Bleacher Report · Feb 18, 2019
UFC on ESPN 1: The Real Winners and Losers
Francis Ngannou (left) and Cain VelasquezIt was deja vu all over again for the UFC's debut on ESPN.
The UFC formally entered the ESPN ecosystem last month, but Sunday marked its first visit to the mothership. ESPN was pretty vocal about the occasion. Expectations were high.
There he was again, the multi-time heavyweight champ who returned to the cage after injuries kept him away for two-plus years. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200, proceed directly to the main event on ESPN. With a win, the 36-year-old Mexican-American would make a splash like a Ford Escort in a thin heavyweight division.