Amanda Nunes' power could sell a UFC 250 show light on stars

UFC 250 will be a fairly stiff test of current hunger for live sports among homebound fans.

UFC led sports world's return to competition amid coronavirus pandemic, gaining robust television ratings and increased exposure in process. But one look at card for this pay-per-view show with a landmark event number will have many fans pondering wher y should take this rar pricey part of ride.

UFC 250 has several compelling matchups for hard-core mixed martial arts enthusiasts, but its lineup is quite light on star power that would entice casual U.S. MMA fans to buy a pay-per-view show on a Saturday night — under rmal circumstances, anyway.

main event from gym at UFC's corporate campus in Las Vegas features dominant two-division champion Amanda Nunes, but pound-for-pound superstar is an overwhelming favorite in her fearweight title defense against Canadian contender Felicia Spencer. or 11 bouts on show feature only one fighter who has ever headlined a PPV event: former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, who is on a three-fight losing streak.

For domestic fans, UFC 250 will cost $64.99 plus applicable taxes on ESPN Plus platform, to which most buyers are already paying a monthly subscription fee.

Just how badly will fans want to see Nunes' attempt to become first UFC fighter to defend active titles in two weight classes, even if rest of card isn't stacked with history or big names? UFC is confident about ir hunger after seeing positive response to ir return over past two months.

Although promotion refuses to disclose its pay-per-view sales numbers, President Dana White claimed UFC 249 last month was a “home run,” with Sports Business Journal reporting more than 700,000 sales of show headlined by Justin Gaethje's win over Tony Ferguson. UFC's ratings on regular ESPN have also been mostly excellent since its return.

“By next week, we’ll be into our sixth event,” White said. “body else is even doing this. body else is even close to pulling off what we’re pulling off, and we did it right in middle of pandemic. ... Everybody is going to start getting a lot more comfortable. body has been sick. body got hurt. Everything has been fine.”

This will be second card held without fans at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where promotion returned last week after three shows in Florida. UFC plans to hold six more shows in next six weeks, eir in same hometown gym or on White's under-construction Fight Island.

overwhelming star attraction of UFC 250 is Nunes (19-4), who turned 32 last week. She last fought in December, and she extended her winning streak to 10 bouts since 2014 with a tough decision over Germaine De Randamie.

Nunes won, but didn't utterly dominate De Randamie. While some observers wondered wher long-reigning champion had finally showed signs of a slowdown, Nunes and oddsmakers for UFC 250 aren't buying it.

“That fight was very important for me,” Nunes said. “I'm a human, and everybody has holes in ir game. My opponents think y can see m, but when y stand in front of me.”

Spencer (8-1), former Invicta fearweight champion, lost a decision last year to Cris “Cyborg” Justi, who had lost fearweight title to Nunes in spectacular fashion several months earlier. Spencer's entertaining style and tenacity put her back in line for a shot at Nunes anyway.

Or bouts on card still hold significance: Bantamweights Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhn will meet with winner likely to get next shot at 135-pound title, which was vacated last month by Henry Cejudo. Ex-champ Jose Aldo is expected to fight Petr Yan for that belt this summer.

Garbrandt (11-3) hasn't won a fight since December 2016, when he took bantamweight belt from Dominick Cruz and appeared to be poised for a long reign as an unbeaten champion. He will attempt to get his career back on track against Brazil's Raphael Assunção (27-7), who is on a two-fight skid of his own.

Middleweight Ian Heinisch will fight Gerald Meerschaert after Heinisch was temporarily taken off card this week when one of his cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. Heinisch was reinstated when test turned out to be a false positive, according to UFC.