Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Matt Erickson

UFC Fight Night 236: How to watch Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer, start time, Las Vegas lineup, odds, more

UFC Jack Hermansson Joe Pyfer Las Vegas UFC Fight Night 236 Andre Fili Bolaji Oki Robert Bryczek Dana White Contender Series UFC Fight Night

The UFC stays home in “Sin City” with middleweight contenders topping the marquee for the second straight week.

Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 236 with 185-pounders looking to make statements.

Broadcast and streaming info

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Brendan Fitzgerald, Laura Sanko, and Paul Felder anchor the broadcast during Dana White’s Contender Series season six week nine at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

UFC Fight Night 236 has a main card that begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The prelims stream on ESPN+, as well, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned to MMA Junkie for more broadcast details this week.

Main event: Jack Hermansson

If the pattern holds from the past five or so years, Jack Hermansson (23-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) will celebrate an upset of Joe Pyfer on Saturday. Hermansson has alternated wins and losses starting with a win over “Jacare” Souza in April 2019, and he’s coming off a loss to Roman Dolidze in December 2022. He’s been out of action for 14 months, so that layoff could play a factor. A loss would give him just the second two-fight skid of his career; the first was 11 years ago.

Main event: Joe Pyfer

Joe Pyfer (12-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has been fighting like a man on a mission ever since his second chance at Dana White’s Contender Series. He has five straight wins, all by stoppage, and two of his three UFC victories have gotten him performance bonuses. Even though he’s up against perhaps his most accomplished opponent yet – he passed with flying colors 10 months ago against his most experienced opponent, Gerald Meerschaert – he’s still a reasonably heavy favorite.

Co-main event: Andre Fili vs. Dan Ige

Somehow the MMA world blinked and Andre Fili (23-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC) has been in the UFC for more than 10 years. The longevity in one of the sport’s toughest divisions, featherweight, is impressive, and Fili is coming off one of the best wins of his career – a first-round TKO of highly touted Lucas Almeida. His opponent, Dan Ige (17-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC), has been in that title conversation, but has gone just 2-4 since the competition leveled up a little bit. He’s looking to get back on track after a loss to Bryce Mitchell this past September, and a win would give him three in four fights.

UFC debut: Robert Bryczek

Robert Bryczek (17-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) a 33-year-old middleweight standout from Poland, finally makes his highly anticipated UFC debut in the featured bout on the main card against Ihor Potieria (20-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC). Bryczek has five straight first-round knockouts over the past two years.

UFC debut: Carlos Prates

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 29: (R-L) Carlos Prates of Brazil reacts after defeating Mitch Ramirez in their welterweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season seven, week four at UFC APEX on August 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

After a couple impressive first-round head-kick knockouts for LFA, Carlos Prates (17-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) got his UFC shot through a knockout win on Dana White’s Contender Series. Now the welterweight jumps straight into a major test in 12-fight UFC vet Trevin Giles (16-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) to close out the prelims. He’s more than a 2-1 favorite in his promotional debut.

UFC debut: Bolaji Oki

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 29: (L-R) Bolaji Oki of Belgium reacts after defeating Dylan Salvador of France in their lightweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season seven, week four at UFC APEX on August 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Bolaji Oki (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) lost his pro debut about six years ago, but it’s been great since then. Oki has eight straight wins, including a first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series to get his first UFC shot. That’ll come against longtime UFC lightweight and resident tough out Damir Hadzovic (14-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC).

UFC debut: Hyder Amil

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 15: Hyder Amil of the Philippines prepares to face Emrah Sonmez of Turkey in a featherweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season seven, week two at UFC APEX on August 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Hyder Amil (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) grinded out a win on Dana White’s Contender Series this past August, but it’s been harder to keep his UFC debut intact. Melsik Baghdasaryan and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke canceled on him, and now his promotional debut at featherweight will come against Fernie Garcia (10-4 MMA, 0-3 UFC), who will be looking for his first UFC win, as well.