If you are a UFC fan, you’ve probably dropped some dollars on ordering pay-per-view fights over the years. Some of them were probably worth every penny, and others probably left you wishing you could ask for a refund.
Fight nights are a lot of fun; grab some food, pour some drinks, gather some friends, and you can watch elite athletes compete in the octagon from the comfort of your home. But pay-per-view can be expensive, so it’s important to decide which fights are worth the charge.
The UFC 239 showdown on July 6th is worth opening your wallet for, and here’s why:
- The Preacher’s Daughter Vs. Lioness
Amanda “Lioness” Nunes is the current bantamweight and featherweight champion in women’s UFC. She has put the lights out on some of UFC’s best-known female fighters, including Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey. Essentially, any of the major names in women’s MMA have been put down by Nunes… except for Holly Holm.
Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm is perhaps best known in the UFC for giving Ronda Rousey her first loss. Holms was a former boxer and kickboxer, and she was ranked the 10th best female professional boxer of all time. She brings her hard hitting style to the octagon, but it will be interesting to see if she can match Nunes’ versatility, as the Lioness is accomplished in boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Capoeira.
The difference in fighting style and the UFC history of these fighters should make this a good one to watch, as Nunes seeks to defend the bantamweight title.
- Sin City Showdown
Fights that take place in Las Vegas bring an undeniable energy to the octagon. The T-Mobile Arena is massive and always stages a great show. There’s also the magnetic draw of the city itself; the party atmosphere, the celebrities who fill the front rows, and the general excitement of “fight night” in Sin City.
If you’re lucky enough to be headed to Vegas on July 6th to see the fight in person, you can buy your tickets online now. Be sure to plan your trip out in advance by scoping out the best places to stay, and touching up your roulette strategy.
- Everyone Loves a Good Underdog Fight
Jon “Bones” Jones is the two-time, undisputed, light-heavyweight UFC champion. At 24-1, Jones simply doesn’t lose (his one loss came from a much-disputed disqualification call). He stands at 6’ 4” and has a monstrous reach at 84.5”.
It goes without saying that Thiago “The Sledgehammer” Santos is the underdog in this match. His reach is nearly 10 inches shorter, and his record, though impressive, is at 21-6, with no UFC championship titles to his name (yet). What makes this fight interesting is that Santos knows that he is the underdog, and has been candid about the challenges that will face him when he goes up against Jones. This sort of humility suggests a sort of cleverness in this fighter, who may stand a bit shorter, but has an impressive history of knock-outs and technical knock-outs. There is no doubt that Thiago will be planning carefully for this fight, and go in with a serious strategy.
Those are the top three reasons to mark the calendar for July 6th, but there are also a number of interesting fights lined up for the night, especially if you are a fan of the heavyweight division. Additionally, while we’re bound to see some good fights throughout the evening, it’s a bit of relief to say that none of these matches come with the emotionally charged drama that has stained some of the UFC events over the past couple years. It should be an evening of good, clean fighting, showcasing athleticism without the “WWF” style antics.
Note that you don’t need cable to be able to watch the fight. Many sports bars will show it, or you can order the fight through Amazon. Whatever your preference is for ordering UFC pay-per-view, this is a fight night you won’t want to miss!
