# UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez
**UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez** (also billed as UFC Phoenix or UFC Fight Night Phoenix) was a mixed martial arts event held by the [Ultimate Fighting Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultimate-fighting-championship) on February 17, 2019, at Talking Stick Resort Arena in [Phoenix, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/phoenix-arizona), headlined by a heavyweight bout in which [Francis Ngannou](https://www.edgepedia.org/francis-ngannou) knocked out former two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in 26 seconds.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-on-ESPN-1-Medical-Suspensions-Cain-Velasquez-Facing-180Day-Layoff-150037) • [2](https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-phoenix-2019?language_content_entity=en) It was the first UFC main card to air on ESPN, opening the promotion's new five-year, $1.5 billion broadcast agreement with the network.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/14/18223872/the-reinvention-of-francis-ngannou-ufc-phoenix-cain-velasquez-espn)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | February 17, 2019, Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona[1](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-on-ESPN-1-Medical-Suspensions-Cain-Velasquez-Facing-180Day-Layoff-150037) |
| Main event result | Francis Ngannou def. Cain Velasquez by KO/TKO, 26 seconds of round 1[2](https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-phoenix-2019?language_content_entity=en) |
| Broadcast milestone | First UFC main card on ESPN, under a five-year, $1.5 billion deal[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/14/18223872/the-reinvention-of-francis-ngannou-ufc-phoenix-cain-velasquez-espn) |
| Records after the fight | Ngannou 13-3 (No. 3 ranked); Velasquez 14-3[4](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-phoenix-final-results) |
| Velasquez layoff | First fight since July 2016, about 952 days out of the Octagon[4](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-phoenix-final-results) • [5](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mma/news/ufc-phoenix-what-if-cain-velasquez-had-stayed-healthy/gaxfkf26t4yp1rnwvylu7wlo7) |
| Viewership | Main card averaged 1.463 million viewers; highest overnight Fight Night ratings in three years[6](https://www.mmamania.com/2019/2/18/18229903/ufc-espn-1-ngannou-velasquez-highest-ratings-fight-night-event-three-years-mma) |
## Background
The main event paired a returning former champion with an ascending contender. [Cain Velasquez](https://www.edgepedia.org/cain-velasquez), a two-time UFC heavyweight champion with dominant wins over Junior Dos Santos, Brock Lesnar, and [Travis Browne](https://www.edgepedia.org/travis-browne), had not fought since July 2016 because of injuries, and his return after more than two and a half years away was framed as a bid to regain the title in 2019.[7](https://www.ufc.com/news/phoenix-fight-fight) • [5](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mma/news/ufc-phoenix-what-if-cain-velasquez-had-stayed-healthy/gaxfkf26t4yp1rnwvylu7wlo7) Francis Ngannou, a Cameroon-born heavyweight, had rebuilt after consecutive losses to [Stipe Miocic](https://www.edgepedia.org/stipe-miocic) and Derrick Lewis by knocking out Curtis Blaydes in 45 seconds at Fight Night Beijing in November 2018, and entered ranked No. 3.[7](https://www.ufc.com/news/phoenix-fight-fight) • [4](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-phoenix-final-results) Ngannou called the matchup a dream fight, though it was seen as a difficult stylistic test against a wrestler with strong cardio.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/14/18223872/the-reinvention-of-francis-ngannou-ufc-phoenix-cain-velasquez-espn)
## The main event
The fight ended almost immediately. As the two engaged, Ngannou landed a 1-2 and Velasquez shot in for a takedown. Ngannou fought it off and landed a right uppercut; Velasquez's knee buckled and the Arizona native fell to the canvas and covered up. After two follow-up shots from Ngannou, referee [Jason Herzog](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-herzog) waved the fight off at 26 seconds of round one.[4](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-phoenix-final-results)
**The cause of the finish was disputed.** Velasquez said afterward, "It was my knee, his punches didn't hurt me," attributing the collapse to the joint giving way as he fell.[8](https://as.com/us/2019/02/18/masdeporte/1550520506_658483.html) Ngannou countered that the uppercut to the chin caused the fall, saying the knee buckled "after an uppercut on his chin" and pointing to the video replay.[9](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/18/18229090/francis-ngannou-says-uppercut-not-knee-injury-caused-cain-velasquez-ko-you-can-look-at-the-video) Sherdog's report described the sequence as an uppercut that rocked Velasquez, after which his knee buckled as he fell awkwardly to the canvas.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-on-ESPN-1-Medical-Suspensions-Cain-Velasquez-Facing-180Day-Layoff-150037)
With the win, the No. 3-ranked Ngannou improved to 13-3 and called for a title shot against then-champion [Daniel Cormier](https://www.edgepedia.org/daniel-cormier), Velasquez's teammate and close friend; Velasquez fell to 14-3.[4](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-phoenix-final-results) • [9](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/18/18229090/francis-ngannou-says-uppercut-not-knee-injury-caused-cain-velasquez-ko-you-can-look-at-the-video)
## Rest of the card and aftermath
The co-main event saw [Paul Felder](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-felder) defeat [James Vick](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-vick) by unanimous decision over three rounds.[2](https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-phoenix-2019?language_content_entity=en) The main card also included Cortney Casey vs. [Cynthia Calvillo](https://www.edgepedia.org/cynthia-calvillo), Alex Caceres vs. Kron Gracie, Vicente Luque vs. Bryan Barberena, and Andre Fili vs. Myles Jury, with a televised portion featuring Jimmie Rivera vs. Aljamain Sterling and an ESPN+ undercard.[10](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/17/18228156/ufc-phoenix-start-time-tv-schedule-for-francis-ngannou-vs-cain-velasquez)
The Arizona commission's medical suspensions listed Velasquez among nine fighters facing a potential 180-day sit unless cleared by a physician. Felder was suspended indefinitely after suffering a collapsed lung late in his win over Vick.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-on-ESPN-1-Medical-Suspensions-Cain-Velasquez-Facing-180Day-Layoff-150037) The event proved a ratings success for the new ESPN partnership: the main card averaged 1.463 million viewers, and the broadcast drew the highest overnight ratings for a Fight Night event in three years.[6](https://www.mmamania.com/2019/2/18/18229903/ufc-espn-1-ngannou-velasquez-highest-ratings-fight-night-event-three-years-mma)
## References
1. [UFC on ESPN 1 Medical Suspensions: Cain Velasquez Facing 180-Day Layoff, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-on-ESPN-1-Medical-Suspensions-Cain-Velasquez-Facing-180Day-Layoff-150037)
2. [UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs Velasquez event page, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-phoenix-2019?language_content_entity=en)
3. [Predator 2: The Reinvention of Francis Ngannou, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/14/18223872/the-reinvention-of-francis-ngannou-ufc-phoenix-cain-velasquez-espn)
4. [UFC Phoenix Final Results, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-phoenix-final-results)
5. [UFC Phoenix: What if Cain Velasquez had stayed healthy?, Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mma/news/ufc-phoenix-what-if-cain-velasquez-had-stayed-healthy/gaxfkf26t4yp1rnwvylu7wlo7)
6. [UFC on ESPN 1 returns highest overnight ratings for Fight Night event in three years, MMA Mania](https://www.mmamania.com/2019/2/18/18229903/ufc-espn-1-ngannou-velasquez-highest-ratings-fight-night-event-three-years-mma)
7. [Phoenix Fight by Fight, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/news/phoenix-fight-fight)
8. [Caín Velásquez: "Fue mi rodilla, sus golpes no me hicieron daño", AS](https://as.com/us/2019/02/18/masdeporte/1550520506_658483.html)
9. [Francis Ngannou says uppercut, not knee injury, caused Cain Velasquez KO, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/18/18229090/francis-ngannou-says-uppercut-not-knee-injury-caused-cain-velasquez-ko-you-can-look-at-the-video)
10. [UFC Phoenix start time, TV schedule, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/2/17/18228156/ufc-phoenix-start-time-tv-schedule-for-francis-ngannou-vs-cain-velasquez)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › UFC Fight Night events › UFC Fight Night events 2019–2021*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license