UPDATE: UFC 249 live results, highlights
The UFC will be back in action for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the sporting world, with the highly anticipated UFC 249 pay per view. The event is headlined by an interim lightweight title showdown between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje and also features a co-main event title showdown as Henry Cejudo defends the UFC bantamweight championship against former titleholder Dominick Cruz.Â
After being postponed from the event's original date of April 18 because of the coronavirus outbreak, the UFC managed to relocate the event to the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., for Saturday, May 9. The previous main event is still intact as Ferguson and Gaethje will battle for the interim lightweight championship and an opportunity to face Khabib Nurmagomedov later this year for the right to be the undisputed UFC lightweight champion. Â
Much of the original card will carry over from UFC 249, including a heavyweight showdown between Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Greg Hardy's return to the Octagon against Yorgan de Castro and a ferocious featherweight tilt between the hard-hitting Jeremy Stephens and Calvin Kattar.Â
Several new fights have also been added to the card. Among them is a UFC bantamweight title showdown between Cejudo and Cruz. Fan-favorite Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone will also return for the first time since losing to Conor McGregor when he squares off with former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. Ronaldo Souza was supposed to fight Uriah Hall in a middleweight bout, but Souza tested positive for coronavirus and the fight was pulled. The rest of the card, however, will go on as scheduled.
Due to COVID-19, the event will be held without fans but is being touted as one of the most stacked UFC events of all time by UFC president Dana White.
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch UFC 249, including channels, pay-per-view prices and fight times.
In the United States, the UFC Fight Pass prelims, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET, will be simulcast on UFC Fight Pass, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The prelims will continue exclusively on ESPN and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. The ESPN+ pay-per-view main card begins at 10 p.m. ET.
In Canada, the early prelims are on UFC Fight Pass, the prelims are on TSN and RDS, and the PPV main card is on Bell, Rogers and Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus and Eastlink, as well as UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
In Australia, the early prelims and prelims are on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN, and the PPV main card, at 2 p.m./12 p.m. AEST/AWST (Sunday), is on Main Event and Fetch TV, plus UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
In Brazil, the prelims and main card (11 p.m. BRT) are on Combate.
In the UK, the early prelims are on UFC Fight Pass, the prelims are on UFC Fight Pass and BT Sport, and the main card is available at 3 a.m. GMT (Sunday)Â on BT Sport.
In Ireland, the early prelims are on UFC Fight Pass, the prelims are on UFC Fight Pass and BT Sport, and the main card is available at 3 a.m. GMT (Sunday)Â on BT Sport.
In Germany, the early prelims and prelims are on UFC Fight Pass, and the main card is available at 4 a.m. CET (Sunday) on DAZN, the global sports streaming service, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass. DAZN also offers coverage of the main card in Austria.
In Italy, the early prelims and prelims are on UFC Fight Pass, and the main card is available at 4 a.m. CET (Sunday) on DAZN, the global sports streaming service, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
In Spain, the early prelims and prelims are on UFC Fight Pass, and the main card is available at 4 a.m. CET (Sunday) on DAZN, the global sports streaming service, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
In Japan, the main card is available at 11 a.m. JST (Sunday) on Wowow.
You can learn more about how to watch in other countries at UFC.com.Â
Broadcast coverage of UFC 249 will begin with the UFC Fight Pass Prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. The pay-per-view main card is set to begin at 10 p.m. ET. Ferguson and Gaethje are expected to hit the Octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET, although the exact time depends on the length of the earlier fights.
In the United States, the main card of UFC 249 is available via pay per view on ESPN+, which requires a monthly or annual subscription. The PPV price for UFC 249 is $64.99 for current subscribers. For new subscribers, a bundle price of UFC 249 and an ESPN+ annual subscription is $84.98.Â
Pricing globally varies, depending on region and platform.Â
Main cardÂ
PrelimsÂ