August 1, 2023 6:30 pm ET
(Updated Aug. 1, 2023, for addition of new fight.)
The UFC heads to “Music City” on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 50 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., with 135-pound standouts atop the card.
Here’s how to watch UFC on ESPN 50 with bantamweights in the main event.
Broadcast and streaming info
Jon Anik
UFC on ESPN 50 has a main card that begins at 9 p.m. ET and airs on ESPN, as well as ESPN+. The prelims air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
Main event: Cory Sandhagen
Mar 25, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Marlon Vera (red gloves) fights Cory Sandhagen (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Meullion-USA TODAY Sports
After an interim bantamweight title loss to Petr Yan in 2021, Cory Sandhagen (16-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has bounced back with a TKO of Song Yadong in 2022 and a split decision over Marlon Vera in March. The 31-year-old takes on late replacement Rob Font, who stepped in for Umar Nurmagomedov. Because Font took the assignment so late, the fight will be at a 140-pound contract weight. A win for Sandhagen would give him his first streak of three or more fights since 2019.
Main event: Rob Font
Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Rob Font (red gloves) fights Adrian Yanez (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
After a modest four-fight winning streak against some serious names – current Bellator flyweight champion Sergio Pettis, former LFA champ Ricky Simon, ex-WSOF titleholder Marlon Moraes and former UFCC champ Cody Garbrandt – Font (20-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) dropped back-to-back fights to Jose Aldo and Marlon Vera. But in April, the 36-year-old returned after nearly a year off and took out Adrian Yanez for a first-round TKO and post-fight bonus. The short-notice headliner will be Font’s fourth main event in five fights.
Co-main event: Jessica Andrade
Jan 21, 2023; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Lauren Murphy (red gloves) fights Jessica Andrade (blue gloves) during UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports
Jessica Andrade (24-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) just passed the 10-year anniversary of her first fight in the UFC, which was a TKO loss to current Bellator women’s featherweight champ Liz Carmouche. Andrade first chcallenged for the women’s strawweight title in 2017, then beat Rose Namajunas to win it in 2019. She lost the title in her first attempted defense against Zhang Weili and eventually gave flyweight a shot, too. She returned to 115 pounds in May, but was knocked out by Yan Xiaonan for a two-fight skid that she’ll try to snap against Tatiana Suarez in the co-feature. Andrade stepped in for Virna Jandiroba in June.
Co-main event: Tatiana Suarez
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Tatiana Suarez kicks Montana De La Rosa in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 25, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Tatiana Suarez (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was set to face Virna Jandiroba, but now has arguably the biggest test of her career when she takes on former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade. In February, Suarez returned from a layoff of nearly four years and submitted Montana de la Rosa for a $50,000 bonus. A win over Andrade likely would have her in the title conversation at 115 pounds, the division she’s returning to Saturday after beating de la Rosa at flyweight.
UFC debut: Dennis Buzukja
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 26: Dennis Buzukja reacts after his victory over Kaleio Romero in a featherweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6 Week 1 at UFC APEX on July 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Dennis Buzukja (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) took his featherweight fight against Sean Woodson (9-1-1 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC) on just five days’ notice when another short-notice opponent for Woodson, Mairon Santos, couldn’t make the trip with visa issues.Buzukja lost a 2020 shot at the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, but won his second try in 2022. Now he’s being called on to save Woodson’s fight. He has seven straight wins – all on the heels of that first DWCS loss.
UFC debut: Asu Almabaev
Asu Almabaev
Asu Almabaev (17-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) brings a 13-fight winning streak to his UFC debut at flyweight against Ode Osbourne (12-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) to open up the prelims. The 29-year-old Kazakhstan native most recently has fought for Brave CF, where his victories included one over former Bellator bantamweight champion Zackc Makovsky. Almabaev has 11 of his 17 wins by stoppage, including eight submissions.
ESPN main card betting odds
May 6, 2023; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Kennedy Nzechukwu (red gloves) reacts after defeating Devin Clark (blue gloves) during UFC 288 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
MAIN CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
Cory Sandhagen (-300) vs. Rob Font (+240)
Jessica Andrade (+300) vs. Tatiana Suarez (-400)
Dustin Jacoby (+125) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (-150)
Diego Lopes (-130) vs. Gavin Tucker (+110)
Tanner Boser (-170) vs. Aleksa Camur (+145)
Ignacio Bahamondes (-210) vs. Ludovit Klein (+175)
ESPN/ESPN+ preliminary card betting odds
Billy Quarantillo
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Raoni Barcelos (+160) vs. Kyler Phillips (-190)
Carlston Harris (+130) vs. Jeremiah Wells (-155)
Damon Jackson (+150) vs. Billy Quarantillo (-175)
Cody Durden (+145) vs. Jake Hadley (-170)
Dennis Buzukja (N/A) vs. Sean Woodson (N/A)
Asu Almabaev (-150) vs. Ode Osbourne (+125)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 50.
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