2. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Fabio Maldonado (Light Heavyweight co-Main Event)
One of MMA’s most exciting fighters, “Rampage” Jackson has been out of UFC since 2013 and is coming off a 3-0 run with Bellator MMA. But as mentioned earlier, Bellator’s attempt to keep Jackson all to themselves has gotten in the way of Jackson’s attempt to go back to UFC to face Maldonado – a 15-year MMA veteran coming off a TKO win over Hans Stringer at UFC 179 in October.
The only reason this fight isn’t No. 1 is because UFC has not pulled Jackson from the card yet and may be able to challenge the injunction in the 17 days before the match is scheduled to take place.
1. T. J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao (Bantamweight Championship co-Main Event)
In 2014 it was the UFC Upset of the Year. Dillashaw shocked the world by beating Barao by TKO in one of the greatest performances UFC announcer Joe Rogan claimed to have ever seen. The rematch was supposed to take place at UFC 177, but Barao was hospitalized before the weigh-ins.
Nothing stings a UFC card quite like having to cancel a Championship match. But once again there was virtually nothing UFC could do: Dillashaw suffered a broken rib on March 24th and had to be pulled from the match. What should have been an incredible championship rematch from the 2014 UFC Upset of the Year will have to wait until Dillashaw recovers.
The only consolation prize is getting to see Demetrious Johnson defend his Flyweight title against Kyoji Horiguchi. Meh.
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