On Sunday, February 17, the UFC will make its debut on ESPN with an exciting, 13-fight card. In a recent press release, ESPN revealed the commentary and broadcast teams for this debut UFC on ESPN card.
Jon Anik and Dominick Cruz will call the fights from cage-side, while Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping and Karyn Bryant will man the broadcast desk, and Megan Olivi will handle reporting. UFC fighters Fabricio Werdum and Brandon Moreno will join Victor Dávila on the Spanish language broadcast.
“Calling the live action will be lead play-by-play man, Jon Anik, alongside former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz as the color commentator. The desk team will be on site featuring analysis from former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. Karyn Bryant will serve as host and Megan Olivi will handle reporting duties. Production for all UFC events on ESPN and ESPN+ is provided by UFC. UFC’s Spanish-language commentary for UFC Fight Night on ESPN will be provided by UFC athletes Victor Dávila (play-by-play), Fabricio Werdum (analyst) and Brandon Moreno (analyst).”
In the main event of this debut UFC on ESPN card, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon, where he will take on the ridiculously powerful Francis Ngannou.
The bout will be Velasquez’s first since a July, 2016 defeat of Travis Browne. Ngannou, meanwhile, will look to build on the momentum of a first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes.
In the UFC on ESPN 1 co-main event, James Vick will look to bounce back from a tough loss to former World Series of Fighting champion Justin Gaethje, as he takes on the ever dangerous Paul Felder, who looks to rebound from a welterweight loss to “Platinum” Mike Perry.
Other highlights of this debut UFC on ESPN card, finally, include a strawweight fight between Cortney Casey and Cynthia Calvillo, a featherweight showdown between Alex Caceres and Kron Gracie, and a welterweight fight between Vicente Luque and Bryan Barberena. See the full card here.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 2/17/2019.