UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Velasquez Full Fight Card, Date & Details
UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Velasquez
United States
Main Card • Final
Cameroon
R1, 0:26
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
Brazil
R1, 2:06
Performance of the Night
R3, 4:54
Fight of the Night
R3, 5:00
Prelims • Final
R3, 5:00
Puerto Rico
R1, 3:09
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
Early Prelims • Final
R2, 1:01
Performance of the Night
R1, 1:01
Russia
Official Event Results
Official Post-Fight Bonus Awards
$50,000 Post-Fight Bonus Recipients
Fight of the Night: Vicente Luque and Bryan Barberena each received $50,000 for their breathless 15-minute war that concluded with a walk-off TKO with just 6 seconds remaining.
Performance of the Night: Kron Gracie earned $50,000 for his pristine promotional debut, submitting Alex Caceres with a rear-naked choke at 2:06 of Round 1.
Performance of the Night: Luke Sanders collected $50,000 for his dramatic second-round comeback knockout over former bantamweight champion Renan Barao.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $110,000 | $110,000 | — | $220,000 | |
| LOSS | $450,000 | — | — | $450,000 | |
| WIN | $46,000 | $46,000 | — | $92,000 | |
| LOSS | $65,000 | — | — | $65,000 | |
| WIN | $44,000 | $44,000 | — | $88,000 | |
| LOSS | $50,000 | — | — | $50,000 | |
| WIN | $25,000 | $27,000 | $50,000 | $102,000 | |
| LOSS | $55,000 | — | — | $55,000 | |
| WIN | $41,000 | $41,000 | $50,000 | $132,000 | |
| LOSS | $35,000 | — | $50,000 | $85,000 | |
| WIN | $37,000 | $37,000 | — | $74,000 | |
| LOSS | $36,000 | — | — | $36,000 | |
| WIN | $70,000 | $70,000 | — | $140,000 | |
| LOSS | $68,000 | — | — | $68,000 | |
| WIN | $14,000 | $14,000 | — | $28,000 | |
| LOSS | $12,000 | — | — | $12,000 | |
| WIN | $14,000 | $14,000 | — | $28,000 | |
| LOSS | $30,000 | — | — | $30,000 | |
| WIN | $53,000 | $53,000 | — | $106,000 | |
| LOSS | $33,000 | — | — | $33,000 | |
| WIN | $19,000 | $19,000 | $50,000 | $88,000 | |
| LOSS | $53,000 | — | — | $53,000 | |
| WIN | $12,000 | $12,000 | — | $24,000 | |
| LOSS | $12,000 | — | — | $12,000 |
*Purses disclosed by the Arizona Department of Gaming. Total disclosed payroll was $1,871,000. Renan Barão missed weight at 138 lbs and forfeited 20% of his purse to Luke Sanders. Manny Bermudez missed weight at 140 lbs and forfeited 30% of his purse to Benito Lopez. Figures do not account for discretionary locker room payments or sponsor pay, but include official post-fight performance bonus awards ($50,000 each).
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records Established at UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Velasquez
This event marked the official premiere of the UFC’s multi-year television broadcast agreement on ESPN linear television, averaging 1.463 million viewers and peaking at 2.4 million viewers during the main event.
Francis Ngannou stopped two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in just 26 seconds, recording the fifth-fastest knockout finish in UFC heavyweight main event history.
The main event served as the final mixed martial arts contest of Cain Velasquez’s decorated career, concluding his historic tenure as one of the most prolific heavyweight champions in MMA history.
Vicente Luque and Bryan Barberena engaged in an instant classic, combining for 332 significant strikes in under three rounds—one of the highest striking outputs for any three-round welterweight fight in promotional history.
Vicente Luque stopped Bryan Barberena with just 6 seconds remaining in the final round (4:54 of Round 3), ranking among the latest finishes in a 15-minute fight in UFC history.
Kron Gracie became the first member of the pioneering Gracie family to win inside the Octagon since Royce Gracie’s original era, submitting Alex Caceres with a rear-naked choke in Round 1.
Kron Gracie won his promotional debut without absorbing a single strike, immediately closing distance, taking the back standing, and locking in a finish in just 2:06.
Emily Whitmire submitted Aleksandra Albu via rear-naked choke in just 61 seconds (1:01), setting the official all-time record for the fastest submission in UFC women’s strawweight division history.
Drawing 14,269 fans to Talking Stick Resort Arena, the event produced an official live gate of $1,400,000, establishing a new all-time revenue record for a UFC event held in Arizona.
Aljamain Sterling swept all three rounds on every judge’s scorecard against perennial contender Jimmie Rivera, landing 101 significant strikes to fuel his path to the bantamweight title.
Manny Bermudez preserved his unblemished professional record, locking in a first-round guillotine choke over Benito Lopez to secure his third consecutive submission inside the Octagon.
Paul Felder battled through a punctured lung suffered during the second round to defeat top-10 contender James Vick via unanimous decision, proving his warrior spirit in the co-main event.
When and where did UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Velasquez take place?
UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Velasquez took place on Sunday, February 17, 2019, at the Talking Stick Resort Arena (now Footprint Center) in Phoenix, Arizona.
Who won the main event between Francis Ngannou and Cain Velasquez?
Francis Ngannou defeated former two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez via KO (punches) at just 0:26 of Round 1.
How fast was Francis Ngannou’s knockout of Cain Velasquez?
The knockout occurred in just 26 seconds of the opening round, as Ngannou clipped Velasquez with an uppercut during a level-change takedown attempt.
Was this Cain Velasquez’s final mixed martial arts fight?
Yes. This fight marked Cain Velasquez’s final professional MMA appearance before he officially retired from competition and transitioned to professional wrestling.
Who won the co-main event between Paul Felder and James Vick?
Paul Felder defeated James Vick via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) in an all-action three-round lightweight war.
Who won the official post-fight bonuses at UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Velasquez?
Four fighters received $50,000 performance bonuses: Vicente Luque vs. Bryan Barberena earned Fight of the Night, while Kron Gracie and Luke Sanders were awarded Performance of the Night bonuses.
What promotional record did Emily Whitmire set at this event?
Emily Whitmire secured the fastest submission in UFC women’s strawweight history, tapping out Aleksandra Albu with a rear-naked choke in just 61 seconds (1:01 of Round 1).
How did Kron Gracie perform in his UFC debut?
Kron Gracie made an emphatic Octagon debut by submitting veteran Alex Caceres with a rear-naked choke at 2:06 of Round 1 without absorbing a single significant strike, collecting a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Why is Vicente Luque vs. Bryan Barberena considered an all-time classic?
The two welterweights traded 332 significant strikes at maximum intensity before Luque dropped Barberena with a brutal knee and punches, earning a walk-off TKO with just 6 seconds remaining in the fight (4:54 of Round 3).
Did any fighters miss weight for UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Velasquez?
Yes. Former bantamweight champion Renan Barão (138 lbs) and Manny Bermudez (140 lbs) missed weight for their bouts, forfeiting 20% and 30% of their fight purses to Luke Sanders and Benito Lopez, respectively.
What was the attendance and live gate for the event?
The event drew an official crowd of 14,269 spectators producing a live gate of $1,400,000 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.
Why was this event a major historical milestone for the UFC?
It marked the inaugural live fight card broadcast on the flagship ESPN cable network under the promotion’s historic multi-year television distribution contract.
Who won the featured bantamweight preliminary fight between Aljamain Sterling and Jimmie Rivera?
Aljamain Sterling outstruck and dominated Jimmie Rivera to win a clean sweep unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27), establishing himself as a top-five 135-pound title contender.
Who were the commentators and Octagon announcer for the event?
The broadcast was anchored by play-by-play voice Jon Anik alongside color analyst and former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, with Bruce Buffer announcing the fighters.
What injury did Paul Felder suffer during his win over James Vick?
Felder suffered a punctured, collapsed lung in the second round but pushed through severe pain to win the decision before being rushed to a Phoenix hospital immediately after the bout.
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