A Viewer’s Guide to UFC on ESPN 55

The latest offering from the Ultimate Fighting Championship feels like the breather fight fans needed after the storm that was UFC 300. The tricentennial showcase transpired as a legacy event that delivered in spades and set the benchmark high on how future shows will be gauged. In line with that, UFC on ESPN 55 this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas is projected to materialize as a humble affair with lesser-known names and hungry contenders squaring off in a bid to make their mark. Make no mistake, though, the card features several must-see matchups, proving itself as a fitting prelude for UFC 301.

In the main event, Matheus Nicolau makes the Octagon walk after a year-long hiatus, taking on perennial threat Alex Perez in a thrilling flyweight affair. Nicolau is 7-2 inside the Octagon and 19-3-1 overall, as he attempts to rebound from a knockout loss to Brandon Royval. Perez, meanwhile, makes a quick turnaround from his unanimous decision loss to Muhammad Mokaev in March, which marked his third straight defeat. With things at the top of the flyweight division seemingly scarce in terms of matchup options, a victory might serve as the opportunity for the winner to work his way into even bigger fights.

Elsewhere, the co-main event is a battle of light heavyweight hopefuls, as Ryan Spann locks horns with Bogdan Guskov. Spann has failed in recent fights to leverage the kinetic energy that earned him finishes over the likes of Ion Cutelaba and Dominick Reyes. On a two-fight skid, Spann takes on Guskov, who is coming off a knockout victory over Zac Pauga.

A closer look at the UFC on ESPN 55 particulars:

Date, Time and Location for UFC on ESPN 55

UFC on ESPN 55 “Nicolau vs. Perez” goes down on Saturday, April 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card kicks off at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, while the prelims begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

How to Access UFC on ESPN ‘Nicolau vs. Perez’ Online

Anyone wishing to livestream UFC on ESPN 55 online will need to purchase an ESPN+ membership. The ESPN-owned streaming service has exclusive rights to UFC live streams, making ESPN+ the only way to view UFC on ESPN 55 “Nicolau vs. Perez” online in the United States. The main card can be viewed on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT., while the prelims can be seen on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. Meanwhile, TNT Sports is the lone broadcaster showing UFC on ESPN 55 live in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Coverage begins at 9 p.m. BT. Finally, Foxtel TV customers in Australia can stream the event online by using the Foxtel Go app and may also sign up for Kayo to watch ESPN online.

Full Fight Card, Odds

125: Matheus Nicolau (-180) vs. Alex Perez (+150)
205: Ryan Spann (-190) vs. Bogdan Guskov (+160)
125: Karine Silva (-150) vs. Ariane Lipski (+120)
265: Jhonata Diniz (-250) vs. Austen Lane (+200)
145: Jonathan Pearce (-170) vs. David Onama (+140)
170: Uros Medic (-310) vs. Tim Means (+235)
135: Victor Henry (-415) vs. Rani Yahya (+315)
155: Michal Figlak (-170) vs. Austin Hubbard (+140)
265: Caio Machado (-120) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (-110)
115: Ketlen Souza (-360) vs. Marnic Mann (+260)
155: James Llontop (-410) vs. Chris Padilla (+320)
125: Ivana Petrovic (-465) vs. Na Liang (+340)
155: Maheshate Hayisaer (-190) vs. Gabriel Benitez (+160)