(===TV===)UFC 249 Khamzat Chimaev vs Kevin Holland Live
UFC 279 -- Nate Diaz vs. Tony Ferguson: Fight card, odds, rumors, start time, PPV price, date, complete guide
A brand new fight card is upon us 24 hours before UFC 279 is set to begin. The promotion is back in Las Vegas with Saturday's event set for the T-Mobile Arena, but everything that was slated for the top of the card changed after weigh-ins on Friday.
Khamzat Chimaev was set to take on Nate Diaz in the main event, but Chimaev missed weight by 7.5 pounds for their welterweight tilt. Tons of negotiating and waiting eventually led to a new bout atop the card with Diaz taking on fellow veteran Tony Ferguson.
"Nate Diaz and Tony, the fans have wanted to see this one forever," UFC president Dana White said after the reshuffle. "It's going to happen now before Nate leaves the UFC. It couldn't have played out any better."
Ferguson was originally expected to face Li Jingliang in the co-main event at welterweight, but got the call to move on and face his fellow veteran lightweight. Jingliang will also remain on the card and take on Daniel Rodriguez at a catchweight of 180 pounds.
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Rodriguez was expected to face Kevin Holland, but now Holland will take on Chimaev at a catchweight of 180 pounds as well. That fight will serve as the co-main event and is scheduled for five rounds.
"It's not by coincidence that we stack guys in the same weight on the same card in case something goes wrong. It worked out," White said. "Getting these guys to agree to different fights can be a little tough sometimes. We got it all done. We're locked in."
The undercard rounds out with another catchweight bout, this one on the women's side when Irene Aldana and Macy Chiasson meet at 140 pounds. The bout was originally scheduled to take place at the bantamweight limit of 135 pounds, but Chiasson's team asked for the extra allowance before weigh ins. And opening the festivities is a light heavyweight showdown between flashy strikers Ion Cutelaba and Johnny Walker.
Below is the complete fight card for UFC 279 along with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Check back all week long for the latest news, features and other content around this massive event.
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