UFC Vegas 99 Start Time, Full Fight Card Details!

Final Preventing Championship (UFC) is as soon as once more on the APEX later TONIGHT (Sat., Oct. 19, 2024) to stage UFC Vegas 99 in Las Vegas, Nevada that includes a Middleweight struggle between Anthony Hernandez and Michel Pereira. Co-headlining the ESPN+-streamed occasion will likely be a Bantamweight showdown between Rob Font and Kyler Phillips.

What’s Sizzling:

Anthony Hernandez has quietly gone on a pleasant run contained in the Octagon by profitable 5 straight and going unbeaten within the final 4 years. “Fluffy” presently sits at No. 13 on the official UFC rankings, however one other win (possibly two) and he may very properly hit the High 10. Of his 5 wins throughout his run, he has completed 4 of his foes, and now the submission specialist is out to safe one other spotlight reel end when he headlines his first-ever occasion in opposition to one of the crucial harmful (and most entertaining) fighters within the division who’s out to make his personal mark in Michel Pereira.

After a 1-2 begin to his UFC profession, Pereira has turned it round and has gained eight straight fights, with 5 of these coming within the Welterweight division earlier than deciding to maneuver again as much as 185 kilos for good, profitable three straight in that weight class. What’s been spectacular about his bounce up is that he has completed all three of his opponents within the very first spherical with a mixed struggle time of simply three minutes, incomes him three consecutive “Efficiency of the Evening” awards. That’s why Pereira (No. 14) is a fan-favorite. He now has an opportunity to make his argument for a High 10 spot if he can cease “Fluffy” in his tracks, however ending him will likely be a tricky process as a result of the final time he was completed was in 2020, courtesy of Kevin Holland. This struggle has the entire makings of a battle that might result in the most effective fights of the yr.

What’s Not:

Matheus Nicolau — the No. 7 ranked Flyweight within the sport — is out to interrupt his two-fight shedding streak in opposition to Asu Almabayev who’s on a 16-fight win streak. Asu has gained his first three fights contained in the Octagon and appears to maintain his scorching streak going. That mentioned, I don’t like this struggle for the sheer undeniable fact that one man is on fireplace whereas the opposite is struggling very dangerous. Why do UFC matchmakers maintain doing this?

Authentic Card vs. Precise Card:

There have been no main modifications made to this occasion, apart from Cameron Smotherman stepping to to face Jake Hadley on quick discover in opposition to Brady Hiestand.

Accidents:

Rayanne dos Santos was in line to face Alice Ardelean in a ladies’s Strawweight bout earlier than she was pressured to withdraw final month on account of a damaged arm. She was in the end changed by Melissa Martinez, who’s in determined want of a win. Certainly, Martinez did not impress in her UFC debut, shedding to Elise Reed through unanimous choice. That was the primary lack of her professional MMA profession after beginning off 7-0 on the regional circuit. If she goes down 0-2 beneath the UFC banner it gained’t be a great look. As for Ardelean, she is in the identical boat after shedding a split-decision in her first struggle contained in the Octagon to Shauna Bannon.

New Blood:

Cameron Smotherman bought the late name as much as make his UFC debut in opposition to Jake Hadley after Brady Hiestand was pressured out of the occasion for undisclosed causes. Smotherman is 11-4 as knowledgeable and is presently on a three-fight win streak. After shedding on the Contender Collection in Aug. 2023, “The Child-Confronted killer” went on to win three straight fights beneath the Fury FC banner, and now appears to make a splash in his UFC debut in opposition to Hadley, who’s an excellent 3-3 up to now contained in the Octagon.

How The ‘Prelims’ Look:

Being inconsistently constant appears to be Elise Reed’s primary goal as a result of since making her UFC debut in 2021 she has racked up 3-4 document, alternating wins and losses alongside the best way. She is coming off a loss to Crazy Godinez over a yr in the past, and now faces a tricky problem in Jessica Penne, one of the crucial skilled feminine fighters beneath the UFC banner, preventing for the promotion for over a decade. That mentioned, she is simply 2-5 in her final seven fights and comes into the occasion on a two-fight shedding streak.

We’re protecting our theme going of fighters coming into the occasion on two-fight skids as a result of each Joselyne Edwards and Tamires Vidal will likely be preventing for his or her UFC lives as they attempt to keep away from their third straight loss once they face off in opposition to each other in a ladies’s Bantamweight bout.

In his second go-around with UFC, Brad Katona has gone a formidable 2-1 and was final seen defeating Jesse Butler earlier this yr through unanimous choice. The previous Final Fighter (TUF) champion will face Jean Matsumoto, who has but to style defeat in his profession. Certainly, the proficient 135-pound fighter is 15-0, and made a formidable UFC debut by defeating Dan Argueta through rear-naked choke earlier this yr.

Who Wants A Win Badly:

There are a number of fighters on this card who’re in determined want of wins as a result of the vast majority of them are coming into the occasion with two struggle skids, however we’re going with Austen Lane right here. Lane’s first three fights contained in the Octagon haven’t gone his means, together with his debut ending prematurely and dominated a no contest (NC) on account of an inadvertent eye poke in opposition to Justin Tafa. Within the rematch, he was knocked out by Tafa (see it right here). Seven months later, he was completed by Jhonata Diniz, and now goes into his massive man showdown in opposition to Robelis Despaigne in a must-win scenario. As for Despaigne, he wants to point out enchancment as a result of after coming into the promotion on a four-fight win streak, all through first-round knockout, after which wowing struggle followers with an 18-second destruction of Josh Parisian in his UFC debut, his gasoline tank was uncovered by Waldo Cortes-Acosta this previous summer season. He has proven to have energy and the flexibility to finish fights early, however he wants to point out a well-rounded assault if he needs to hold across the promotion for a very long time.

Curiosity Stage: 5/10

Within the co-main occasion, Rob Font will try and snap his two-fight shedding streak in opposition to Kyler Phillips. Font has been struggling as of late, shedding 4 of his final 5 fights, although he hasn’t been completed in both of these defeats. Nonetheless, the promotion felt it was acceptable to offer him a co-main occasion slot regardless of his latest shortcomings. As for Phillips, he has been having fun with nice success, racking up a 6-1 document contained in the Octagon, although his final three wins have come a yr aside every time. That’s as a result of “The Matrix” hasn’t been very energetic, and this may solely be his fourth struggle in three years.

Daniel Pineda’s run contained in the Octagon has been wonky to say the least. After defeating Herbert Burns through technical knockout (TKO), he has solely managed to rack up a 1-3-1 document since. He comes into his struggle in opposition to Darren Elkins on a, you guessed it, two-fight shedding streak. As for Elkins, “The Harm” will likely be stepping foot contained in the Octagon for the primary time in over a yr and was final seen defeating T.J. Brown. The longtime veteran has been competing for the promotion for 14 years now and exhibits no indicators of slowing down anytime quickly.

After a tough begin to his UFC profession that noticed him go 2-4, Charles Johnson has racked up three straight wins, discovering his rhythm after a dreadful three-fight skid. “InnerG” is coming off a knockout win over Joshua Van this previous summer season, so his confidence is at an all-time excessive. He will likely be dealing with off in opposition to Sumudaerji, who’s presently on a two-fight shedding streak. One other loss may spell the top of the UFC highway for him.

Benefit from the fights!

Full UFC Vegas 99 Struggle Card:

UFC Vegas 99 Foremost Occasion On ESPN+:

185 lbs.: Anthony Hernandez vs. Michel Pereira

UFC Vegas 99 Foremost Card on ESPN+ (7 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips125 lbs. Charles Johnson vs. Sumudaerji135 lbs.: Jake Hadley vs. Cameron Smotherman (not Brady Hiestand)145 lbs.: Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

UFC Vegas 99 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET):

125 lbs.: Matheus Nicolau vs. Asu Almabayev135 lbs.: Brad Katona vs. Jean Matsumoto135 lbs.: Joselyne Edwards vs. Tamires Vidal115 lbs.: Jessica Penne vs. Elise Reed115 lbs.: Melissa Martinez vs. Alice Ardelean265 lbs.: Austen Lane vs. Robelis Despaigne

*Struggle card, bout order and quantity of fights stay topic to alter.*

Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the complete UFC Vegas 99 struggle card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET, earlier than the principle card begin time at 7 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN+).

To take a look at the most recent and biggest UFC Vegas 99: “Pereira vs. Hernandez” information and notes make sure you hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.