Three reasons to watch UFC Brooklyn on ESPN+

Champion vs champion fights don’t come along too often and a title fight that is not on a PPV card is rare. That however, is exactly what is on tap for this weekend’s UFC Brooklyn card on ESPN+.

The FOX era is over and the UFC is now partnered with Disney. Well, sort of … Disney owns ESPN. Regardless, just like they did with the first big FOX card between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos back in 2011, the UFC is coming in hot with their first offering on a new platform.

With 13 fights in total on the night, UFC Brooklyn should offer something for just about any type of fight fan. The evening will culminate with a flyweight title fight between the reigning 125-pound king Henry Cejudo and bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw.

Just in case you need some extra incentive to tune in this weekend, we got you covered. Here are three more reasons to watch the first ever UFC-ESPN event.

“The Gift” Gregor Gillespie

Gregor Gillespie is a fighter who has been on hardcore fans’ radar for awhile. “The Gift” has been at this MMA thing since 2012 and has been smashing people in the Octagon since 2016.

Known for his high-level wrestling, Gillespie has been working diligently on his striking as evidenced by his performance against Vinc Pichel last June.

Gillespie will face his toughest test to date, however, when he faces Yancy Medeiros in a featured lightweight bout this weekend. Both Medeiros and Gillespie bring a pace that is exhausting to watch. Don’t be surprised if this is the FOTN.

Champion vs. Champion Main Event

It’s not too often a current UFC champion gets to fight another current UFC champion. Such is the case, however, this weekend when Dillashaw and Cejudo will square off for the flyweight title in the UFC Brooklyn main event.

This fight could easily be a main event on most PPV cards, however, here we are about to get this fight on ESPN+.

Dillashaw has a chance to become the fourth two-division champion the UFC has ever known, joining the ranks of Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes. Of course, the former Alpha Male fighter still needs to make the 125-pound weight limit in order to have a chance at the honor.

Greg Hardy

Love him or hate him, the UFC is banking on you watching him.

It looks as though the UFC has gone the route of Floyd Mayweather with Hardy. That is, sure he is going to have his supporters, but many more fans will tune in with the hopes of Hardy getting his butt kicked.

The 30 year old Hardy is 3-0 in his professional MMA career. Although that is an impressive start to his young combat sports career, it falls short of what is typically expected from a UFC co main event slot. That being said, people are going to tune in to watch Hardy this weekend. How many? That remains to be seen.

UFC on ESPN+ 1 full fight card

UFC Brooklyn Main Card on ESPN +

125 lbs.: Henry Cejudo vs. TJ Dillashaw (for the UFC flyweight title) 265 lbs.: Allen Crowder vs. Greg Hardy
155 lbs.: Gregor Gillespie vs. Yancy Medeiros 125 lbs.: Joseph Benavidez vs. Dustin Ortiz
125 lbs.: Rachael Ostovich vs. Paige VanZant
205 lbs.: Karl Roberson vs. Glover Teixeira

ESPN Prelims

155 lbs.: Donald Cerrone vs. Alexander Hernandez
125 lbs.: Joanne Calderwood vs. Ariane Lipski
205 lbs.: Alonzo Menifield vs. Vinicius Castro
135 lbs.: Mario Bautista vs. Cory Sandhagen

ESPN+ Prelims

155 lbs.: Dennis Bermudez vs. Te Edwards
170 lbs.: Belal Muhammad vs. Geoff Neal
170 lbs.: Chance Rencountre vs. Kyle Stewart

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/17/2019.