Flashback: May of 2018. After seven years of cards on the FOX Sports family of networks, the UFC and ESPN entered into what would eventually be a seven-year deal, beginning in January of the next year with UFC Brooklyn. The Jan. 19, 2019 card would take place in Brooklyn, NY.
UFC Brooklyn was an atypical card for New York City in that the show took place in the winter months. Traditionally, ever since the New York State Athletic Commission lifted its ban on MMA in the spring of 2016, the promotion has usually held a premium live event in the month of November at Madison Square Garden.
For this particular card, Barclays Center, the home court of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, served as the setting. Ahead of the show, a perfect storm was setting up in the eastern half of the United States.
Major Snowstorm Hits Right in Time for UFC Brooklyn
On the day of the card, a major winter storm struck several states. In New York, where the show was being held that evening, fans en route to the event were greeted to a mix of precipitation before it turned exclusively to rain in the predawn hours of Jan. 20.
All told, north of 100 million US citizens were on alert that weekend. However, the inclement weather conditions didn’t make for the only major story in the run-up to UFC on ESPN+ 1.
UFC Brooklyn Vital Show for Future of Flyweight Division
In late 2018, the UFC made headlines for its decision to eliminate its flyweight class at the start of the next calendar year. After the news had dropped, a few prominent competitors at 125 were shown the door, while other fighters who competed at flyweight were shifted up to bantamweight.
Jose Torres (13-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), a graduate of the late Titan FC, fought twice in 64 days, winning in his promotional debut in June of 2018 by way of second-round knockout over Jarred Brooks, before being cut in November of 2018, revealing the news on social media.
Im the 1st to be let go. I didnt get to finish my UFC contract with 2 fights left because they are cutting most of my division n not giving some of us a chance to bump up n prove ourselves like myself. So now it’s time to move on to bigger and better things. Good luck small guys! pic.twitter.com/lUMijsRoDm
— Jose Shorty Torres (@ShortyTorresMMA) November 7, 2018
The move to potentially cut the flyweight division had been the subject of conversation as far back as June of the previous year. During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Demetrious Johnson addressed the fate of the 125-lb division.
“They called, they said Mick Maynard was getting ready to take off to Sweden,” Johnson said. “He said ‘Hey, man, I just wanted to let you know that this is what they’re coming back with’, and they said ‘It’s either T.J [Dillashaw] or we close the flyweight division.”
Subsequent to that, UFC CEO Dana White responded that the promotion had no plans on shutter the class at that time, but he mentioned in 2019 at the UFC Brooklyn pre-fight press conference that the main event of the first ESPN+ card would be a determinant as to whether the division would remain part of its plans.
Cejudo Goes to Bat for 125ers at UFC Brooklyn Presser
Ahead of the Jan. 19, 2019 card, Henry Cejudo, who was scheduled to fight TJ Dillashaw for the UFC Flyweight Championship, sweetened the pot.
“With all due respect, Dana, with all due respect, you did say, at one point, that women would never enter into the sport of MMA. Ronda Rousey became one of your biggest superstars. I know there’s a place in your heart, so what I’m saying is let’s make a deal: I beat this man [Dillashaw] and the flyweight division stays.”
Cejudo did score the victory over Dillashaw that winter Saturday and the 125-lb division remains intact to this day.
Rest of the Card on UFC Brooklyn
Also that evening, the co-main event of UFC Brooklyn saw the controversial Greg Hardy (7-5, 1 NC MMA, 4-5, 1 NC UFC) go down in defeat in his UFC professional debut due to disqualification in round two after throwing an illegal knee against Allen Crowder (10-4, 1 NC MMA, 1-2 UFC), along with a second-round knockout from Gregor Gillespie of Yancy Medeiros.
Elsewhere on the main card, Paige VanZant and Glover Texieira each picked up submission wins, while Joseph Benavidez outlasted Dustin Ortiz by unanimous decision. What really stood out, though, was the presentation aspect of UFC Brooklyn. While that evening’s card was a UFC Fight Night, it was treated as though it were a PPV.
Presentation of UFC Brooklyn Top-Notch Stuff
Jon Anik, Daniel Cormier, and Trevor Wittman called the action onsite for ESPN+, with Megan Olivi getting more camera time in hits relating to the fighters competing on the card. That night’s broadcast of UFC Brooklyn was marred, however, by the involvement of First Take panelist Stephen A. Smith on the card.
Chas Skelly (19-3, 1 NC MMA, 8-3, 1 NC UFC) took to Twitter that night and summed up his opinions on Smith’s appearance in a single message.
Ahhhh…Stephen A Smith….MUTE! #UFC #ESPN
— . (@ChasSkelly) January 20, 2019
Smith would not become a permanent fixture on the telecasts.
Final Thoughts
UFC Brooklyn in 2019 was a history-making event, the first card in the ESPN era. It had all the trappings of a pay-per-view without the fee attached. It showed that the Disney-owned cabler was ready to go into the Octagon.
What are some of your memories from this card? Let us know in the comments.
