UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | January 19, 2019 |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York , United States |
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw—also referred to as UFC Fight Night 143 or UFC on ESPN+ 1'—was a mixed martial arts event organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 19, 2019, at the Barclays Center located in Brooklyn, New York.
Background
This occasion represented the UFC's inaugural event under a new five-year agreement with ESPN, marking the first time the promotion streamed live on ESPN+. The broadcast contributed to an increase of 525,000 subscribers on the platform during the event. Additionally, the event debuted the updated UFC legacy belt, which was awarded to the victor of the Cejudo vs. Dillashaw main event.
The headline contest featured a flyweight title clash between reigning champion and 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo and former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion T.J. Dillashaw. Dillashaw sought to become only the third fighter to hold two UFC titles simultaneously and the seventh competitor overall to secure championships in multiple weight classes. This matchup marked the fifth champion-versus-champion fight in UFC history and was originally scheduled for UFC 233 before being rescheduled to this event.
The fight card also included a women's flyweight matchup between Rachael Ostovich and Paige VanZant. Although initially canceled due to Ostovich sustaining injuries from an assault, the bout was reinstated after she received medical clearance. The participation of ex-NFL player Greg Hardy generated controversy because of his prior assault conviction, despite charges later being dropped. UFC President Dana White confirmed that Ostovich was fully agreeable to Hardy's presence on the card.
Other significant matchups featured promotional newcomer and KSW Women's Flyweight Champion Ariane Lipski against Joanne Calderwood, a fight rescheduled from UFC 233. A planned flyweight encounter between former title challenger Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo was canceled; Benavidez served as a backup for the headliner and instead competed in a rematch against Dustin Ortiz.
In bantamweight competition, Cory Sandhagen faced promotional debutant Mario Bautista after original opponent John Lineker withdrew due to injury. Former light heavyweight title contender Glover Teixeira battled Karl Roberson, who stepped in following Ion Cuțelaba’s injury withdrawal.
Chance Rencountre experienced two opponent changes: Randy Brown pulled out, replaced by Dwight Grant, who was subsequently deemed medically unfit due to an eye condition, leading to promotional newcomer Kyle Stewart stepping in as the final replacement.
Bonus awards
Each recipient earned $50,000 bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Donald Cerrone vs. Alexander Hernandez
- Performance of the Night: Henry Cejudo and Donald Cerrone
Suspension
On March 20, Dillashaw received a one-year suspension due to a failed drug test linked to this event and relinquished his title. The New York State Athletic Commission enforced a retroactive suspension effective from the date of the fight. Subsequently, on April 9, Dillashaw accepted a two-year ban from USADA after testing positive for erythropoietin, with the suspension retroactively starting January 19.
See also
- List of UFC events
- 2019 in UFC
- List of current UFC fighters
- List of UFC records
- Mixed martial arts in New York