UFC 258: Main card, how to watch and what you need to know

Almost seven months after they were initially supposed to go to war on Fight Island, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and former teammate Gilbert Burns will square for Usman’s title at UFC 258.

While some fans’ interest may have lessened since the fight was first supposed to take place on two separate occasions beforehand, the February 13 main event is a long time coming for those looking forward to one of Usman’s biggest challenges.

Unfortunately for Burns, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted his meteoric rise in 2020 in a variety of ways. During a main-event fight against Tyron Woodley on May 30, Burns put on a signature performance against a former welterweight champion, and looked just as dominant as Usman did when he defeated Woodley for the title.

But, Burns’ biggest win came in front of zero fans, instead taking place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

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A few months later, shortly before he was scheduled to battle Usman for the title on Fight Island in July, Burns tested positive for COVID-19, and the fight was derailed.

Usman instead fought Jorge Masvidal on short notice, earned a key victory over one of the sport’s biggest names at the time, and cleared the way for the Burns bout in the future.

When the welterweight division’s biggest possible fight was later rescheduled for December, it fell through once more when Usman withdrew from the bout. Thinking the third time would be the charm, the bout was scheduled for just two months later, landing as the main event for UFC 258.

Now, Burns will return to the very venue where his career skyrocketed and where he solidified his case for a title shot. On the other end, Usman will look to further establish his legacy as one of the greatest welterweight champions of all time, and eliminate arguably his toughest challenge yet in the process.

In a world where fights get called off frequently for a variety of reasons, it’s easy for UFC fans to become skeptical about a fight even happening, and it’s hard to maintain a certain level of excitement for that fight as it continues to get rescheduled.

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But, if UFC fans are willing to give Usman and Burns one more shot, they’ll be in for a treat towards the beginning of the UFC’s 2021 schedule.

So, as you prepare to watch some MMA on Valentine’s Day weekend and show your love for the sport, here’s everything you need to know ahead of UFC 258:

When is UFC 258?

UFC 258 will start at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 13, 2021.

Where is UFC 258 taking place?

UFC 258 will be broadcast live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

UFC 258 main card:

Main event for the UFC Welterweight Championship: Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Gilbert Burns (1)

Women’s flyweight bout: Maycee Barber (10) vs. Alexa Grasso (15)

Middleweight bout: Kelvin Gastelum (9) vs. Ian Heinisch (15)

Middleweight bout: Maki Pitolo vs. Julian Marquez

Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs. Bobby Green

How can I watch the UFC 258 main card and prelims?

You can buy the UFC 258 main card on ESPN+, and you can watch prelims at 8 p.m. ET on both ESPN and ESPN+. Early prelims will start at 6:30 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass.

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