The UFC is back in its Las Vegas home base with middleweight contenders at the top of the lineup in “Sin City.”
Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 232 with 185-pound standouts in action.
Broadcast and streaming info
UFC Fight Night 232 has a main card that begins at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The prelims stream on ESPN+, as well, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
Main event: Brendan Allen
Brendan Allen (22-5 MMA, 10-2 UFC) comes into his second main event of 2023 with five straight wins, including four by rear-naked choke. That might come in handy against Paul Craig, who has shown a propensity for submission wins. In his current run, Allen has submissions of Sam Alvey, Krzysztof Jotko, Andre Muniz and, in June, Bruno Silva, to go along with a decision over Jacob Malkoun.
Main event: Paul Craig
For the first time, Scottish finishing machine Paul Craig (17-6-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) gets to headline a UFC event. After a 5-0-1 run at light heavyweight was halted by losses to Volkan Oezdemir and Johnny Walker, Craig dropped to middleweight and finished Andre Muniz in July for a $50,000 bonus.
Co-main event: Jake Matthews vs. Michael Morales
Jake Matthews (19-6 MMA, 12-6 UFC) has alternated wins and losses his past five fights, but will go after his first winning streak since 2020 when he meets Michael Morales (15-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at welterweight. Matthews submitted Darrius Flowers in July to get back in the win column after a decision loss to Matthew Semelsberger 11 months ago.
Morales, nearly a 3-1 betting favorite in the fight, will put his unbeaten record on the line against Australia’s Matthews. He has 12 finishes in 15 fights, including 11 knockouts. He got to the UFC courtesy of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021 and has taken out Trevin Giles and Adam Fugitt in 2022 and outworked Max Griffin in July.
UFC debut: Payton Talbott
Payton Talbott (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his UFC debut on the heels of a bantamweight win on Dana White’s Contender Series in August. It was the first time Talbott went the distance in a fight after five knockouts to start his career. Saturday, he’ll take on Nick Aguirre (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in his official UFC debut.
UFC debut: Caio Machado
Canada-based Brazilian Caio Machado (8-1-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) made his mark on Dana White’s Contender Series in August. Now the 29-year-old heavyweight has a shot against vs. Mick Parkin (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who will put his unbeaten record on the line on the prelims. Machado is the third biggest underdog on the card.
UFC debut: Rafael Estevam
Rafael Estevam (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) finally will make his UFC debut when he takes on Charles Johnson (13-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at flyweight to open the event. Estevam picked up a second-round TKO win on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2022. He was set to debut in April, but an injury to Carlos Candelario forced him out. Two weeks later, Estevam had a bad weight cut for Zhalgas Zhumagulov and the fight was canceled.
UFC Fight Night 232 main card betting odds
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)
- Brendan Allen (-340) vs. Paul Craig (+270)
- Jake Matthews (+220) vs. Michael Morales (-270)
- Chase Hooper (-230) vs. Jordan Leavitt (+190)
- Nick Aguirre (+410) vs. Payton Talbott (-550)
- Luana Pinheiro (+210) vs. Amanda Ribas (-260)
- Uros Medic vs. Myktybek Orolbai N/A
UFC Fight Night 232 preliminary card betting odds
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 2 p.m. ET)
- Joanderson Brito (+110) vs. Jonathan Pearce (-130)
- Chad Anheliger (+170) vs. Jose Johnson (-205)
- Christian Duncan vs. Denis Tiuliulin N/A
- Caio Machado (+270) vs. Mick Parkin (-340)
- Lucas Alexander (-360) vs. Jeka Saragih (+285)
- Ailin Perez (-180) vs. Lucie Pudilova (+150)
- Nikolas Motta (-135) vs. Trey Ogden (-115)
- Rafael Estevam (-125) vs. Charles Johnson (+105)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 232.