UFC Fan View: Three fights you HAVE to watch at UFC 209 in Las Vegas

The UFC is back in Las Vegas this weekend for UFC 209 at the T-Mobile Arena.

The event pits welterweight champion Tyron Woodley against challenger Stephen Thompson in a rematch of the pair’s bout at UFC 205 in November last year which ended in a majority draw.

There are plenty of interesting fights further down the card in what stands to be an intriguing and entertaining night of action.

Here are the three fights to keep an eye out for.

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson

Finally(!) we get to see two of the most skilled and dangerous lightweights on the planet face off. With champion Conor McGregor out of the picture indefinitely as he prepares to become a father while chasing a potential boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, the co-main event on Saturday night will be for the interim 155lbs title.

The fight, which has been on hardcore MMA fans’ wish lists for several months now, pits the undefeated 24-0 Nurmagomedov against Ferguson who is riding a nine-fight winning streak.

Stylistically, the Russian fighter’s suffocating grappling and ground and pound skills facing off against the unique and creative striking and submission style of Ferguson makes for an intriguing matchup.

Alistair Overeem vs Mark Hunt

In a rematch of their 2008 bout in the Japanese Dream promotion, veteran heavyweight kickboxers Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt will take to the Octagon for what promises to be an explosive bout.

Their first contest ended with the powerful Dutchman securing a submission win via a first-round Americana.

Now very much in the twilight of their respective careers, with Overeem 36 and Hunt 42, they might not have three rounds of frantic action in them, but both men are still able to hit like a truck and are savvy veteran strikers; it should be fun.

Mirsad Bektic vs Darren Elkins

American Top Team’s 26-year-old Bosnian prospect Mirsad Bektic has the potential to develop into one of the best featherweights in the world, and he will take another step up in competition against Darren Elkins on Saturday night.

Bektic has a career record of 11-0 and has won all of his four UFC fights to date, with the most recent being a first-round rear-naked choke submission victory over Russell Doane at UFC 204 in Manchester back in October last year.

The 145lbs up-and-comer is a competent striker standing up, but explodes in to life when he drags his opponents to the mat, exhibiting powerful ground and pound as well as a smooth submission game.

The 21-5 Elkins has won his last three bouts, all by decision, and will pose a difficult task for Bektic to overcome. If the Bosnian is able to get his hand raised in impressive fashion, a top 10 opponent has to be next on his agenda.