World flyweight title - Cejudo vs Dillashaw
Current bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw will attempt to become just the fourth simultaneous two division champion when he moves down to flyweight to face Henry Cejudo.
The fight had been brewing since Cejudo became just the second flyweight champion in UFC history after narrowly edging out long-reigning champion Demetrious Johnson back in August.
Immediately after winning the belt, Cejudo called for a fight with the winner of the bantamweight title fight that was taking place straight after, between Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt.
Dillashaw retained his title with a first round TKO and was keen to face Cejudo, but set his sights on going down to face the flyweight champion at 125lbs instead of defending at his natural weight-class.
After some further back and forth between the pair, the fight was made.
Before the announcement, however, rumours swirled that the flyweight division was to close following a swap deal between Johnson and the unbeaten welterweight Ben Askren, with Johnson moving to ONE Championship and Askren heading the opposite way.
A number of flyweights announced they were moving up to bantamweight and some were cut from the promotion, adding further fuel to the rumours.
However, the Cejudo-Dillashaw match-up was made for the flyweight title.
In the build-up, the fight has been billed as Cejudo trying to save the division by beating Dillashaw, while the 135lbs champion is setting his sights on shutting down the division with a win.
Main card highlights
In the co-main event, controversial former NFL player Greg Hardy makes his UFC debut against Allen Crowder in a heavyweight bout.
Despite only being 3-0 as a professional, Hardy's explosive athleticism and past makes intriguing viewing, hence the co-main slot.
He debuted in the summer on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, and has since recorded three first round KOs.
At lightweight, newly-ranked Gregor Gillespie puts his unbeaten 12-0 record on the line against Yancy Medeiros.
Medeiros is moving down from a stint at welterweight, with his last outing coming in a main event loss against Donald Cerrone last February.
In what was a main event back-up of sorts, #2 Joe Benavidez takes on #8 Dustin Ortiz at flyweight.
In their previous meeting in November 2014, Benavidez took a unanimous decision win and the 34-year-old is coming off a TKO victory over Alex Perez a little under two months ago, and has won seven of his last eight.
Ortiz, meanwhile, is on a three-fight win streak which includes two first round finishes, the latest coming back in July against Matheus Nicolau.
ESPN Prelims
A fascinating lightweight match-up headlines the first-ever TV prelims on ESPN in America, as #12 Alexander Hernandez takes on Cerrone.
Currently ranked #12 at welterweight, Cerrone is moving back down after a ten fight stint at 170lbs and has set his sights on another run to the title.
Hernandez has openly said that Cerrone is simply a stepping stone towards his own march to the title, with the 26-year-old making a huge splash in one of the UFC's deepest divisions, having gone 2-0 so far.
An exciting match-up between #10 Joanne Calderwood and debutant Ariane 'Queen of Violence' Lipski takes place in the women's flyweight division.
Lipski is a 24-year-old Brazilian who was a champion in Polish promotion KSW, while Calderwood won her last fight against Kalindra Faria via submission for the first time in her 15-fight career.
ESPN+ prelims
The ESPN+ prelims are headlined by Dennis 'The Menace' Bermudez, who is moving back up to lightweight for the first time since 2010, and Te Edwards.
Edwards is another DWTNCS alum, but he did not get the result he was hoping for in his UFC debut as he was finished early into the second round by South African Don Madge.
Bermudez is currently on a four-fight losing streak, with his last three incredibly coming via split decision, and will hope that the move up to lightweight will get him back in the win column.
Geoff Neal returns after an impressive performance back in September as he collected a highlight reel headkick KO over Frank Camacho.
He gets an increase in competition with top 25 welterweight Belal Muhammad, who is currently on a four-fight winning streak.
