UFC 213 Main Event Still TBA?

UFC 213, the PPV event during International Fight Week, is typically one of the largest events of the year. Last year, UFC 200 held this spot. Before that, UFC 189 capped of the week with McGregor vs Mendes. However, the main event for this year is still unannounced.

This is what the card looks like right now:

UFC 213 – July 8, 2017, T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV)

• (c) Cody Garbrandt vs TJ Dillashaw (Bantamweight Title Fight)
• Alistair Overeem vs Fabricio Werdum III
• Robbie Lawler vs Donald Cerrone
• Travis Browne vs Oleksiy Oliynyk
• Daniel Omielianczuk vs Curtis Blaydes

The top three bouts are likely going to be part of the PPV main card. The bottom two likely being prelims. If we’re going off of precedent, we’re missing a second title fight to headline the whole thing. After all, it was announced that Garbrandt vs Dillashaw would be the co-main event, and not the headliner.

So what could possibly headline over this incredible bantamweight title fight?

• Heavyweight Title Fight?

  • Not likely. UFC 211 features heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic against Junior dos Santos. Not only is there not a clear #1 contender, but it’s too fast of a turn-around.

• Light-Heavyweight Title Fight?

  • Not likely. The UFC is targeting UFC 214 (July 29, Anaheim, CA) for Daniel Cormier to defend his title. The primary opponent being Jon Jones (assuming Jones gets cleared to fight). Otherwise, Jimi Manuwa will challenge for the title at this date (but we’re crossing our fingers for Jones).

• Middleweight Title Fight?

  • Not likely. Michael Bisping is inked to fight Georges St-Pierre at some point, but UFC 213 doesn’t seem to be the date. GSP has said he’ll only be ready to go in August or September.
  • Bisping did say that he wants on this International Fight Week card. I doubt the UFC will scratch the GSP match up in favor of something like Bisping vs Romero, but who knows …

•  Welterweight Title Fight?

  • Somewhat likely. Tyron Woodley has been very secretive about what is in the works for him. However, he has said in recent interviews with BJPenn.com that he wants on this card and that he has begun training camp. Who is his opponent? I have no idea.
    • There were rumors of Nick Diaz coming back and challenging Woodley for the belt, but those didn’t get much traction. That being said, I can totally see it happening. He’s still a big name, a needle mover, and a guy that people will pay to watch fight despite not having a win since UFC 137.
    • Nate Diaz is a bit more plausible, but last anybody has heard he’s still set on a trilogy with Conor McGregor and won’t budge for anything else. After all, nothing can possibly pay as much as that.
    • There were also rumors of Conor McGregor fighting Woodley for the welterweight title and becoming the first ever three-weight champion. However, McGregor is still deep in negotiations with the UFC and Floyd Mayweather to get their boxing match scheduled for this year.
    • Top contenders Demian Maia and Jorge Masvidal are set to fight at UFC 211. Ideally, Woodley would hold out and face the winner, but it seems like Woodley and the UFC have other plans.
    • The only the other fighter I can think of, even though he’s a wild card, is Tony Ferguson. I say this because of some recent statements Ferguson made about Woodley. It sounded like Ferguson was picking a fight after saying he sized Woodley up and was down to move up and fight him.
      • Ferguson was supposed to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the Interim Lightweight Title at UFC 209. Nurmagomedov had to pull out the day before. Ferguson has said he’s itching to fight and not wanting to wait for a re-booking later in the year.

• Lightweight Title Fight?

  • Not likely. As I mentioned above, Conor McGregor is adamant on pursuing the Mayweather fight. I wouldn’t rule out a spontaneous return to defend his belt, but I don’t see it happening.
  • That being said, an Interim Lightweight Title Fight could be possible. It was rumored that the UFC was targeting Tony Ferguson vs Nate Diaz. That’s a big fight that I’m sure a lot of fans would be willing to pay to see. We know Diaz wants another McGregor fight so he can make his pay day, but I’m sure the UFC would make it worth their while if they headlined UFC 213 on International Fight Week.

• Featherweight Title Fight?

  • Not likely. Jose Aldo will be defending his belt at UFC 212 against Max Holloway.

• Bantamweight Title Fight?

  • Somewhat likely. Garbrandt vs Dillashaw is on the card, but was originally announced as the co-main event. If the UFC can’t find a big enough fight to headline, I can see them bumping it up to the main event. Some may see it as anti-climactic, but it’s an amazing fight regardless.

• Flyweight Title Fight?

  • Not likely. Demetrious Johnson just fought, and there’s no way in hell the UFC puts him in a main even slot above the bantamweight title fight. Besides, Johnson doesn’t even have a clear #1 contender. Sorry DJ.

• Women’s Bantamweight Title Fight?

  • Somewhat likely. We know champion Amanda Nunes is going to defend her strap against Valentian Shevchenko – we just don’t know when. I like the idea of Nunes getting a big marketing push by the UFC, but I don’t see it being UFC 213. However, I may be wrong – Nunes and Miesha Tate did headline UFC 200! Albeit after a bunch of matchmaking chaos …

• Women’s Strawweight Title Fight?

  • Not likely. Joanna Champion is defending her belt at UFC 211 against Jessica Andrade. They are the co-main event to Miocic vs dos Santos. It’s too quick of a turn around, although the winner is almost guaranteed to fight Rose Namajunas.

What do you think will be the main event of UFC 213? Let us know! Thanks for reading