The fights to watch at UFC 235 in Las Vegas, Nevada

This card is stacked from top to bottom: Jones vs Smith, Woodley vs Usman, the return of Robbie Lawler vs the hype around the debut of Ben Askren, Cody No Love returns against a formidable challenger, Edmen Shabazyan, Mickey Gall and more! Without a doubt, UFC 235 will be one of the hardest cards to top and one of the best put on this year. To think that it's only March, makes me excited for future cards. With how stacked this card is, we wanted to put together a list of the fights you absolutely need to watch come Saturday.

This fight features up-and-coming strawweights trying to establish a name for themselves. Viana is a hero, in Brazil a few months back she stopped a thief by putting him in a triangle until the police arrived on scene. Viana is someone you always want to see win, but she in 1-1 in the UFC. Cifers lost her UFC debut to the prodigy that is Maycee Barber, but put on a decent showing. Both women need a win to be in a position to crack the top-15. Both fighters are young, but have potential to make a name for themselves in the UFC.

This is a fight that could easily be on the main card. You know you have a great card on your hands when a fight on prelims could be a fight on the main card. This fight is a real test for the skillful Zabit, there in no way this will be an easy fight for him. Zabit is now fighting the elite of the elite at featherweight, and he has earned it. Stephens is trying to ruin the hype by showing the world that he is not done yet. Zabit is looking to make this his coming out party, and he needs to show up and finish Stephens. Other than Frankie Edgar, the rest of the division has fallen to Max Holloway, and this fight may earn either fighter a change to fight for the belt.

It is always a great card when you have Cody No Love on it. It is good to see Garbrandt back, and it looks like he is having fun again in his training camp. Many people feel Garbrandt was too emotional going into those fights against TJ Dillashaw. In front of Garbrandt is a true test in Munhoz, and a great dance partner. Some would say Munhoz is the king of guillotines. Munhoz is 4-1 in his last five fights and is on a two fight winning streak, he is a very dangerous guy and very sneaky on the ground. I am hoping we see the best of both men on Saturday and get a great bantamweight scrap for the fight fans tuning in.

This scrap is another great welterweight fight on this card and probably has the same level of hype around it as the title fights. Askren is finally making his long-awaited Octagon debut against Lawler. The UFC was not about giving Askren a warm up, and he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. He came to the UFC to fight the best fighters in the world, so they give him one of the baddest and most violent men in the welterweight division in Lawler. Askren is one of the most decorated wrestlers the sport of MMA has ever seen. But is he elite? Askren has been considered one of the best welterweights in the world for some time now, but the discussion to be had is whether or not he has been competing against elite competition. In the UFC, Askren will fight the best guys in the world, and Lawler is the former champ who is well rounded and has high-level boxing. I expect this fight to go one or two ways, either Askren will out-wrestle Lawler like he has done to everyone else in his career, or Lawler will be able to handle his wrestling and kill the hype behind Askren.

It's hard to think of a better match up for Woodley than Usman. This is a guy who is going to bring it and push Woodley to be his best, Usman is a future champion without a doubt. I expect this fight to be one that happens in spurts. Both fighters have a high fight IQ and attack in spurts, both men are similar as in size and body type, and both men have similar fighting styles. Woodley and Usman are very high-level wrestlers, both have power in the right hand with good boxing and kickboxing. Give the UFC matchmakers credit for this fight, this is a very well matched fight and these two needed to meet while they are both fighting in their prime.

There are very few words to describe this fight but the words that do come mind are: explosive, violent, and fast. Jon Jones is looking to make a quick turn around after reclaiming his title back at UFC 232 in a rematch vs Alexander Gustafsson. Although Smith will be the underdog in this fight, this is a true test for Jones. Smith is a young guy who is very strong and a true knockout artist. I think he's more well-rounded then people give him credit for. He has a great submission game to pair with his knockout power. If Jones does not take this fight serious or looks past Smith, it could be an early night and a huge upset win. If we get the best of both these men this could end up being one of the best light heavyweight fights ever. Jones is undoubtedly one of the best fighters ever, and it will be a true test to show if the hype behind Smith at 205-pounds is real.