This weekend, the UFC takes its octagon on a whirlwind adventure to the glitz and glamour of Macau, the so-called “Las Vegas of the East.” But don’t expect showgirls and roulette tables—this is all about face-punching, sweat-slinging chaos at UFC Macau, streaming live on ESPN+ this morning (Sat., Nov. 23, 2024). And boy, do we have a buffet of brawls lined up.
The centerpiece? Former Bantamweight champ Petr “No Mercy” Yan faces off against ex-Flyweight kingpin Deiveson “God of War” Figueiredo in a fiery 135-pound main event. Think of it as a clash of titans who decided to park their thrones and start swinging. Yan’s out to prove he’s still the apex predator of the division, while Figueiredo seems hell-bent on showing that “Flyweight” was just a weight, not a limit.
Co-Main and Carnage Galore
Before the big boys take center stage, we’ve got a co-main event that’s all about the ladies. China’s own Yan Xiaonan squares off against the ever-tenacious Tabatha “Baby Shark” Ricci in a Strawweight skirmish. Xiaonan’s got the home-court advantage, but Ricci’s nickname screams “bite first, ask questions later.”
And that’s not all! The main card packs more punches than a Bruce Lee marathon. Song Kenan throws down with the flashy yet deadly Muslim Salikhov, while rising sensation Wang Cong, fresh off a debut KO that took less time than boiling an egg, aims to repeat the magic against Gabriela Fernandes. Add Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg, and you’ve got a night primed for fists, fury, and a few hospital trips.
Prelims: The Wild West of MMA
The undercard is stacked with regional talent from UFC’s Road to UFC series, AKA “where prospects punch their way out of obscurity.” Highlights include Baergeng Jieleyisi vs. Soo Young Yu and Feng Xiaocan vs. Shi Ming, who will duke it out for bragging rights and, let’s face it, a future shot at making Dana White scream into a mic.
What’s at Stake?
For Yan, this fight is about proving he can climb back to the top of the mountain after a rocky tumble. He recently admitted, “a new coaching team needs to be created,” which might be code for “time to hit refresh before it’s too late.” Figueiredo, meanwhile, is a wild card. He’s the guy you’d bet on to flip the script with one punch, and now he’s testing the waters in a heavier weight class.
In Macau, where fortunes can change with the roll of a dice, it’s fitting that these fighters are gambling it all in the cage. Will Yan’s methodical destruction reign supreme? Or will Figueiredo unleash chaos and remind everyone why they call him the “God of War”?
Start Times & Streaming
Grab your caffeine, folks. The action kicks off early, with prelims starting at 3 a.m. ET and the main card rolling in at 6 a.m. ET, both live on ESPN+. Whether you’re tuning in for the knockouts or just to marvel at how people can withstand getting kicked in the face, this card promises fireworks.
Don’t miss a second of the madness!
