DISCLAIMER: This article is previewing four of the main card fights ONLY.
(C) indicates the current champion.
2017 has been an interesting year for the UFC.
From the returns of Jon Jones and Georges Saint-Pierre to their biggest star, Conor McGregor, boxing Floyd Mayweather Jr, it's been a strange but good year for the leading Mixed Martial Arts organisation.
The final Pay-Per-View card of the year will take place on 30th December and it's one hell of a card that sees the return of two of the most well-rounded fighters on the planet, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cris Cyborg.
Carlos Condit vs Neil Magny (Welterweight Bout)
The return of Carlos Condit (30-10 MMA, 7-6 UFC) is weird.
Good but weird.
'The Natural Born Killer' last fought in August 2016 against Demian Maia, were he lost via first-round rear-naked choke.
Now, he's back to fight Neil Magny (19-6 MMA, 12-5 UFC), who recently lost to Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 215.
A few months ago, Condit said to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani “That feeling never really left honestly, man.
“I’m a fighter, this is what I love to do, there’s obviously a lot of different factors that go into making decisions. And as important as what I’m doing with my life and career and all that stuff. I think I wanted to fight, I’ll probably want to fight until the day I’m dead.”
Whilst it might be worrying to read that Condit wants to fight until the day he dies, the former UFC Welterweight challenger has a steady coffee business that he looks to be putting his money into.
For Magny, he'll no doubt be up for giving Condit his third loss in a row.
PREDICTION: Condit wins via second-round knockout.
Cynthia Calvillo vs Carla Esparza (Women's Strawweight Bout)
Undefeated Cynthia Calvillo (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) takes on Carla Esparza (12-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) in what is a potential Strawweight Championship eliminator.
Esparza is the favourite, despite not having the best record in the Octagon, but she has the experience over Calvillo but this'll no doubt be a good stand-up fight.
PREDICTION: Esparza wins via unanimous decision.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Edson Barboza (Lightweight Bout)
The return of Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the co-main event against Edson Barboza (19-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) is one hell of a match up.
Khabib last fought on the historic UFC 205, were he dominated Michael Johnson, but was meant to fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 209 on 4th March and unfortunately pulled out due to a botched weight cut.
Now though, the former World Sambo Champion is back to earn a title shot by going through the Brazilian.
However, Barboza is a stunning striker who holds the record for being the only fighter to win twice via leg kicks and isn't there just to give 'The Eagle' another win.
There is concern over Khabib making weight, but he looks set to make it as his head coach Javier Mendez updated the MMA community on Instagram:
If Khabib wins, he'll either have to wait to fight the winner of Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson or he'll fight the aforementioned Ferguson for the interim Championship.
For Barboza, it's a golden opportunity to not only hand Khabib his first ever loss but to shoot up the lightweight division.
PREDICTION: Khabib wins via unanimous decision.
Cris Cyborg (C) vs Holly Holm (For the Women's Featherweight Championship)
In the main event, the monstrous Cris Cyborg (18-1 (1 No Contest) MMA, 3-0 UFC) takes on 'The Preacher's Daughter' Holly Holm (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) for the Women's Featherweight Championship.
Many have backed Holm due to her knocking out the other seeming unstoppable woman of MMA (Ronda Rousey) and they may be on to something, as Conor McGregor's head coach Jon Kavanagh details.
holm by stoppage within 3. the lack of size advantage plus holm's technical ability in striking will decide this. cyborg relies on strength and intimidation a lot, she wont have that here. #ufc219 pic.twitter.com/uyXFINKhSJ— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) December 30, 2017
Holly recovered from three losses by hitting a stunning headkick KO on Bethe Correia back in July at UFC Fight Night Singapore and showed that she's still a world class fighter.
Cyborg is notorious for dominating her opponent with vicious and frequent strikes that lead to the stoppage but Holm is a former Kickboxing Champion and won't be taken out early by the former StrikeForce Women's Featherweight Championship.
This fight is certainly the biggest Women's MMA fight since Rousey v Holm, arguably the biggest ever, and it'll hopefully end the year in style for the UFC.
PREDICTION: Holm wins via third-round knockout.
