UFC 173 takes place this weekend, May 24, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and features an MMA legend in the making, UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao (32-1, 1 NC), as he defends his title against the tough TJ Dillashaw. Barao lost his professional debut on April 14, 2005, and he has not tasted defeat since. Dillashaw (11-2) has the unenviable task of trying to topple the all-conquering Brazilian (above) who is on one hell of a winning streak.
Also on the card is the light heavyweight clash between Daniel Cormier and Dan Henderson. Both men have represented their country at the Olympics, and neither will lack motivation coming into this one. Cormier is bigger, faster and stronger than Henderson, and he wants nothing more than to make a statement this weekend to put himself in pole position for a shot at Jon Jones belt. However, to do so, he will have to avoid Henderson’s right hand, which is the equalizer of all equalizers. Just ask Shogun Rua, who Henderson defeated in his last fight on March 23. Shogun was having his way with Henderson for two rounds, but when he lost concentration and dropped his guard for a second in the third stanza, Henderson knocked him out.
The other big fight on the night is the welterweight clash between Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Ellenberger. Lawler is coming off a loss to Johny Hendricks for what was the vacant welterweight title and Ellenberger is also coming into the fight on the back of a July 2013 defeat to Rory MacDonald. Check out the extended preview below:
