By Josh Lynnes
PHOENIX, AZ – The UFC returns to Phoenix Arizona Saturday for UFC 274 featuring a lightweight championship fight between Charles Oliveira and top contender Justin Gaethje.
Oliveira is the current UFC lightweight champion however due to missing the 155 pound championship weight limit he will vacate the title upon the start of Saturday’s main event and will not win the title should he win the fight. Oliveira came in at 155.5 pounds on his initial weigh-in attempt, he was given an hour to cut the addition half pound but was unable to cut the weight in the time allotted remaining a half pound over the limit on his second attempt.
Gaethje is the top ranked lightweight in the UFC rankings has come into this fight winning 5 of his last 6 fights with the lone loss coming against former lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje made the 155 pound lightweight limit so he will be crowned champion with a victory over Oliveira.
In the co-main event, it’s a rematch nearly 8 years in the making as Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas defends the belt against former champion Carla Esparza. Esparza submitted Namajunas in 2014 to become the first ever UFC strawweight champ.
Lightweight fan favorite Tony Ferguson faces fifth ranked Michael Chandler as both fighters look to return to the win column.
MMA legend former light heavyweight champion Shogun Rua returns to action against former title challenger Ovince Saint Preux.
Kicking off the main card are fan favorites Joe Lauzon and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Cowboy looks to stop a 5 fight skid that has seen him take on the top echelon of the lightweight division. Lauzon returns following more than 2 years away from the cage since his first round finish of Jonathan Pearce in late 2019.
Fighting on the prelims Khaos Williams takes on Randy Brown at welterweight. UFC Veteran Francisco Trinaldo takes on London’s Danny Roberts in a welterweight tilt. Macy Chiasson faces Norma Dumont as both women move up to featherweight. Brandon Royval throws down with Matt Schnell in a battle of top 10 flyweight to start the prelims.
Early prelims include:
Heavyweight – Blagoy Ivanov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Welterweight – Andre Fialho vs. Cameron VanCamp
Women’s Flyweight – Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto
Flyweight – Kleydson Rodrigues vs. CJ Vergara
Women’s Strawweight – Ariane Carnelossi vs. Loopy Godinez
Lightweight – Journey Newson vs Fernie Garcia
Early prelims start at 4:30PM CDT on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Action then shifts to ESPN and ESPN+ at 7:00PM followed by the pay-per-view main card at 9:00PM on ESPN+ PPV.
