The latest Ultimate Fighting Championship event, the second installment in a series of back-to-back shows held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, packs a serious punch. UFC on ESPN 53, which is set to go down on Saturday, is primed to deliver an explosive showcase built around a women’s flyweight battle atop the card that features a former two-time women’s strawweight champion.
It seems safe to say that both women are more well-rounded than they have shown in recent outings. It will be interesting to see if either or both opt to mix things up more, adding in grappling elements to what have been striking-heavy game plans of late.
In the co-main event, Justin Tafa locks horns with Karl Williams in a heavyweight battle charged with the promise of lightning-quick knockout potency.
A closer look at the UFC on ESPN 53 particulars:
Date, Time, Location for UFC on ESPN 53
UFC on ESPN 53 “Ribas vs. Namajunas” goes down on Saturday, March 23 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card kicks off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while the prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
How to View UFC on ESPN ‘Ribas vs. Namajunas’ Online
Anyone wishing to livestream UFC on ESPN 53 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 53 “Ribas vs. Namajunas” online in the United States. The main card can be viewed on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT., while the prelims can be seen on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Meanwhile, TNT Sports is the lone broadcaster showing UFC on ESPN 53 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: Rose Namajunas (-210) vs. Amanda Ribas (+170)
265: Karl Williams (-190) vs. Justin Tafa (+160)
185: Edmen Shahbazyan (-205) vs. A.J. Dobson (+170)
135: Payton Talbott (-145) vs. Cameron Saaiman (+115)
145: Billy Quarantillo (-140) vs. Youssef Zalal (+110)
145: Fernando Padilla (-160) vs. Luis Pajuelo (+130)
155: Trey Ogden (-145) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (+115)
145: Ricardo Ramos (-160) vs. Julian Erosa (+130)
135: Miles Johns (-150) vs. Cody Gibson (+120)
145: Steven Nguyen (-170) vs. Jarno Errens (+140)
135: Dariya Zheleznyakova (-210) vs. Montserrat Rendon
125: Andre Lima (-175) vs. Igor da Silva (+145)
265: Michael Parkin (-139) vs. Mohammed Usman (+109)