The UFC is making a return to Brooklyn with a much-anticipated main event featuring TJ Dillashaw with a record of 16-3 against Henry Cejudo with a record of 13-2 for the flyweight title. This headline event is scheduled to take place on January 19th in New York City, as reported by multiple sources to ESPN.Initially planned as the headline for UFC 233 in Anaheim, California on January 26, the title fight has been moved up a week due to various logistical issues. The UFC is also reportedly working to add a new title match to UFC 233.
The event will mark the debut of UFC on ESPN and ESPN+, with the main fight airing on ESPN+. Dillashaw, the UFC bantamweight champion, is moving down a weight class to challenge Cejudo for the 125-pound belt that Cejudo claimed in August by defeating long-reigning champion Demetrious Johnson.
Interestingly, both Dillashaw and Cejudo secured wins on the same UFC 227 card in August. Dillashaw emerged victorious over Cody Garbrandt in the first round via Total Knockout. In a recent interview on the MMA Show with Ariel Helwani, Dillashaw expressed concerns about the future of the flyweight division. While there is speculation that the division might be disbanded, the UFC has not confirmed any plans to do so.
This event will be the third UFC championship fight held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. With the fight just six weeks away, the UFC has finalized a lucrative broadcasting deal worth $1.5 billion with ESPN. As of December 5th, only seven fights have been scheduled for the event.
