UFC 250 Video: Watch Raphael Assuncao Vs. Cody Garbrandt Countdown

A title fight between UFC women’s featherweight champion Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer serves as the main event of Saturday’s UFC 250 pay-per-view card from UFC Apex. Before that contest takes place, a former champ and a perennial title hopeful meet in the co-main event.

The co-headliner sees ex-UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt face off against Raphael Assuncao. Garbrandt, who is the No. 9 ranked fighter in the official UFC bantamweight rankings, is in the midst of a three-fight losing skid. Assuncao, who is ranked at No. 5, has lost his two most recent outings.

Garbrandt was knocked out in each of his three consecutive defeats. He hasn’t had his hand raised in victory since he took the 135-pound title from Dominick Cruz in 2016. Assuncao lost both of his 2019 outings. He has not posted a victory since 2018.

Before his two recent losses, Assuncao was on an 11-1 run. During that stretch, which lasted from 2011 through 2018, Assuncao defeated notable names Marlon Moraes, Aljamain Sterling, Bryan Caraway, T.J. Dillashaw and Pedro Munhoz.

Garbrandt opened his career on an 11-0 run before he lost the title to Dillashaw in 2017.

The bantamweight division does not have a champion thanks to Henry Cejudo’s retirement after his victory over Cruz at UFC 249. If Assuncao and Garbrandt hope to get into the title mix, a victory at UFC 250 is a must, especially considering there are two other 135-pound bouts on the card, including a matchup between the No. 2 ranked Sterling and the No. 4 ranked Cory Sandhagen. 

The UFC expects Petr Yan to face former featherweight titleholder Jose Aldo for the vacant 135-pound title. 

UFC 250 takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view. ESPN and ESPN+ carry the prelims and ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass broadcast the early prelims.