The UFC is back in its “Sin City” home base with flyweights at the top of the lineup.
Here’s how to watch UFC on ESPN 71 with a short-notice 125-pound matchup in the headlining spot.
Broadcast and streaming info
UFC on ESPN 71 has a main card that airs at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. The preliminary card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.
Veteran broadcaster Karyn Bryant serves as desk anchor and host at UFC on ESPN 71. Former Invicta FC champion Michelle Waterson-Gomez, “The Ultimate Fighter 15” winner Michael Chiesa and UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans join her at the desk as analysts throughout the broadcast and on the post-fight show. UFC correspondent McKenzie Pavacich will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC on ESPN 71 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event.
Brendan Fitzgerald will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC on ESPN 71. He’ll command play-by-play and be joined in the booth by UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and former UFC/WEC champion Dominick Cruz.
Main event: Tatsuro TairaRecord: 16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFCOpponent: HyunSung Park (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC)Division: FlyweightKey wins: Alex Perez, Carlos HernandezMisc.: After a blazing-hot 6-0 start to his UFC tenure, Taira dropped a split decision to recent title challenger Brandon Royval this past October. The Fight of the Night winner was the first loss of Taira’s career. He was set to try to get back on track against Amir Albazi until Albazi pulled out this past week. Main event: HyunSung ParkRecord: 10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFCOpponent: Tatsuro Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)Division: FlyweightKey wins: Carlos HernandezMisc.: The Road to UFC winner was set to meet former title challenger Steve Erceg next week, but gets a short-notice change to a main event thanks to Amir Albazi’s withdrawal this week. Co-main event: Chris DuncanRecord: 13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFCOpponent: Mateusz Rebecki (20-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC)Division: LightweightKey wins: Jordan Vucenic, Bolaji OkiMisc.: The Scotsman has back-to-back guillotine choke wins on his resume after a submission loss to Manuel Torres in early 2024 marked the first loss of his UFC career. Co-main event: Mateusz RebeckiRecord: 20-2 MMA, 4-1 UFCOpponent: Chris Duncan (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC)Division: LightweightKey wins: Myktybek Orolbai, Roosevelt RobertsMisc.: Rebecki was knocked out by Diego Ferreira in May 2024 for his first loss in nearly 10 years. This past fall, he got back on track with a split call win over Myktybek Orolbai. UFC debut: John YannisRecord: 9-3Opponent: Austin Bashi (13-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) Division: FeatherweightMisc.: Yannis steps in for Francis Marshall for a short-notice debut. In May, he knocked out UFC veteran Nick Aguirre to win the Fury FC featherweight title. UFC on ESPN 71 lineup
MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung ParkChris Duncan vs. Mateusz RebeckiElves Brener vs. Esteban RibovicsNora Cornolle vs. Karol RosaNeil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos SantosDanny Silva vs. Kevin Vallejos
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Nathan Fletcher vs. Rinya NakamuraTresean Gore vs. Rodolfo VieiraNick Klein vs. Andrey PulyaevFelipe Bunes vs. Rafael EstevamPiera Rodriguez vs. Ketlen SouzaAustin Bashi vs. John YannisUFC on ESPN 71 main card betting oddsTaira -250, Park +190Duncan +170, Rebecki -205Brener +205, Ribovics -250Cornolle +155, Rosa -185Magny +165, Zaleski dos Santos -200Silva +310, Vallejos -395UFC on ESPN 71 prelim betting oddsFletcher +330, Nakamura -425Gore +180, Vieira -220Klein +130, Pulyaev -155Bunes +390, Estevam -520Rodriguez -185, Souza +155Bashi vs. Yannis TBDUFC on ESPN 71 full fight videos