UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font
| Company type | Mixed martial arts event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports entertainment |
| Founded | August 5, 2023 |
| Headquarters | Nashville , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Parent | Ultimate Fighting Championship |
UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font (also referred to as UFC on ESPN 50) was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 5, 2023, hosted at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.
Background
This event represented the UFC's sixth occasion in Nashville and their first appearance there since March 2019.
Initially, the headline bout was planned as a bantamweight contest featuring former interim UFC Bantamweight Championship contender Cory Sandhagen against Umar Nurmagomedov. However, Nurmagomedov withdrew in mid-July due to a shoulder injury and was substituted by Rob Font for a catchweight fight set at 140 pounds.
A women's strawweight matchup between Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba was arranged but altered when Jandiroba withdrew with a knee injury. Former champion Jéssica Andrade stepped in as her replacement.
In the flyweight division, Tagir Ulanbekov was slated to face Jake Hadley but pulled out for undisclosed reasons; Cody Durden filled the vacancy.
A bantamweight clash initially scheduled between Said Nurmagomedov and Kyler Phillips also changed when Nurmagomedov withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Raoni Barcelos.
The light heavyweight bout featuring Ovince Saint Preux versus Ion Cuțelaba was cancelled without public explanation.
Featherweight matchups underwent several adjustments: Sean Woodson was originally matched with Steve Garcia, who withdrew due to injury. Woodson was then paired with Jesse Butler, who was removed by the Nevada Athletic Commission during fight week because of a recent knockout defeat. Promotional newcomer Mairon Santos replaced Butler but was later withdrawn due to visa complications; ultimately, Dennis Buzukja accepted the fight. At the weigh-ins, Buzukja weighed in half a pound over the limit; the bout proceeded at catchweight with Buzukja fined 20% of his purse, which was awarded to Woodson.
Bonus awards
Five competitors received $50,000 bonuses:
- Performance of the Night: Tatiana Suarez, Dustin Jacoby, Diego Lopes, Carlston Harris, and Asu Almabayev
- Fight of the Night: No award given