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UFC 269: Diamonds & GOATs Close the Curtain on 2021

Last Updated: January 26, 2022
From the PPV buys to the gate revenue to the bang-bang main events, there’s nothing like a year-end pay-per-view show in MMA. Let’s set the stage for UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier.

UPDATE 1/20: ESPN 269 PPV buys were just over 500,000 on ESPN+, per an SBJ report

UPDATE 12/12: UFC 269 gate revenue figures at the T-Mobile Arena were reportedly $8 million, a record number for a year-end UFC pay-per-view.

After a rip-roaring year of highlight reel finishes, upset specials, and shimmering belts changing hands, it’s time for the biggest promotion in mixed martial arts to close out 2021 with a bang-bang pay-per-view show. UFC 269 touches off in Las Vegas with two championship bouts rounding out the action, but fans should expect plenty of explosiveness as soon as the main event curtain rises.

After women’s MMA GOAT Amanda Nunes struts into the co-main event, the evening’s card wraps with UFC lightweight champion Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira putting his belt on the line for the first time against pound-for-pound darling Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier.

But bangers are in store well before the PPV portion of the show comes around.

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All told, the truly compelling attractions Saturday night in the desert include:

  • Poirier (-170 at FanDuel) vs. Oliveira (champion, +138) for the UFC lightweight (155-pound) title
  • Amanda Nunes (champion, -1050) vs. Julianna Peña (+630) for the UFC women’s bantamweight (135-pound) title
  • Former men’s bantaweight champion and future Hall of Famer Dominick Cruz (-105) vs. Pedro Munhoz (-115) in a 135-pound bout

There’s just something different about a year-end pay-per view. One year ago, champ Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno gave us a Fight of the Year candidate for the flyweight title, with the former retaining his belt in a close, scintillating majority draw. In 2019, Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington met for the first time, going nearly the full 25 minutes in a memorable back-and-forth slugfest.

With that in mind, let’s look back at results, gate money, and pay-per-view buys from the last five year-end UFC PPV shows.

The Last 5 End-of-year UFC PPVs

UFC 256
  • Date: Dec. 12, 2020
  • Venue: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Main event: Deiveson Figueiredo retains UFC flyweight championship vs. Brandon Moreno via majority draw
  • Gate revenue: N/A (event took place behind closed doors due to COVID-19)
  • PPV buys: Not publicized
UFC 245
  • Date: Dec. 14, 2019
  • Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Main event: Kamaru Usman defeats Colby Covington to defend UFC welterweight championship
  • Gate revenue: $4.04 million
  • PPV buys: Not publicized
UFC 232
  • Date: Dec. 29, 2018
  • Venue: The Forum, Los Angeles, California
  • Main event: Jon Jones defeats Alexander Gustafsson for vacant UFC light heavyweight championship
  • Gate revenue: $2.07 million
  • PPV buys: 700,000
UFC 219
  • Date: Dec. 30, 2017
  • Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Main event: Cris Cyborg defeats Holly Holm to defend UFC women’s featherweight championship
  • Gate revenue: $1.76 million
  • PPV buys: 380,000
UFC 207
  • Date: Dec. 30, 2016
  • Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Main event: Amanda Nunes defeats Ronda Rousey to defend UFC women’s bantamweight championship
  • Gate revenue: $4.75 million
  • PPV buys: 1.1 million

UFC 269 Fight Card

Main Card (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)

Lightweight championship: Charlies Oliveira (c) vs. Dustin Poirier
Women’s bantamweight championship: Amanda Nunes (c) vs. JuliannaPeña
Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Men’s flyweight: Kai Kara-France vs. Cody Garbrandt
Men’s bantamweight: Sean O’Malley vs. Raulian Paiva

Saturday at UFC 269 marks lightweight champion Charles Oliveira’s first bout as a UFC belt-holder. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Prelims (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2 & ESPN+)

Men’s featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Dan Ige
Men’s bantamweight: Dominick Cruz vs. Pedro Munhoz
Heavyweight: Augusto Sakai vs. Tai Tuivasa
Middleweight: Jordan Wright vs. Bruno Silva

Early Prelims (6:15 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Middleweight: André Muniz vs. Eryk Anders
Women’s flyweight: Erin Blanchield vs. Miranda Maverick
Men’s flyweight: Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell
Men’s featherweight: Ryan Hall vs. Darrick Minner
Men’s bantamweight: Randy Costa vs. Tony Kelley
Women’s flyweight: Gillian Robertson vs. Priscilla Cachoeira

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Sam Dunn

Sam Dunn is the Managing Editor of Boardroom. Before joining the team, he was an editor and multimedia talent for several sports and culture verticals at Minute Media and an editor, reporter, and site manager at SB Nation. A specialist in content strategy, copywriting, and SEO, he has additionally worked as a digital consultant in the corporate services, retail, and tech industries. He cannot be expected to be impartial on any matter regarding the Florida Gators or Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter @RealFakeSamDunn.

About The Author
Sam Dunn
Sam Dunn
Sam Dunn is the Managing Editor of Boardroom. Before joining the team, he was an editor and multimedia talent for several sports and culture verticals at Minute Media and an editor, reporter, and site manager at SB Nation. A specialist in content strategy, copywriting, and SEO, he has additionally worked as a digital consultant in the corporate services, retail, and tech industries. He cannot be expected to be impartial on any matter regarding the Florida Gators or Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter @RealFakeSamDunn.