Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heads to Los Angeles, California tonight (Sat., June 4, 2016) as The Forum will play host to the thrilling UFC 199 pay-per-view (PPV) event, which features both the Middleweight and Bantamweight titles being put on the line.
Catch all the action LIVE with a PPV main card start time of 10 p.m. ET (for up-to-date UFC 199 results click here).
Below is everything you need to know to stay on top of highly anticipated PPV.
Who: Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping; Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber
What: UFC 199
When: Sat., June 4, 2016, beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass
Where: The Forum in Los Angeles, California
How To Watch: Main card at 10 p.m ET on PPV; FOX Sports 1 "Prelims" under card at 8 p.m. ET; and UFC Fight Pass early "Prelims" at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Live UFC 199 results: Play-by-play coverage stream right here
Why It Matters: We are one PPV away from the historic UFC 200, and UFC brass is pulling no punches with the lead-up events, including the stacked UFC 199 card tonight in California.
Two title fights!
One that features a damaged, but dominant champion taking on a perennial contender finally fighting for UFC gold on only two weeks' notice.
The other features the conclusion to one of the longest standing rivalries in the sport, in what will be a can't miss rubber match.
What's Hot: Michael Bisping finally fights for UFC gold.
Nearly 10 years to the day of his UFC debut that saw "The Count" win The Ultimate Fighter season three, the brash Englishman will get his long awaited title shot.
It seems only fitting that Bisping would have to fight for gold on merely two weeks' notice against a fighter that already finished him.
After many believed Bisping's opportunity to fight for UFC gold had sailed, an inspiring victory over Anderson Silva, and an untimely injury to Chris Weidman, positioned the wily veteran to shock the world.
Upsets have seemingly been the norm in big title fights as of late, but the odds seem heavily stacked against the Englishman.
Still, with a legion of fans behind him, wouldn't it be something to see Bisping pull it off, and wear UFC gold around his waist?
What's Not: Why is Dan Henderson still fighting?
The former Pride two-division champion is clearly having a difficult time letting go of the sport, but ultimately he just doesn't have the chops, or chin, to continue to be a professional fighter.
"Hendo" is undoubtedly a first ballot Hall of Famer, has absolutely nothing to prove, and is a bonafide legend.
The reality is "Hendo" is a 45-year old shell of his former championship level self, and he is only damaging his body by continuing to wage war.
The real shame is Henderson didn't retire after his stunning knockout over Tim Boetsch last June, which would have been a great cap to his career, but instead returned to get viciously knocked out by Vitor Belfort once again.
UFC brass didn't do Henderson any favors with his UFC 199 opponent either, as Hector Lombard is a powerful, younger, and more athletic fighter.
Of course you can never count "Hendo" out because of his incredible punching power, but you'd be hard-pressed to find many picking the legend to win this weekend.
Original Card vs Actual Card:
UFC 199 has had a slew of changes.
The major shake-up occurred just two weeks prior to the event when former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman was forced out of his rematch against Luke Rockhold due to a neck injury, giving Michael Bisping the opportunity to fight for the title on short notice.
Then there was the BJ Penn fiasco.
Penn was slated to return at UFC 199 -- after his initial planned return at UFC 197 was postponed -- against Dennis Siver, but was removed from the card for violating the IV ban.
Siver fell victim to an injury and was initially replaced by Cole Miller, who will now face Alex Caceres on short notice.
When Leonardo Santos pulled out his fight against Evan Dunham, James Vick was given the call as a replacement, but soon after Dunham fell victim to an injury as well, which resulted in Beneil Dariush filling in as a replacement.
New Blood:
Luiz Henrique da Silva (vs. Jonathan Wilson): Another ultra-talented prospect from Brazil will debut tonight in California. The undefeated "Frankenstein" won't have it easy against Wilson though, and one of these men will leave the Octagon with their first career loss.
Can't Miss Fights:
Dustin Poirier vs. Bobby Green: This has "Fight of the Night" spelled all over it. Dustin Poirier never fails to put on thrilling performances, even in a loss, and has proven to be a legitimate contender in the Lightweight division. Green has shown flashes of brilliance, but a slew of injuries has kept him sidelined. Ultimately, this fight is a formula for fireworks.
Beneil Dariush vs. James Vick: Prelims love! This fight may have been put together at the last second, but it should be a barnburner between two of the most intriguing prospects in the 155-pound division.
Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber: It feels cliche to list the co-main event Bantamweight title fight here, but it really seems like a ton of fights are overlooking this fight. Most are counting out Faber in this trilogy bout, but I have a sneaking suspicion this fight may be closer than many believe.
Interest Level 8/10
Even with all the changes to the original card, UFC brass did a fantastic job keeping UFC 199 stacked with thrilling fights and captivating storylines.
Rockhold vs. Bisping may not be a very competitive fight, but the "what if" factor here has many people highly interested in seeing if "The Count" can pull off the seemingly impossible.
Prior to the main event, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will finally settle their longstanding feud, with "The California Kid" potentially fighting for his last chance to become a UFC champ.
On top of that, the main card is bolstered by Max Holloway vs. Ricardo Lamas, and Dustin Poirier vs. Bobby Green among others.
Expect a fantastic night of fights at The Forum.
Check out the full UFC 199 fight card right here:
UFC 199 PPV Main Event:
185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping
UFC 199 PPV Co-Main Event:
135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber
UFC 199 PPV Main Card (10 p.m. ET):
145 lbs.: Max Holloway vs. Ricardo Lamas
185 lbs.: Dan Henderson vs. Hector Lombard
155 lbs.: Bobby Green vs. Dustin PoirierUFC 199 FOX Sports 1 Undercard (8 p.m. ET):
145 lbs.: Cole Miller vs. Alex Caceres
145 lbs.: Clay Guida vs. Brian Ortega
155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. James Vick
115 lbs.: Jessica Penne vs. Jessica AndradeUFC 199 Fight Pass Undercard (6 p.m. ET):
170 lbs.: Tom Breese vs. Sean Strickland
205 lbs.: Luiz Henrique da Silva vs. Jonathan Wilson
185 lbs.: Kevin Casey vs. Elvis Mutapcic
155 lbs.: Dong Hyun Kim (the other one) vs. Marco Polo Reyes
For more information on UFC 195, including the full fight card, results, news, and more, click here.
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