This will be the second time Miocic and Ngannou will face off.
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
If it feels like UFC 259 just happened, that’s because it did, but in 2021 the UFC is rattling through premium cards at a startling rate.
That means UFC 260 is closer than you think — weeks away in fact — and, much like the previous PPV event, it features multiple title fights.
At the top of the card, a rematch between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou. Their first contest was a one-sided grindathon after Miocic introduced Ngannou to high level wrestling for five gruelling rounds, but since that bout, Ngannou has torn through the heavyweight division, earning himself a second crack at the title. Can he unseat the heavyweight GOAT Miocic? It’s possible. Miocic is getting older and Ngannou can knockout any human alive if he catch them clean. No-one on the planet hits harder than this guy.
The second title fight features another comeback story. Jiu-Jitsu specialist Brian Ortega suffered something of a one-sided beatdown in his first title fight against Max Holloway in 2018, but returns for a second title opportunity against newly installed champion Alexander Volkanovski. Ortega looked much improved against Chan Sung Jung late last year, so I’m expecting a very competitive fight.
Here’s everything you need to know.
How to watch UFC 260
This year the UFC entered into a new partnership with ESPN. That’s great news for the UFC and the expansion of the sport of MMA, but bad news for consumer choice. Especially if you’re one of the UFC fans who want to watch UFC live in the US.
In the US, if you want to know how to watch UFC 260, you’ll only find the fight night on PPV through ESPN Plus. The cost structure is a bit confusing, but here are the options to watch UFC on ESPN, according to ESPN’s site:
- Existing yearly ESPN Plus subscribers can order the upcoming UFC fight for $70.
- Existing monthly ESPN Plus subscribers will be able to either upgrade to an annual plan and buy UFC PPV for $85 or purchase the ability to watch the UFC event on PPV for $70 by itself.
- New ESPN Plus subscribers can buy a bundle of one UFC PPV event (streaming in HD) and an ESPN Plus annual recurring subscription for $90. This is a decent deal. The previous bundle gave a saving of 25% but this new bundle is a 35% saving. The ESPN Plus annual ESPN subscription will auto-renew after one year, at the price of an ESPN Plus annual subscription at the time of auto-renewal.
You can do all of the above at the link below.
MMA fans in the UK can watch UFC 260 exclusively through BT Sport. There are more options if you live in Australia. You can watch UFC 260 through Main Event on Foxtel. You can also watch on the UFC website or using its app. You can even order using your PlayStation or using the UFC app on your Xbox.
Need more international viewing options? Try a VPN. See the best VPNs currently recommended by CNET editors.
Start time
Based on previous UFC times, this is the schedule we expect…
US
- The main card starts March 27 , 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).
- The prelims start March 27, 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT).
- The early prelims start March 27, 6.15 p.m. ET (3.15 p.m. PT).
UK
- The main card starts March 28, 3 a.m. GMT.
- The prelims start March 28, 1 a.m. GMT.
- The early prelims start March 27, 11.15 p.m. GMT.
Australia
- The main card starts March 28, 1 p.m. AEDT.
- The prelims start March 28, 11 a.m. AEDT.
- The early prelims start March 28, 9.15 a.m. AEDT.
Fight Card
Given how volatile and fluid previous fight cards have been in the COVID-19 era, expect this one to chop and change. Here’s where we’re at right now…
Main Card
- Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou
- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega
- Tyron Woodley vs. Vicente Luque
- Sean O’Malley vs. Thomas Almeida
Prelims
- Jamie Mullarkey vs. Khama Worthy
- William Knight vs. Alonzo Menifield
- Jessica Penne vs. Hannah Goldy
Early Prelims
- Jared Gooden vs. Abubakar Nurmagomedov
- Modestas Bukauskas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
- Gillian Robertson vs. Miranda Maverick
- Shane Young vs. Omar Antonio Morales Ferrer
- Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Abu Azaitar