12 UFC Fights You Can't Miss In March

If you're an MMA or UFC fan and you made any weekend plans for March, then it's probably best to cancel or rearrange them now as there are simply way too many good fights on the horizon. These exceptional bouts need your full, undivided attention, so get your snacks in, find yourself a comfortable seat and get ready to enjoy some exceptionally violent behaviour.

We've got the highly-anticipated welterweight debut of wrestling phenom Ben Askren, promising prospects such as Johnny Walker and Maycee Barber looking to continue their rise up the rankings, striking specialists Anthony Pettis and Stephen Thompson going toe-to-toe (or kick for kick in their case), and grappling savages such as Sergio Moraes aiming to go home with their opponents' limbs or neck along with a fight night bonus.

And that's only the tip of the iceberg.

All of this wonderful MMA action is taking place throughout March, but with so many events it's hard to know which fights are killer and which ones are filler. Don't worry though, because we've narrowed down some of the must-see bouts you'd be a fool to skip.

This was originally supposed to be a fight between Cirkunov and perennial top contender Ovince Saint Preux, but an injury to OSP meant that surging Brazilian knockout artist Johnny Walker has stepped in at late notice to take on the talented Canadian.

If you read last month's fight guide, you already know that Johnny Walker is no joke. His last opponent, Justin Ledet, found that out after a spinning backfist put him to sleep within 15 seconds of their fight. It was pretty savage stuff from the lanky brawler, but he shouldn't expect a similar outcome when he faces Cirkunov.

While Ledet felt like a showcase bout for Walker, Cirkunov is a much tougher individual with far superior boxing and grappling than his previous opponent. If he's smart, Cirkunov will probably look to take the fight to the ground as early as possible to avoid the power strikes that have made Walker such a quick fan favourite.

While Walker will need to maintain some of his slightly wild striking qualities, he'll need to be far more careful against his opponent than he's been with anyone else inside the Octagon.