Following a memorable and action-packed 2016, the UFC enters its first marquee pay-per-view card of the new year on Saturday, March 4, when a pair of championships will be at stake at UFC 209.
The card will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, headlined by a welterweight title rematch between defending champion Tyron Woodley and challenger Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson. The two previously fought to a majority draw at UFC 205 in New York last November.
The co-main event features a matchup between red-hot lightweights, as unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov battles Tony Ferguson. With current 155-pound champion Conor McGregor taking the first half of 2017 off for the birth of his first child, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson will meet for the UFC's interim lightweight championship.
ESPN.com will be releasing Cheat Sheets throughout fight week for UFC 209, providing in-depth previews, predictions and analysis for each of the matchups on the pay-per-view main card. For now, enjoy our substantial collection of interviews and insights into the fighters set to do battle March 4.
Fight card (as of Feb. 9)
Tyron Woodley (c) vs. Stephen Thompson
Welterweight championship (rematch)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson
Interim lightweight championship
Middleweight
Alistair Overeem vs. Mark Hunt
Heavyweights
Darren Elkins vs. Mirsad Bektic
Featherweights
Todd Duffee vs. Mark Godbeer
Heavyweights
Marcin Tybura vs. Luis Henrique
Heavyweights
Lando Vannata vs. David Teymur
Lightweights
Luke Sanders vs. Iuri Alcantara
Bantamweights
Light heavyweights
(c) indicates defending champion
UFC 209 stories
Who are the best strikers at UFC 209?
Woodley believes he's the most dangerous matchup for GSP
Statistical breakdown for Woodley vs. Thompson
Nurmagomedov's coach: McGregor will fight Mayweather, unless fans say otherwise
Rashad Evans licensed for middleweight debut
Tyron Woodley says stature as champion affected by race
Woodley, Thompson get heated talking rematch (VIDEO)
Ferguson: Money made McGregor soft
Khabib Nurmagomedov has big plans for UFC 209 and beyond
Khabib Nurmagomedov opens as 2-to-1 betting favorite over Tony Ferguson
Nurmagomedov-Ferguson interim lightweight title bout set
Rashad Evans likely to make middleweight debut at UFC 209
Sage Northcutt helps train Tyron Woodley for title rematch
Tyron Woodley an underdog (again) to Stephen Thompson at UFC 209
UFC 209 to feature Tyron Woodley-Stephen Thompson rematch
Mark Hunt files civil suit in wake of Brock Lesnar's positive tests