UFC 274: Oliveira vs Gaethje Start Times and Fight Card
Las Vegas – UFC returns to Phoenix for the first time since 2019 with a blockbuster championship doubleheader. Headlining the event will be UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira seeking to defend his title against #1 ranked contender Justin Gaethje. In the co-main event, UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas looks to avenge her loss against #2 ranked Carla Esparza. Also on the card, top lightweights aim to make a statement as No. 5 contender Michael Chandler takes on #7 Tony Ferguson.
This event will take place Saturday, May 7 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz. All bouts will be simulcast on ESPN+ in English and Spanish beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with the ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass prelims. The prelims will continue exclusively on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT followed by the ESPN+ Pay-Per-View main card that will kick off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 25 at 10 a.m. PT and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, March 23 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, March 24 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
Reigning UFC lightweight king Oliveira (32-8, 1 NC) fighting out of Houston, Texas by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil intends to further his legacy as champion by taking out one of his toughest opponents to date. The record holder for most UFC finishes, submissions, and post-fight bonuses, Oliveira has established himself as one of the most exciting athletes on the entire roster. He is also currently on a 10-fight win streak, which includes notable victories over Dustin Poirier, Kevin Lee, and Jim Miller. Oliveira now looks to defeat another top contender and continue his rise up the pound-for-pound ranks.
Former interim champion Gaethje (24-3) originally from Safford, Ariz., and fighting out of Arvada, Colo. is one of the only lightweights that can match Oliveira’s impressive finishing ability. An NCAA All-America wrestler, he has earned nearly all his victories by knockout, including wins over Michael Johnson, James Vick, and Edson Barboza. He now plans to put Oliveira’s resolve to the test and finally capture his first undisputed UFC title.
UFC strawweight titleholder Namajunas (12-4) fighting out of Denver, Colo. returns to action seeking to successfully defend her belt for the second time by avenging her 2014 loss against Esparza. Among the most popular athletes on the UFC roster, she holds the record for most stoppage wins in strawweight history, including victories over former champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Zhang Weili. Namajunas now aims to leave no doubt that she is the best 115-pounder on the planet with a statement performance.
Esparza (19-6) fighting out of Irvine, Calif. has her sights set on regaining her strawweight championship by replicating her submission victory over Namajunas. Currently, on the longest win streak of her UFC career, she secured her shot at the crown with memorable performances over Yan Xiaonan, Marina Rodriguez, and Michelle Waterson. Esparza is now determined to prove that her first win over the champion was no fluke and begin her second reign atop the division.
Chandler (22-7) fighting out of Nashville, Tenn. has wasted little time in cementing himself as a must-see fighter since joining the UFC roster. Already a highly regarded competitor before entering the stacked UFC lightweight division in 2021, he quickly ascended to the top of the ladder following a highlight reel KO over Dan Hooker. Chandler now expects to repeat the success from his debut by finishing Ferguson with a statement performance.
Fan-favorite Ferguson (26-7) fighting out of Orange County, Calif. has been entertaining audiences with his unique fighting style since winning season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2010. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Ferguson won his own interim UFC title by putting together the longest win streak in lightweight history with 12 consecutive victories, including wins over former titleholders Anthony Pettis and Rafael Dos Anjos. He now is gunning to get back on track and reinsert his name into the championship conversation by taking out Chandler.
Flyweight action sees Tracy Cortez (9-1) fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz.) face off with Melissa Gatto (8-0-2) fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The legendary Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (27-12-1) fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil rematches with Ovince Saint Preux (25-16) fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn. at light heavyweight. Lightweight veterans finally battle when Donald Cerrone (36-16, 2 NC) fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) meets Joe Lauzon (28-16) fighting out of Bridgewater, Mass.
No. 4 ranked flyweight contender Brandon Royval (13-6) fighting out of Lakewood, Colo. and No. 9 ranked Matt Schnell (15-5, 1 NC) fighting out of Shreveport, La. match up in an early Fight of the Night contender. No. 14 ranked heavyweight contender Blagoy Ivanov (18-4, 1 NC) fighting out of Sofia, Bulgaria seeks to defend his spot in the Top 15 against Marcos Rogerio De Lima (19-8-1) fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Macy Chiasson (8-2) fighting out of Dallas, Texas returns to action against Norma Dumont (7-1, fighting out of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil in a featherweight bout. An exciting welterweight matchup sees Randy Brown (14-4) fighting out of Queens, N.Y. lock horns with Khaos Williams (13-2) fighting out of Jackson, Mich.
Welterweights Francisco Trinaldo (27-8) fighting out of Federal District, Brazil) and Danny Roberts (18-5) fighting out of Liverpool, England aim to steal the show. Dana White’s Contender Series signees collide as Kleydson Rodrigues (7-1) fighting out of Laranjal do Jari, Amapa, Brazil and CJ Vergara (9-3-1) fighting out of San Antonio, Texas compete at flyweight
Ariane Carnelossi (14-2) fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil looks to extend her win streak against Loopy Godinez (7-2) fighting out of Vancouver, B.C., Canada by way of Aguascalientes, Mexico at strawweight. Journey Newson (9-3, 1 NC) fighting out of Portland, Ore. has his sights set on spoiling the UFC debut of Dana White’s Contender Series alum Fernie Garcia (10-1) fighting out of Dallas, Texas.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
