UFC On TV And Live Stream Tonight: Walt Harris’ Return Highlights Saturday’s Card

The new home away from home for the UFC has been the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The third event in eight days happens on Saturday night.

Like the two before it, Saturday’s show won’t have fans on hand due to COVID-19 protocols, but the event will go on. The main event features the return of Walt Harris to the Octagon.

Harris’ stepdaughter Aniah Blanchard was murdered in 2019, and he hasn’t fought since the tragedy.

Harris made the decision to fight on in Blanchard’s honor, and he’ll meet Alistair Overeem in Saturday’s main event.

Here’s how you can watch it from top to bottom.

Start Times, Networks and Streaming Services

• Prelims – 6 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN+
• Main Card – 9 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN+

Song Yadong’s Visa Issues Cleared

For a moment on Friday, it appeared as though Team Alpha Male prospect Song Yadong might be in danger of missing Saturday’s fight with Marlon Vera. however, in the end, it appears things have been worked out.

Yadong, who is from China, was missing a classification on his visa that would allow him to fight in the United States. Per Yadong, and his mentor, head man at TAM, and UFC Hall-of-Famer Urijah Faber, everything is clear for the promising 22-year-old.

Faber was ready to step in on short notice, but his services won’t be needed. Yadong vs. Vera is just one of several potentially action-packed fights on the card.

Main Event

Most don’t expect the heavyweight main event to go the distance. Harris is known for his aggression. He’s 13-7 overall and all of his wins have come by stoppage.

Overeem is a more balanced fighter, but he packs a wallop when he sits down on strikes and uses his knees to do damage to opponents. Many are watching to see if Harris can resume his ascent up the UFC’s heavyweight rankings after dealing with such an unspeakable hardship.

Also, Overeem is running out of opportunities to place himself back into a position to challenge for the UFC heavyweight title he has never held.

Co-Main Event

In the co-main event, the very active Angela Hill is back for her seventh fight in 14 months. The fight on Saturday will be one of the most difficult of her career.

She’ll take on former strawweight title challenger Claudia Gadelha in a pivotal fight in the 115-pound division. Gadelha’s wrestling and improved striking will be tested against Hill’s advance striking, fantastic cardio, and insane toughness.

Hill has never been stopped by strikes in her career, so this is an interesting stylistic matchup that could be a candidate for Fight of the Night.

Here is a look at all of the fights on the card along with the weigh-in results.

UFC Fight Night 172 Weigh-in Results:

• Alistair Overeem (253.5) vs. Walt Harris (264.5)
• Claudia Gadelha (115.5) vs. Angela Hill (115)
• Edson Barboza (145.5) vs. Dan Ige (146)
• Eryk Anders (186) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (185.5)
• Marlon Vera (145.5) vs. Yadong Song (145.5)
• Kevin Holland (182.5) vs. Anthony Hernandez (185.5)
• Matt Brown (171) vs. Miguel Baeza (170.5)
• Giga Chikadze (145.5) vs. Irwin Rivera (TBD)
• Cortney Casey (126) vs. Mara Romero Borella (125.5)
• Darren Elkins (146) vs. Nate Landwehr (146)
• Don’Tale Mayes (241) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento Ferreira (255)

Post-event coverage including spotlights on individual standout performances and an overall recap of the event are coming on Saturday night after the show.