worthy
- Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras
- Sam Alvey vs. Ryan Spann
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Dana White releases UFC 249 promo, dubbing event 'the most stacked card of the year'
