PHOENIX — One of the UFC’s most popular and dynamic weight classes takes center stage on Saturday, with Charles Oliveira (32-8) preparing to step into the Octagon against Justin Gaethje (23-3) in the main event UFC 274 inside Footprint Center. However, Oliveira missed weight on Friday, resulting in him getting stripped of the lightweight title. Gaethje, who made weight on Friday, is eligible to win the title on Saturday night.
Gaethje, of Arizona, is a former interim champion, whose only loss in the last four years came against Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Dagestani’s final fight. Up until the missed weight, Oliveira had done a tremendous job stepping into the role as champion, recording exciting finishes against Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier.
In the co-main event, strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (11-4) and Carla Esparza (18-6) will meet in a rematch of the first strawweight title fight in UFC history in 2014. Esparza won the initial meeting by submission.
And fan favorites Chandler (22-7) and Tony Ferguson (25-6) could steal the spotlight from the main and co-main events.
Follow Brett Okamoto and Jeff Wagenheim with for live updates below or watch the fights on ESPN+ PPV.
Fight in progress: Strawweight: Ariane Carnelossi (14-2, 2-1 UFC, +145) vs. Loopy Godinez (7-2, 2-2 UFC, -170)
Men’s bantamweight: Journey Newson (10-3 1 NC, 1-2 1 NC UFC) def. Fernie Garcia (10-2, 0-1 UFC) by unanimous decision (Watch on ESPN+)
Newson had not fought since September 2020, and during his extended layoff he apparently developed some urgency, as he was in Garcia’s face for much of their 15 minutes inside the Octagon and earned a clear decision for his first victory in his fourth UFC fight.
Newson, a 33-year-old from Portland, Oregon, came at Garcia with an array of punches and kicks, peppering him with shots before hurting him twice in the final round – once with a punch, once with a kick. Two of the judges scored all three rounds his way, and the other had it 29-28, also in Newson’s favor.
Garcia, who is 30 and from Dallas, saw a five-fight winning streak end in his UFC debut. He showed some boxing skills early but never ramped up his aggression enough to put Newson in danger.
Still to come:
-
Lightweight championship*: Charles Oliveira (32-8 1 NC, 20-8 1 NC UFC, -170) vs. Justin Gaethje (23-3, 6-3 UFC, +145)
-
Strawweight championship: Rose Namajunas (c) (12-4, 9-3 UFC, -220) vs. Carla Esparza (19-6, 9-4 UFC, +180)
-
Lightweight: Michael Chandler (22-7, 1 -2 UFC, -360) vs. Tony Ferguson (26-6, 15-4 UFC, +280
-
Light heavyweight: Mauricio Rua (27-12-1, 11-1001 UFC, +190) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (25-16, 13-11 UFC, -230)
-
Lightweight: Donald Cerrone (36-16 2 NC, 23-13 1 NC UFC, -175) vs. Joe Lauzon (28-16, 15-12 UFC, +150)
-
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (15-4, 1-1 UFC, -420) vs. Cameron VanCamp (15-5-1, 0-0 UFC, +330)
-
Welterweight: Randy Brown (14-4, 8-4 UFC, -105) vs. Khaos Williams (13-2, 4-1 UFC, -115)
-
Women’s featherweight: Macy Chiasson (8-2, 5-2 UFC, +180) vs. Norma Dumont (7-1, 3-1 UFC, -220)
-
Men’s flyweight: Brandon Royval (13-6, 3-2 UFC, -260) vs. Matt Schnell (15-5 1 NC, 5-3 1 NC UFC, +210)
-
Heavyweight: Blagoy Ivanov (18-4, 2-3 UFC, +130) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (19-8-1, 8-5 UFC, -155)
-
Welterweight: Francisco Trinaldo (27-8, 17-7 UFC, -115) vs. Danny Roberts (18-5, 7-4 UFC, -105)
-
Women’s flyweight: Tracy Cortez (9-1, 3-0 UFC, -140) vs. Melissa Gatto (8-0-2, 2-0 UFC, +120)
-
Men’s flyweight: Kleydson Rodrigues (7-1, 0-0 UFC, -360) vs. CJ Vergara (9-3-1, 0-1 UFC, +280)
(c) = defending champion
* = Only Justin Gaethje can win the lightweight title at UFC 274