UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw Official Video Preview

UFC 173 is set go down on May 24, 2014, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it’s shaping up to be an absolutely stacked event.

The blockbuster event features a main event title bout between dominant bantamweight champion Renan Barao and surging contender T.J. Dillashaw, a fight that replaced the originally scheduled Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort/Lyoto Machida match-ups. Barao will be looking to take one step closer towards owning wins over all of the best 135-pound talent in the world. Meanwhile, “The Viper” has been exponentially increasing his skills under Duane “Bang” Ludwig, and will seek to take home a championship for his departing head coach.

And the hits don’t stop there.

Light heavyweights Daniel Cormier and Dan Henderson will go to war in the co-main event to decide who will face the winner of the highly anticipated Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson later this year.

The No. 5-ranked “DC” recently made his 205-pound debut by starching late replacement Patrick Cummins at UFC 170 after his original opponent, No. 2-ranked Rashad Evans, was forced out of the bout with a knee injury.

“Hendo” famously ended a three-fight skid with a brutal knockout of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC Fight Night 38 in late March. The 42-year-old legend is still seeking UFC gold, the only belt to elude his illustrious trophy case, but he’ll have his hands full with former Olympian Cormier.

The third high-profile bout of the night is a welterweight affair between No. 1-ranked Robbie Lawler, who recently lost a hard-fought decision to John Hendricks at UFC 171, and No. 5 Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger, who has been out of action since his lackluster UFC on FOX 8 loss to Rory MacDonald in July 2013. A win will give both fighters an inside track to a title shot in what may be the most talented division in all of MMA.

Those elements add up to make a very exciting card on May 24. Check out the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s preview of the pay-per-view (PPV) event, and let us know your predictions for UFC 173!