UFC 249 broadcast team announced
UFC 249 is coming together.
A day after an official location was released, ESPN’ Brett Okamoto first reported the event’s broadcast team including Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, Megan Olivi and Bruce Buffer.
The 12-fight pay-per-view event will take place at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on May 9. Okamoto reported the lineup after talking to UFC President Dana White through Instagram Live on Friday, April 24.
Anik, Rogan and Cormier recently commentated UFC 248, the promotions’ most recent pay-per view event held on March 7.
Headlining UFC 249 is Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. The co-main event includes a bantamweight title fight between current champion Henry Cejudo and former champion Dominick Cruz.
During the interview, White also announced the 10 additional signed bouts on the card. His excitement for the main event is clear.
“Ferguson vs. Gaethje will be one of the most violent fights you’ll ever see, I can guarantee that,” White said to Okamoto.
“They’re two of the best in the world, and the winner will fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the title. Khabib will be back in September-October.”
A long time coming
The announcement of the broadcast team is another step closer to UFC 249, following a series of trials and tribulation. First slated for Brooklyn, New York on April 18, the UFC postponed the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UFC lost its original headliner between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson. Nurmagomedov dropped out of the event following travel restrictions in his home country of Russia.
The promotion attempted to relocate to the Tachi Palace Resort Casino in Lemoore, California. The plan fell through after California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed his concerns to Disney, the parent company of UFC’s broadcast partner ESPN.
Florida quickly became an option for the UFC after WWE was considered an ‘Essential business’ by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
With UFC 249 at the forefront, the promotion will host three more events during the month of May.
