UFC 166 is nearly here. The 13-fight card from Houston, Texas features a mix of talent across eight different divisions. The main event is the third installment of the rivalry between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos over the UFC Heavyweight Championship. The series stands at 1-1 currently, but someone will walk out as the undisputed king of the sport on Saturday. Of the five main card bouts, three take place in the heavyweight division, but there will be some exciting lighter weight bouts as well. It will be an exciting night of fights with a lot of post-fight storylines.
This is what’s at stake at UFC 166 in the key bouts of the card.
The lone women’s fight on the card is a dark horse for Fight of the Night, and has title implications.
Sarah Kaufman enters the fight as the #2 ranked contender in the division according to the UFC, and an impressive win may put her in a position to challenge for the title. With Cat Zingano still yet to return from injury there is a question as to who will be the next challenger after December’s title fight.
For Jessica Eye, this is a chance to silence the critics and establish her name. The former #1 ranked flyweight in the world moves up to bantamweight permanently and takes on one of its former champions. It is a tall task, but one with an incredible opportunity to leap up in the organizational rankings quickly.
The winner of this bout could be a look at being the next title contender, but the fight has to be exciting. The way they match up makes that a very good possibility.
• Sarah Kaufman vs. Jessica Eye
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Nate Marquardt vs. Hector Lombard
This will be Hector Lombard‘s welterweight debut, but with how his UFC tenure has fared he will be on a short leash. The leash isn’t any longer for Nate Marquardt, who has lost two straight.
With their name value and ability to be exciting, one win will put either man back in the good graces of the UFC. A loss, on the other hand, puts one in danger of ending up on the regional circuit.
Their jobs with the UFC could be at stake in this fight.
• Hector Lombard vs. Nate Marquardt
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John Dodson vs. Darrell Montague
The casual fan does not know much about Darrell Montague, but the talented flyweight should be considered right alongside the UFC’s top 10.
Dodson nearly took the title from Demetrious Johnson when they fought earlier this year. He proved he is a title challenger worthy of all the hype and praise.
With Joseph Benavidez putting in quality work there is little hope the winner can leapfrog him for a title shot, but the winner of this bout will move right into the mix at 125 pounds. That makes this bout one of the most important on the card.
• John Dodson vs. Darrell Montague
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Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez
Diego Sanchez returned to the lightweight division against Takanori Gomi. Sort of. He missed weight.
The former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and UFC title challenger, Gilbert Melendez will welcome him in what looks like the frontrunner for Fight of the Night.
Fight for fight these are two of the most exciting fighters in the sport, and pitting them against one another makes this a can’t miss fight. Thanks to Melendez’s standing in the division it also has significant implications.
A win will move Melendez right back in the title discussion. Sanchez will try to upset him and get back in the top 10 of the division for one last run up the lightweight ladder. The lightweight title picture will either get more muddled, or it will clear out the top of the division by losing one more fighter.
• Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez
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Daniel Cormier has announced he will move to 205 after this fight, but he still needs a win to enter the division as one of the potential challengers to Jon Jones‘ title..
Alexander Gustafsson will get the next title shot as long as he wins his next bout. That has been made crystal clear, and is 100% justified following his UFC 165 performance. That will lighten the pressure for when Cormier drops to light heavyweight, but it does not make Cormier’s path as easy.
For Roy Nelson, this fight is all about regaining his footing in the heavyweight division following his loss to Stipe Miocic. A win puts him right back into a position to get big fights, but a loss will essentially set him back another year.
This fight is all about securing their spots in their post-166 divisions.
• Daniel Cormier vs. Roy Nelson
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Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos
No one believes that this will be the final fight between these two. They are simply the top two heavyweights in the world.
What we know is that the title is at stake. That is an easy one. However, the loser of this fight will likely not contend for the title in 2014. That is very significant.
After the first bout is was easy to grant Velasquez a title shot with another win. After the second fight it was clear to see a trilogy was coming, and that Dos Santos just needed one win. But after the third fight it will be a tough sell to fans to do the same again.
The loser will likely have to win at least two fights to contend for the title again, and that will push his potential title bid until 2015. In a sport where things change so quickly, that is not what any top fighter wants to hear. It is what makes this such an urgent fight for both men. It is not just about winning and being the champion. It is about not being pushed so far down that you have to wait more than 14 months for another title shot.
A competitive title fight could change all that, but this is the promotion business. A fourth fight is always a tough sell.
• Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos – UFC Heavyweight Championship
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UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III is due to take place on October 19, 2013 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 166 will be.
