As always, programming is listed in EST
Live fights are in BOLD.
Premiere programming is in ITALICS.
MMA programming is in ORANGE.
Boxing programming is in RED.
Kickboxing/Muay Thai/Karate programming is in BLUE.
Wrestling/Jiu Jitsu/Grappling programming is in PURPLE.
Misc./Combination combat sports programming is in GREEN.
Friday April 9
1:00am: 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifiers (FloWrestling)
2:00am: 2021 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships (FloGrappling)
4:00am: Hex Fight Series 21 ($19.99 Fite.tv)
8:00am: 2021 USAW-NJ Folkstyle Juniors Championships (FloWrestling)
2:00pm: Training Room: In the Gym with Demetrius Andrade (DAZN)
2:00pm: Conor Benn vs. Samuel Vargas/Alexander Espinoza vs. Ukashir Farooq (DAZN)
4:00pm: Top Rank on ESPN Weigh-Ins (ESPN+)
5:00pm: Max on Boxing (ESPN2)
5:30pm: UFC Live (ESPN2)
6:00pm: Bellator 256 Prelims (YouTube)
6:05pm: UFC Fight Night Pre-Fight Show (ESPN+)
7:00pm: JABS with Mannix & Mora (DAZN)
8:00pm: Lion Fight 65 (UFC Fight Pass)
9:00pm: Bellator 256 (Showtime)
10:00pm: The Ak & Barak Show (DAZN)
Saturday April 10
1:00am: 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifiers (FloWrestling)
3:00am: Urban Fight Night 25 ($18.99 Fite.tv)
8:00am: 2021 USAW-NJ Folkstyle Juniors Championships (FloWrestling)
9:00am: 2021 Spartan Combat New England High School Championship (FloWrestling)
9:00am: 2021 Adidas Nationals (FloWrestling)
12:00pm: UFC on ABC Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+)
2:00pm: Combat Quest 12 Prelims ($9.99 Fite.tv)
3:00pm: UFC on ABC: Holland vs. Vettori (ABC/ESPN3)
5:30pm: Top Rank on ESPN Prelims (ESPN+)
5:30pm: Emerald City Invitational Event 1 (FloGrappling)
6:00pm: UFC on ABC Post-Fight Press Conference (UFC Fight Pass)
6:00pm: Combat Quest 12 ($19.99 Fite.tv)
8:00pm: Freestyle Cage Fighting 61 ($16.99 Fite.tv)
9:00pm: Jaron Ennis vs. Sergey Lipinets/Eimantas Stanionis vs. Thomas Dulorme (Showtime)
9:00pm: Fusion Fight League: Rising Stars ($19.99 Fite.tv)
10:00pm: Joe Smith Jr. vs. Maxim Vlasov/Brian Howard vs. Efe Ajagba (ESPN)
11:00pm: UFC on ABC Post-Fight Show (ESPN+)
Sunday April 11
12:30am: Prince Promotions: Amateur Fight Night ($12.99 Fite.tv)
1:00am: 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifiers (FloWrestling)
8:00am: 2021 USAW-NJ Folkstyle Juniors Championships (FloWrestling)
9:00am: 2021 Spartan Combat New England High School Championship (FloWrestling)
9:00am: 2021 Adidas Nationals (FloWrestling)
6:00pm: XFN 34 (FloCombat)
Top-10 Viewing Options: Spring has sprung, the birds are chirping, and the Pirates are out of playoff contention. It’s April, alright!
1. UFC on ABC: Holland vs. Vettori: UFC returns to ABC for the second time, and instead of Darren Till, we’ve got Kevin Holland’s goofy-ass stepping in for him.
2. Joe Smith Jr. vs. Maxim Vlasov/Brian Howard vs. Efe Ajagba: Delayed since February, Smith and Vlasov will battle for their first world championship.
3. Bellator 256: Bellator’s second event on Showtime is a little lacking, depending on your thoughts on Ryan Bader vs. Lyoto Machida in 2021.
4. Jaron Ennis vs. Sergey Lipinets/Eimantas Stanionis vs. Thomas Dulorme: PBC with a legit strong card! Why can’t they ever roll these out on broadcast TV??
5. Conor Benn vs. Samuel Vargas/Alexander Espinoza vs. Ukashir Farooq: Vargas presents an interesting challenge to Conor Benn on his rise up the ranks, and should be a fun contest.
6. 2021 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships: Some of the best in the championship grappling capital of the world.
7. Lion Fight 65: Lion Fight has had a number of homes, but I really hope they stick around on Fight Pass.
8. Emerald City Invitational Event 1: Emerald City sees your two eight-man tournaments last week and takes a steaming dump on them with a one-night SIXTEEN men tournament at 170lbs.
9. Training Room: In the Gym with Demetrius Andrade: Go behind the scenes with Boo Boo. DAZN’s original programming has been really entertaining, this should be no different.
10. UFC on ABC Post-Fight Press Conference: Just to see if Dana tries to kill Kevin Holland with his bare hands.
4×5: Every week, UCS’s Luke Irwin will list his Top-5 bouts in each of the four major different combat sports that he’s looking forward to the most, regardless of any conventional criteria, merit, or logic.
KICKBOXING/MUAY THAI
5. Heavyweight Bout: Daniel Gallemore (1-1) vs. Doug Holland (3-1) [Lion Fight 65]
4. Middleweight Bout: Ian Greer (5-1) vs. Jefferson Silva (19-2) [Lion Fight 65]
3. 8-Man Kickboxing Tournament [XFN 370]
2. Lion Fight North American Super Welterweight Championship: Jake Peacock (4-0) vs. Kaleb Hunter (4-0) [Lion Fight 65]
1. Inaugural Lion Fight North American Lightweight Championship: Angela Whitley (11-2) vs. Taylor McClatchie (18-1) [Lion Fight 65]
BOXING
5. Welterweight Bout: Eimantas Stanionis (12-0) vs. Thomas Dulorme (25-4-1) [PBC on Showtime]
4. WBA Continental Welterweight Championship: Conor Benn (c) (17-0) vs. Samuel Vargas (31-6-2) [Matchroom on DAZN]
3. IBF World Junior Bantamweight Championship: Jerwin Ancajas (c) (32-1-2) vs. Jonathan Javier Rodriguez (22-1) [PBC on Showtime]
2. Welterweight Bout: Jaron Ennis (26-0) vs. Sergey Lipinets (16-1-1) [PBC on Showtime]
1. Vacant WBO World Light Heavyweight Championship: Joe Smith Jr. (26-3) vs. Maxim Vlasov (45-3) [Top Rank on ESPN]
MMA
5. Women’s Featherweight Bout: Cat Zingano (11-4) vs. Olivia Parker (4-1) [Bellator 256]
4. Women’s Strawweight Bout: Mackenzie Dern (10-1) vs. Nina Ansaroff (10-6) [UFC on ABC: Holland vs. Vettori]
3. Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinals: Lyoto Machida (26-10) vs. Ryan Bader (27-6) [Bellator 256]
2. Featherweight Bout: Arnold Allen (16-1) vs. Sodiq Yusuff (11-1) [UFC on ABC: Holland vs. Vettori]
1. Middleweight Bout: Kevin Holland (21-6) vs. Marvin Vettori (16-4-1) [UFC on ABC: Holland vs. Vettori]
GRAPPLING/WRESTLING
5. Black Belt Superfight: Jon Calestine vs. Rey De Leon [Emerald City Invitational 1]
4. Black Belt Superfight: Frank Rosenthal vs. Luis Quinones [Emerald City Invitational 1]
3. Black Belt Superfight: Gabriel Almeida vs. Oliver Taza [Fight To Win 169]
2. 16-Man 170lb Tournament [Emerald City Invitational 1]
1. Fight To Win 155lb Black Belt Championship: Kennedy Maciel vs. Joshua Cisneros [Fight To Win 169]
Bold, Yet Probably Fruitless Predictions: I don’t see Kevin Holland disappointing me to the poor house twice, now do I??
Best Fight of the Weekend: Arnold Allen vs. Sodiq Yusuff
Most Underrated Fight of the Weekend: Jim Miller vs. Joe Solecki
If My Life Depended on One Pick: Jerwin Ancajas over Jonathan Javier Rodriguez
Best Card Top-to-Bottom: UFC on ABC
Upset of the Week: Mackenzie Dern over Nina Ansaroff
Most Disappointing Fight of the Weekend: Kevin Holland vs. Melvin Vettori
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