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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Matt Erickson

UFC on ESPN 51: How to watch Vicente Luque vs. Rafael dos Anjos, start time, fight card, odds

UFC Rafael dos Anjos Vicente Luque dos Anjos ESPN UFC on ESPN 51 Cub Swanson Hakeem Dawodu Luana Santos Isaac Dulgarian

The UFC is back in its home base in Las Vegas on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 51 at the UFC Apex. A former champion is at the top of the lineup.

Here’s how to watch UFC on ESPN 51 with welterweights in the main event.

Broadcast and streaming info

Brendan Fitzgerald, Laura Sanko, Michael Bisping

UFC on ESPN 51 has a main card that begins at 7 p.m. ET and airs on ESPN, as well as ESPN+. The prelims air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+ beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

Main event: Vicente Luque

Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Vicente Luque (blue gloves) reacts to the fight against Michael Chiesa (red gloves) during UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

In the main event, Vicente Luque (21-9-1 MMA, 14-5 UFC) will go after his first win in two years when he takes on former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at welterweight. Luque was in title contention in 2021 when he had four straight stoppage wins, including one against former champ Tyron Woodley. But in April 2022, his momentum was halted by Belal Muhammad in a unanimous decision loss. His follow-up four months later was the first stoppage loss of his UFC run – a third-round TKO against Geoff Neal for his first two-fight skid.

Main event: Rafael dos Anjos

Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Rafael Dos Anjos (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Bryan Barberena (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been more than seven years since Rafael dos Anjos (32-14 MMA, 21-12 UFC) lost the UFC lightweight title to Eddie Alvarez. After a loss to Tony Ferguson his next time out, he moved to welterweight. When momentum never got going there, he went back to 155 pounds and went 2-1. But after a welterweight win over Bryan Barberena this past December in which he was more than a 5-1 favorite, the 38-year-old dos Anjos could raise some eyebrows in the division again with an impressive win over his fellow Brazilian.

UFC debut: Isaac Dulgarian

Image via Fighting Alliance Championship (FAC)

Isaac Dulgarian (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make the UFC walk for the first time when he takes on Francis Marshall (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a featherweight fight on the prelims. All five of Dulgarians’ pro wins – and all four of his amateur fights – have been first-round stoppages. The 27-year-old, who trains with the likes of UFC standouts Anthony Smith and Dustin Jacoby, was set to make his UFC debut in January, but had to withdraw.

UFC debut: Luana Santos

UFC Luana Santos signing (Image via Lucas Lutkus)

The 23-year-old Luana Santos (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), from Brazil, will get her shot in the UFC after back-to-back wins for LFA, including a first-round submission in March. The Brazilian has three of her five wins by submission.