The UFC is back in its Las Vegas home base to kick off the calendar year with a pair of strawweight contenders at the top of the bill.
Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 249 with 115-pounders in the headlining spot, plus a potential welterweight slobberknocker in the co-main event.
UFC Fight Night 249 has a main card that starts at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET.
Stay tuned for more broadcast details later this week.
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Mackenzie Dern fights against Amanda Lemos during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 15-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC
Division: Women’s strawweight
Key wins: Loopy Godinez, Angela Hill, Tecia Penningtno, Virna Jandiroba, Montana De La Rosa
Misc.: Decorated jiu-jitsu ace got back in the win column this past August with a decision over Godinez on the heels of the first two-fight skid of her career. She’ll be looking to avenge a decision loss to Ribas in October 2019.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 23: (L-R) Amanda Ribas of Brazil punches Rose Namajunas in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 23, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Record: 12-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC
Division: Women’s strawweight
Key wins: Luana Pinheiro, Viviane Araujo, Virna Jandiroba, Mackenzie Dern
Misc.: Ribas has a decision win over Dern a little more than four years ago that was part of her 4-0 start in the UFC. She has alternated wins and losses the past eight fights and after a loss to former champion Rose Namanjunas nine months ago will be looking to avoid the first skid of her career.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 18: (L-R) Khaos Williams punches Carlston Harris of Guyana in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 18, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Record: 19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC
Division: Welterweight
Key wins: Jeremiah Wells, Jared Gooden, Impa Kasanganay, Wellington Turman (2016 regional fight), Michel Pereira (2015 regional fight)
Misc.: Harris never has lost two straight, and that’s what he’ll be trying to avoid against Ponzinibbio on the heels of a 90-second knockout loss to Khaos Williams this past May.
Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Kevin Holland (red gloves) fights Santiago Ponzinibbio (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 29-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC
Division: Welterweight
Key wins: Alex Morono, Miguel Baeza, Neil Magny, Mike Perry, Gunnar Nelson, Sean Strickland
Misc.: After a seven-fight winning streak had him in title contention, Ponzinibbio has dropped five of his past seven – though he has three post-fight bonuses in that stretch.
Record: 13-0
Opponent: Christian Rodriguez (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Key wins: Dorian Ramos (DWCS)
Misc.: Highly touted 23-year-old has five straight wins by stoppage.
Record: 13-1
Opponent: Ihor Potieria (20-7 MMA, 2-5 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Matthieu Duclos (DWCS)
Misc.: Eight-fight winning streak … DWCS contract win was second victory in the series.
Record: 9-0
Opponent: Preston Parsons (11-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Key wins: Christian Savoie (DWCS)
Misc.: Seven of nine wins by knockout.
Record: 8-2
Opponent: Ernesta Kareckaite (5-1-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Key wins: Corinne Laframboise (DWCS)
Misc.: 100 percent finish rate, four straight wins.
Record: 13-1
Opponent: Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Key wins: Mikheil Sazhiniani (DWCS)
Misc.: Former champion in LFA, Jungle Fight.
Chris Curtis
