when do ufc prelims start

For most UFC events, prelims usually start in the early evening U.S. time , about 2–3 hours before the main card.

Quick Scoop: Typical UFC Prelims Start

• For standard pay-per-view or big Fight Night cards:
  • Early prelims : around 5:00 p.m. ET.

* **Prelims** : usually around **7:00 p.m. ET** (4:00 p.m. PT).

* **Main card** : about 9:00 p.m. ET.

• UFC’s schedule has recently shifted some events one hour earlier , so many cards now follow that 5 / 7 / 9 p.m. ET pattern.

But it depends on the specific event

Start times change by:

• Event type (PPV vs Fight Night).
• Location (US, Europe, Middle East cards can run earlier or later).
• Broadcaster (Paramount+, ESPN+, etc. may tweak slots).

For example:

• UFC 325: prelims scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET , with early prelims at 5:00 p.m. ET and main card at 9:00 p.m. ET.

• UFC Houston Fight Night 2026: prelims listed to start at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT), earlier than a PPV schedule.

How to get the exact time for “tonight”

Because it varies by card , the only guaranteed accurate answer for a specific date is to check:

1. The official UFC event page (each card shows “Early Prelims / Prelims / Main Card” with local and ET times).

2. Your streaming service or TV guide (Paramount+, ESPN+, etc., usually list the prelim block separately).

A simple rule of thumb:
If it’s a “normal” Saturday UFC night in the U.S., plan for prelims to start around 7 p.m. ET , and you’ll almost never miss them—tune in closer to 5 p.m. ET if the listing shows early prelims. 🥊