UFC 204 will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson, but the main event is not the only meaningful bout to be contested at 185 pounds.
Vitor Belfort and Gegard Mousasi will square off for the show’s co-main event, in a bout with title implications. Perhaps neither man will secure a title nod with a W, but both are perennial contenders who are never too far removed from the championship picture.
Mousasi has earned back-to-back victories thus far in 2016. If not for a knockout loss suffered to Uriah Hall just over a year ago, Mousasi would be riding a five-fight win streak.
Belfort has posted a 1-2 record dating back to May 2015. The sole victory in that equation came against current No. 1 contender Henderson, while the defeats came against Chris Weidman (in a title fight) and Ronaldo Souza.
Both men are well-acquainted with the upper echelon of the UFC’s middleweight class, but their outing this Saturday will mark the first time they have collided directly.
In the lead-up to the match, Bleacher Report will investigate who has the edge where and which fighter is likely to emerge with the win.