UFC

The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is the world's premier mixed martial arts promotion, and unlike most sports it has no off-season: events run nearly every weekend, year-round. Cards come in two main types — numbered events, the marquee cards typically held about once a month, and Fight Night cards that fill the weekends in between. Each event unfolds in layers: early prelims, prelims, then the main card. Championship bouts and main events are scheduled for five five-minute rounds; every other fight gets three.

Most cards land on Saturday night in the United States, with numbered-event main cards usually starting around 9 p.m. Eastern — which places the biggest fights in the early hours of Sunday for fans in Europe, and on Sunday morning across much of Asia. The headliner rarely walks out until a few hours after the main card begins, so budget a long evening (or an early morning) if you want the whole show. To skip the time-zone math, use a countdown that converts each card's start to your local time and tune in exactly when it matters.