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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Matt Erickson

UFC on ESPN 52: How to watch Beneil Dariush vs. Arman Tsarukyan, start time, Austin lineup, odds, more (Updated)

UFC Beneil Dariush ESPN Arman Tsarukyan ESPN 52 Bobby Green Jalin Turner Rodolfo Bellato Dan Hooker Zach Reese

The UFC this week is back in one of the most progressive, socially tolerant, fun and “weird” cities in the country: Austin, Texas.

Here’s how to watch UFC on ESPN 52 with lightweight standouts in action.

Broadcast and streaming info

UFC on ESPN 52 has a main card that begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The prelims stream on ESPN+, as well, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

Brendan Fitzgerald is expected to be on play-by-play duties, along with analysts Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, former UFC champions.

Main event: Beneil Dariush

Jun 10, 2023; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Beneil Dariush reacts before fighting against Charles Oliveira during UFC 289 at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Dariush is looking to rebound from a loss for the first time in more than five years. After a knockout loss to Alexander Hernandez in 2018, Dariush (22-5-1 MMA, 16-5-1 UFC) went on an eight-fight winning streak that included four post-fight bonuses and a win over former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. But in June at UFC 289, he was stopped by former champ Charles Oliveira with a first-round TKO. Dariush has been one of the most successful mainstays in UFC lightweight history. His 16 wins in the division are third all time in the promotion.

Main event: Arman Tsarukyan

Tsarukyan (20-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) has back-to-back wins over Joaquim Silva and Damir Ismagulov on the heels of a decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot in 2022, which was a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus winner in his first UFC main event. Prior to the setback against Gamrot, Tsarukyan was on a five-fight winning streak.

Co-main event: Bobby Green vs. Jalin Turner

Longtime UFC fighter Green (31-14-1 MMA, 12-9-1 UFC) will go after his fourth straight post-fight bonus when he takes on Jalin Turner (13-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC). Green had performance bonuses for stoppages of Tony Ferguson and Grant Dawson, and also had Fight of the Night honors before that in a loss to Drew Dober. He was getting ready for Dan Hooker in this co-headliner until about a week ago, when Hooker pulled out and Turner stepped in. (Coincidentally, Turner lost to Hooker in July.)

Turner is in need of a bounce-back in a big way, and he’ll put himself into a tough circumstance on short notice to try to do it. After a five-fight winning streak, all stoppages, he has back-to-back split decision losses to Gamrot at Dan Hooker.

UFC debut: Zach Reese

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 22: Zachary Reese reacts after his submission victory over Eli Aronov of Israel in a middleweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season seven, week three at UFC APEX on August 22, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

After a 74-second armbar win on Dana White’s Contender Series, Zach Reese (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) gets his official UFC debut at middleweight against Cody Brundage (9-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC). Reese is more than a 2-1 bettering favorite in the fight. All six of Reese’s pro wins have been first-round finishes.

UFC debut: Rodolfo Bellato

Rodolfo Bellato def. Murtaza Talha DWCS 65

Brazilian Rodolfo Bellato (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former LFA light heavyweight champion, meets Ihor Potieria (20-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in his UFC debut. Bellato got to the UFC through a second-round TKO on Dana White’s Contender Series in October. Ten of his 11 wins are by stoppage.