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The focus of the entire MMA universe this weekend will come on Saturday Night with the UFC 173 event in Las Vegas. The event will be headlined by a bantamweight title bout between champion Renan Barao and TJ Dillashaw. Also, Dan Henderson battles Daniel Cormier and Robbie Lawler looks to rebound from a disappointing title fight loss.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division bout as James “The James Krause†Krause (20-5-0) competes against Jamie “C-4†Varner (21-9-1-2NC). Krause will be looking to rebound from his first UFC defeat, which came to Bobby Green at UFC Fights For The Troops III. Varner has only won one of his last four under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Melvin Guillard at UFC 155. Varner has fallen flat since his spectacular return to the UFC at UFC 146 and Krause will give him the boot from the promotion by getting the win.
A pair of bantamweights will collide next as Takeya Mizugaki (19-7-2) is in action against Francisco “Cisco†Rivera (10-2-0-1NC). Mizugaki will enter the fight riding a four fight winning streak and he has not lost a fight in well over two years. Rivera will enter the fight riding a five fight winning streak, last defeating George Roop at UFC Fights For The Troops III. The winner of this could find themselves getting a future title shot and it will be Rivera using his striking to get the pivotal win.
The middleweight division will be featured next as Jake “The Juggernaut†Ellenberger (29-7-0) battles “Ruthless†Robbie Lawler (22-10-0-1NC). Ellenberger has won two of his last three in UFC competition, but he is coming off of a loss to Rory MacDonald. Lawler will be fighting for the first time since losing a middleweight title fight to Johny Hendricks at UFC 171. Lawler has looked like a new fighter since returning to the UFC and he will get another shot at the gold when he defeats Ellenberger.
Up next is a light heavyweight division fight as Daniel Cormier (14-0-0) takes on Dan “Hendo†Henderson (30-11-0). Cormier has already competed three times under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Frank Mir at UFC On Fox VII. Henderson has only won just one of his last four under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Mauricio Rua at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson II. Cormier could find himself a victory away from a long anticipated fight win Jon Jones and he will get that fight when he defeats Henderson.
Headlining this card is a bout for the UFC Bantamweight Title as champion Renana Barao (32-1-0-1NC) defends against TJ Dillashaw (9-2-0). Barao will be making the fourth defense of his championship, he last defended it against Urijah Faber at UFC 169. Dillashaw has won five of his last six fights under the UFC banner and earned the title shot after defeating Mike Easton at UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou. Barao is easily the best fighter in all of the UFC right now and he will dominate the vastly overrated Dillashaw to keep the gold.
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