On Saturday night in Las Vegas, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier will throw down for the third time in three years. After Cormier scored a knockout in their July 2018 bout to win the championship, Miocic scored his own knockout in August 2019 to win the belt back and set up a titanic rubber match that is being promoted as a clash to crown the greatest heavyweight in MMA history.
The bout headlines the pay-per-view card from the UFC Apex, with a bantamweight showdown between Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera serving as the co-main event. O'Malley has made waves as a potential future superstar and has scored back-to-back vicious knockouts in 2020, returning from two years out of the Octagon due to questionable failed drug tests.
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Beyond the main event, a budding star in the bantamweight division is back when Sean O'Malley takes on Marlon Vera. O'Malley has been rolling since his debut at Dana White's Contender Series in 2017 and returned from a two-year USADA suspension in March with a thunderous knockout of Jose Quinonez. He then finished Eddie Wineland with authority in June. Now, he gets his toughest test yet as Vera has never been knocked out and won five of his last six bouts.
Plus, a pair of heavyweight sluggers go at it when Jair Rozenstruik faces off with former champ Junior dos Santos. Both men possess knockout power and are looking to get back in line for a shot at the title.
Below is all the information you need to catch the UFC 252 event on Saturday night.
How to watch UFC 252 prelims
Date: Aug. 15 | Location: UFC Apex -- Las Vegas
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Stream: Watch ESPN | Channel: ESPN
How to watch UFC 252 main card
Date: Aug. 15 | Location: UFC Apex -- Las Vegas, Nevada
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Stream: ESPN+ | Price: $64.99
Now, here's a look at the UFC 252 main fight card and betting odds via William Hill Sportsbook.
UFC 252 main card, odds
Favorite | Underdog | Weightclass |
---|---|---|
Daniel Cormier -115 | Stipe Miocic (c) -105 | Heavyweight championship |
Sean O'Malley -300 | Marlon Vera +240 | Bantamweight |
Jairzinho Rozenstruik -135 | Junior Dos Santos +115 | Heavyweight |
Merab Dvalishvili -240 | John Dodson +200 | Bantamweight |
Herbert Burns -280 | Daniel Pineda +230 | Featherweight |