UFC 242 Predictions

It's been a long time since Khabib Nurmagomedov has been able to compete. A suspension, due to the fracas following his fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 229, has kept him out of action for nearly a year. However, the UFC lightweight champion is back and will look to defend his title and undefeated streak against interim title-holder, Dustin Poirier.

Nurmagomedov's incredible unbeaten run in the UFC's toughest division is one of the most impressive achievements in modern sports. The 30-year old from Dagestan has looked untouchable in nearly all of his fights in the UFC and he'll be hoping that he leaves Abu Dhabi with an unblemished record.

Poirier, however, will be looking to continue his run of violence at 155lb. The American Top Team product has put on extremely savage displays inside the Octagon over the last couple of years, battering Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez and UFC featherweight champion, Max Holloway, en route to his title shot. Will he be the one who can shock the world and be the man to beat Khabib?

We've also got an outstanding co-main event rematch between 155lb mainstays, Edson Barboza and Paul Felder. The two strikers had a sensational battle in their first fight a few years ago, but how will things pan out in 2019? Let's breakdown the fights...

While all eyes will be on the main event of UFC 242, the promotion have also done a decent job of stacking the preliminary card with plenty of intriguing and exciting bouts.

A welterweight match-up between Belal Muhammad and Takashi Sato promises to be a fun battle between two scrappy fighters. Muhammad might not have a specific area that he specializes in, but he's got a very well-rounded skill set and is also one of the division's toughest competitors.

Sato looked sensational in his UFC debut, finishing veteran Ben Saunders via TKO in April. The 29-year old is an all-action fighter with extremely heavy hands, so he'll be hoping to make a name for himself against Muhammad in spectacular fashion.

The Ultimate Fighter 20 contestant, Joanne Calderwood, takes on surging flyweight prospect Andrea Lee in what should be solid stand-up battle. Calderwood was earmarked as a potential title contender for many years. However, her performances inside the Octagon have left a lot to be desired, so she's got plenty to prove.

Lee, on the other hand, has surpassed all expectations of her when she joined the UFC. Undefeated inside the Octagon after three bouts, the 30-year old from Texas has looked very impressive. On paper, Calderwood is a huge step-up in competition for Lee. However, she's passed every test put in front of her with flying colours since she joined the promotion and will look to cause an upset against the more experienced fighter.