UFC video: How to watch Hermansson vs. Pyfer, Vegas lineup, odds, more

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05 February 2024

UFC video: How to watch Hermansson vs. Pyfer, Vegas lineup, odds, more

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.