UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez

A heavyweight bout between former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and former title challenger Francis Ngannou served as the event headliner. This is Cain Velasquez's final match before moving to the WWE.{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/12/francis-ngannou-vs-cain-velasquez-ufc-on-espn-1-headliner-phoenix|title=Francis Ngannou vs. ex-champ Cain Velasquez in the works for UFC on ESPN 1 headliner|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2018-12-13|access-date=2018-12-13}}{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2019/01/ufc-on-espn-1-lineup-set-features-10-bouts-on-espn|title=UFC on ESPN 1 lineup set, features 10 bouts on ESPN|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2019-01-15|access-date=2019-01-16}}

As a result of the cancellation of UFC 233, fights between Cortney Casey and Cynthia Calvillo, James Vick and Paul Felder, Benito Lopez and Manny Bermudez and Aleksandra Albu and Emily Whitmire respectively, were rescheduled for this event.{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/12/multiple-ufc-233-fights-get-new-dates-locations-after-jan-26-card-scratched|title=Multiple UFC 233 fights get new dates, locations after Jan. 26 card scratched|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2018-12-12|access-date=2018-12-12}}{{Cite news|url=http://mmadna.nl/veel-gevechten-van-gecancelde-ufc-233-card-verplaatst-naar-andere-evenementen/|title=Many battles of canceled UFC 233 card moved to other events|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2018-12-13|access-date=2018-12-13|language=nl}}

A women's flyweight bout between former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Lauren Murphy and Ashlee Evans-Smith was expected to take place at the event. However, on December 19, Murphy announced she will need more time off to recover from surgery and won't make it to this event.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/12/19/18149191/lauren-murphy-withdraws-from-ufc-on-espn-fight-vs-ashlee-evans-smith-to-recover-from-surgery|title=Lauren Murphy withdraws from UFC on ESPN fight vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith to recover from surgery|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Newswire|date=2018-12-19|access-date=2018-12-19}} On December 20, it was reported that Andrea Lee would replace Murphy against Evans-Smith.{{Cite news|url=https://mymmanews.com/andrea-lee-vs-ashlee-evans-smith/|title=Andrea Lee in for Lauren Murphy vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith at UFC on ESPN 1|publisher=mymmanews.com|author=Mike Heck|date=2018-12-20|access-date=2018-12-21}}

At the weigh-ins, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Renan Barão, Manny Bermudez and former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Jessica Penne missed the required weight for their respective fights. Barão weighted at 138 pounds and Bermudez weighted at 140 pounds, 2 pounds and 4 pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136 respectively. Meanwhile, Penne weighed in at 118 pounds, 2 pounds over the strawweight non-title fight limit of 116. All three bouts were set to continue at catchweight. Barão and Penne were fined 20% of their purse and Bermudez was fined 30% of his purse which went to their opponents.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2019/02/ufc-on-espn-1-phoenix-francis-ngannou-cain-velasquez-weigh-in-results-live-video-stream|title=UFC on ESPN 1 weigh-in results: Three fighters miss, but all fights set|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=John Morgan|date=2019-02-16|access-date=2019-02-17}}

In turn, Penne pulled out of her bout against Jodie Esquibel, as she severely sprained her ankle while warming up the morning of the event. The bout was subsequently scrapped.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=1-26018912|title=Tonight's Jodie Esquibel vs. Jessica Penne fight has been canceled|publisher=espn.com|author=Ariel Helwani|date=2019-02-17|access-date=2019-02-17}}

{{MMAevent}}

{{MMAevent card|Main Card (ESPN)}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Heavyweight

|Francis Ngannou

|def.

|Cain Velasquez

|KO (punches)

|1

|0:26

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Paul Felder

|def.

|James Vick

|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Women's Strawweight

|Cynthia Calvillo

|def.

|Cortney Casey

|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Featherweight

|Kron Gracie

|def.

|Alex Caceres

|Submission (rear-naked choke)

|1

|2:06

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Welterweight

|Vicente Luque

|def.

|Bryan Barberena

|TKO (knees and punches)

|3

|4:54

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Featherweight

|Andre Fili

|def.

|Myles Jury

|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (ESPN)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Bantamweight

|Aljamain Sterling

|def.

|Jimmie Rivera

|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Catchweight (140 lb)

|Manny Bermudez

|def.

|Benito Lopez

|Submission (guillotine choke)

|1

|3:09

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Women's Flyweight

|Andrea Lee

|def.

|Ashlee Evans-Smith

|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Lightweight

|Nik Lentz

|def.

|Scott Holtzman

|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

|3

|5:00

|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+)|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Catchweight (138 lb)

|Luke Sanders

|def.

|Renan Barão

|KO (punches)

|2

|1:01

|

}}

{{MMAevent bout

|Women's Strawweight

|Emily Whitmire

|def.

|Aleksandra Albu

|Submission (rear-naked choke)

|1

|1:01

|

}}

{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}

{{cite web|url=http://uk.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-phoenix-2019|title=UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2018-12-07}}

The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2019/2/18/18228340/ufc-espn-official-bonus-winners-velasquez-ngannou-gracie-knockout-submission-luque-barberena-espn|title=UFC Phoenix Bonuses! Luque, Barberena battle it out for $50K each|author=Dan Hiergesell|publisher=mmamania.com|date=2019-02-18|access-date=2019-02-18}}

• Fight of the Night: Vicente Luque vs. Bryan Barberena
• Performance of the Night: Kron Gracie and Luke Sanders

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported by the Arizona Department of Gaming. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses. The total disclosed payout for the event was $1,871,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/21/18235025/ufc-phoenix-salaries-cain-velasquez-earns-450000-in-unsuccessful-ufc-return|title=UFC Phoenix salaries: Cain Velasquez earns $450,000 in unsuccessful UFC return|author=Shaun Al-Shatti|date=February 21, 2019|publisher=mmafighting.com}}

• Francis Ngannou: $220,000 (includes $110,000 win bonus) def. Cain Velasquez: $450,000
• Paul Felder: $92,000 (includes $46,000 win bonus) def. James Vick: $65,000
• Cynthia Calvillo: $88,000 (includes $44,000 win bonus) def. Cortney Casey: $50,000
• Kron Gracie: $52,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus) def. Alex Caceres: $55,000
• Vicente Luque: $82,000 (includes $41,000 win bonus) def. Bryan Barberena: $35,000
• Andre Fili: $74,000 (includes $37,000 win bonus) def. Myles Jury: $36,000
• Aljamain Sterling: $140,000 (includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Jimmie Rivera: $68,000
• Manny Bermudez: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus) def. Benito Lopez: $12,000
• Andrea Lee: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus) def. Ashlee Evans-Smith: $30,000
• Nik Lentz: $106,000 (includes $53,000 win bonus) def. Scott Holtzman: $33,000
• Luke Sanders: $38,000 (includes $19,000 win bonus) def. Renan Barão: $53,000
• Emily Whitmire: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Aleksandra Albu: $12,000

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