UFC on FOX 24 start time, TV schedule, who is fighting tonight at ‘Johnson vs. Reis'

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to the hurt business tonight (Sat., April 15, 2017) with UFC on FOX 24, which takes place inside Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., airing live on FOX. The promotion's latest mixed martial arts (MMA) card, headlined by a Flyweight championship bout between division champion Demetrious Johnson and Wilson Reis, will also feature an intriguing women’s Strawweight bout between Michelle Waterson and Rose Namajunas, which could catapult the winner to a division title bout.

What UFC is on tonight? UFC on FOX 24: “Johnson vs. Reis”
Who is fighting tonight at UFC on FOX 24? Demetrious Johnson vs. Wilson Reis is the main event.
When does UFC on FOX 24 start? Today (Sat., April 15, 2017), beginning at 4 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass.
Where will UFC on FOX 24 take place? Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
How can I watch UFC on FOX 24? UFC on FOX 24 main card start time at 8 p.m. ET. "Prelims" undercard on FOX Sports 1 start time at 6 p.m. ET, with Fight Pass “Prelims” beginning at 4 ET.
Where can I get UFC on FOX 24 updates and results? Get full play-by-play coverage and live updates here!

What’s Hot:

Demetrious Johnson is on the verge of tying Anderson Silva’s record of consecutive title defenses with 10 straight if he can get through a very tough Reis. In doing so, “Mighty Mouse” — who is already considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world — gets one step closer to uncharted territory, as another title defense after that will put him in sole possession of something no other UFC champion has ever done. That said, you know Reis is more than eager to spoil the party.

Michelle Waterson’s stock is skyrocketing by the minute as “Karate Hottie” has been getting all kinds of love from UFC’s marketing machine since defeating Paige VanZant. One more win will likely put her in line for a title shot after years of fighting in the shadows. Standing in her way, however, is a very game Rose Namajunas, who doesn't always get the spotlight attention she may deserve. And we can’t forget that “Thug Rose” was the once who burst the aforementioned VanZant’s bubble before it got too big.

Original Card vs. Actual Card:

The card, once again, didn’t change one bit since it was announced.

Injuries:

The MMA Gods must be in a good mood lately, as this is now the second straight UFC event that hasn’t had the injury bug spoiling the show. Let’s take a moment to count our blessings on this blessed holiday weekend.

New Blood:

Tom DuQuesony is the only fighter making his UFC debut at this event, bringing a 10-fight win streak into the Octagon after tearing it up under the BAMMA umbrella, winning the promotion’s Bantamweight and Featherweight titles in the process. He’ll face a decent test in his first UFC outing against Patrick Williams.

How The “Prelims” Look:

They look pretty good, actually. Roy Nelson returns to action when he takes on Alexander Volkov in what is sure to be a hard-hitting Heavyweight affair, while the aforementioned Tom DuQuesony makes his long-awaited debut with the promotion after turning down UFC’s initial offer to join them at the age of 19. After almost a year away from the fight game, Bobby Green returns to the cage to face the always-tough Rashid Magomedov. Also, Aljamain Sterling — who was once considered one of the hottest prospects in all of MMA -- will look to break out of his funk after two straight losses when he faces Augusto Mendes on Fight Pass.

Who Needs A Win Badly:

Let’s go back to the aforementioned Aljamain Sterling. After signing a “lucrative” new contract with UFC, “Funkmaster” dropped his next two bouts, causing his stock to stumble. And while his pay will still likely be the same because of the ink drying on his contract, his title hopes diminished rather quickly. Now, Sterling looks to end his two-fight skid, as a third straight loss puts him in a very tough pickle.

Interest Level: 8/10

This is a very good card. And what’s even better is that it’s on free TV! Aside from all of the great bouts we already broke down, including Johnson’s aim at history and Waterson’s goal to reach the big dance, we have a very intriguing Middleweight bout that could crowd up the title picture in the division even more. Ronaldo Souza has long been criticizing 185-pound champion Michael Bisping for giving fighters such as Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre title shots, while leaving true division contenders out in the cold. Robert Whittaker, meanwhile, has slowly been making his way up the ladder, winning six in a row, including his first-round beatdown of Derek Brunson. A win for either man will likely put them at the top of the list when it comes to title shot, right after Yoel Romero. And since “Jacare” recently inked a new deal with the promotion, ensuring he’ll be with them for the next few years, you know the Brazilian submission is as motivated as ever to get to the big dance for the first time.

Full UFC on FOX 24 fight card:

UFC on FOX 24 Main Event:

125 lbs.: UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson vs. Wilson Reis

UFC on FOX 24 Main Card (8 p.m. ET):

115 lbs.: Rose Namajunas vs. Michelle Waterson
185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza vs. Robert Whittaker
145 lbs.: Renato Moicano vs. Jeremy Stephens

UFC on FOX 24 Prelims (6 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Roy Nelson vs. Alexander Volkov
135 lbs.: Tom Duquesnoy vs. Patrick Williams
155 lbs.: Bobby Green vs. Rashid Magomedov
125 lbs.: Tim Elliott vs. Louis Smolka

UFC on FOX 24 Prelims on Fight Pass (4 p.m. ET):

205 lbs.: Devin Clark vs. Jake Collier
185 lbs.: Andrew Sanchez vs. Anthony Smith
135 lbs.: Augusto Mendes vs. Aljamain Sterling
170 lbs.: Nathan Coy vs. Zak Cummings
135 lbs.: Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Ketlen Vieira

For much more on UFC on FOX 24 click here.