UFC on ESPN 23, on May 1 has a very tough act to follow. A week removed from UFC 261–an event that will go down as one of the best in Ultimate Fighting Championship history–the promotion looks to continue its hot streak with a return to Las Vegas for a 12-bout card headlined by young and talented light heavyweights at career crossroads. As third-ranked Dominick Reyes hopes to end the first losing skid of his career, by ending the 11-fight win streak of recent RIZIN import, and fifth-ranked Jiri Prochazka. The card also features a scrap between a grizzled featherweight veteran and a fast-rising former kickboxing world champion. When UFC stalwart Cub Swanson battles Giga Chikadze in the co-main event.
How to watch UFC on ESPN 23 on May 1
- The event kicks off at 7 pm ET and can be watched on ESPN 2 or streamed on ESPN+
- The main card follows at 10 pm ET exclusively on ESPN+
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UFC on ESPN 23 fight card
Main card (10 pm ET, ESPN+)
Dominick Reyes vs. Jiri Prochazka
Giga Chikadze vs. Cub Swanson
Ion Cutelaba vs. Dustin Jacoby
Sean Strickland vs. Krzysztof Jotko
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cody Stamann
Poliana Botelho vs. Luana Carolina
Preliminary card (7 pm ET, ESPN 2 & ESPN+)
Randa Markos vs. Luana Pinheiro
Gabriel Benitez vs. Jonathan Pearce
Loma Lookboonmee vs. Sam Hughes
UFC on ESPN 23: Appointment television bouts
Dominick Reyes vs. Jiri Prochazka
Putting it simply, Dominick Reyes really needs a win here. After an outstanding unbeaten run over his first 12 fights, which included knockouts of Jared Cannonier and Chris Weidman, the 205-pounder that looked to have limitless potential has seemingly hit a limit. Granted, the 31-year-old’s back-to-back losses are two elites at light heavyweight. That being former division demigod Jon Jones and current king Jan Blachowicz. However, a third straight loss, and to a fighter ranked behind him would set back Reyes’ title aspirations for years For former RIZIN light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka, he is where his opponent was two years ago. A young fighter surging up the division’s hierarchy with an exciting knockout style. Last July, “Denisa” quieted some of those feeling he was a big fish in a small pond by knocking out former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir in two rounds. But a win over a competitor the caliber of Reyes would shut up any remaining doubters, and put him in serious contention for the winner of Blachowicz versus Glover Teixeira.
Prediction: Reyes by split-decision
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Giga Chikadze vs. Cub Swanson
This fight is a classic UFC name-building booking. Giga Chikadze is an exciting former Glory Kickboxing star who is unbeaten over his first five bouts in the promotion. Cub Swanson is being set up to be the big-name lamb led to the reputation-building slaughter. It’s a logical step up for “Ninja” without being too big of a leap. Plus, it makes sense on a rankings level with the American ranked at 15, and Chikadze at 14. The question is, can the 37-year-old battle-tested “Killer” derail the promotion’s plans? His two-fight win streak and recent destruction of Daniel Pineda confirms this old dog still has a lot of bite left to make it very interesting.
Prediction: Chikadze by unanimous decision
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cody Stamann
After being known as the guy who Ricky Simon turned purple three years ago, Merab Dwalishvili has been on a wrestling tear. He has won five straight and grinded opponents into dust in route to his spot at 12 in the bantamweight rankings. In Cody Stamann, “The Machine” gets a ranked opponent who has the NCAA Division-I wrestling chops to put this fight where the Georgian doesn’t want it. The question is, can “The Spartan,” who needs a full camp to cut down to 135-pounds, hold up for three rounds against the otherworldly gas tank of Dvalishvili?
Prediction: Stamann by TKO in round 2
