On Saturday, May 15, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to pay-per-view with UFC 262. A card that once looked spectacular before planned bouts featuring Nate Diaz versus Leon Edwards, and Jack Hermansson against Edmen Shahbazyan were scrapped in the lead-up to the event. That said, the 13-fight card does include a highly anticipated lightweight title main event between Bellator legend Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira. As well as an exciting 155-pound co-main event pitting former division champion Tony Ferguson against the surging Beneil Dariush.
How to watch UFC 262 on May 15
- The early prelims kick off the broadcast at 6:30 pm ET on UFC Fight Pass
- The regular preliminary card switches over to a simulcast at 8 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN+
- Finally, the main card PPV begins at 10 pm ET exclusively on ESPN+
UFC 262 fight card
Main card (10 pm ET, ESPN+)
Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira (lightweight title)
Tony Ferguson vs. Beneil Dariush
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Viviane Araujo
Shane Burgos vs. Edson Barboza
Matt Schnell vs. Rogerio Bontorin
Preliminary card (8 pm, ESPN & ESPN+)
Andrea Lee vs. Antonina Shevchenko
Jordan Wright vs. Jamie Pickett
Early preliminary card (6:30 pm ET, UFC Fight Pass)
UFC 262: Appointment television fights
Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira
On Saturday night, Michael Chandler has the opportunity to be just the second man to become a Bellator and UFC lightweight champion. Standing in the way of shutting up all the Bellator haters is Charles Oliveira. A 31-year-old fighter who has recently been competing on a whole other level than in years past.
This bout is not a styles clash between a grappler and striker or wrester against a jiu-jitsu practitioner. Both men are well-rounded and have the skills to win on the ground or standing up. However, both have very different approaches to those areas of the MMA game. And that’s what makes this fight so wildly fascinating before you even factor in the prestige of UFC lightweight gold being on the line. Whose style will win out? “Iron Mike’s” power-punching and wrestling horsepower or “Do Bronx’s” unpredictable striking and wizardry on the mat? Either way, I can’t wait to see it.
Prediction: Oliveira by submission in round 3
Tony Ferguson vs. Beneil Dariush
UFC 262 is a make-or-break moment for Tony Ferguson. “El Cucuy” isn’t in danger of being released and put out to pasture at 37-years-old if he loses again. Although if he lost a third straight fight as badly as the last two it might be something to consider. No, this fight for him is simply about proving that he still is the elite lightweight he has been since his 2016 victory over former division champion Rafael Dos Anjos.
A run of being a top talent in any division always comes to an end. And based on his back-to-back losses to Justin Gaethje and Oliveira, combined with his age, it seems like there are signs father time is pulling him back from the top of the pack. However, a win over a red hot Beneil Dariush would silence the doubters and prove he lost to two fighters just a bit more elite than him. For “Benny” it’s about getting the biggest win of his career, winning seven straight, and getting the number nine next to his name switched to something in the top five. It’s a battle of relevancy from very different sides of the spectrum.
Prediction: Dariush by split-decision
Shane Burgos vs. Edson Barboza
At it’s basic level, Shane Burgos versus Edson Barboza is fight fan’s delights. They are two talented and ranked featherweights who always want to prove their mettle on the feet. However, they go about it in very different ways. This one is built to turn into an ultimate (pun intended) cat and mouse game. As the double-tough brawler that is “Hurricane” stalks Barboza and likely takes damage looking to break the Brazilians will, and turn the fight into a high-pace war. Burgos has the skills to achieve his goal, although he has never faced the kind of striking “Junior” will offer in return.
Prediction: Burgos by unanimous decision
Ronaldo Souza vs. Andre Muniz
You have to go back to 2017 for the last time Ronaldo Souza faced an unranked opponent. Nevertheless, this is where “Jacare’s” career has landed at 41-years-old. Since that fight at UFC 208. Souza has lost five of eight and is no longer ranked at middleweight. Age has affected the former Strikeforce champion, as it should after 18 years in the sport and countless years of high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition before that. Can one of the best 185-pound fighters to never win UFC gold score a victory over the 10 years younger Andre Muniz and prove he can still compete in the UFC? I think he can.
Prediction: Souza by TKO in round 2
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