UFC 219 preview: Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm take centre stage in fitting finale to action-packed 2017

With 2018 fast approaching, UFC commentator and analyst Dan Hardy looks ahead to the final UFC event of the year, which sees the women’s featherweight title on the line in Las Vegas...

Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm headline UFC 218 (Getty)

The final event of the year is upon us! In a showdown between two of the best female fighters on the planet, the current featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg, defends her throne against the former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm.

Before the main event kicks off we have an array of excellent match-ups to close out what has been an amazing years for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the sport of mixed martial arts. Our co-main event is the most important fight that could take place in the men’s lightweight division, without involving the champion, Conor McGregor, or the interim champ, Tony Ferguson.

Whilst McGregor comes to terms with his huge success this year, Tony Ferguson holds the division down with an impressive win streak and an interim title belt. Below him the lightweight division churns like a deep and turbulent river, filled with tough veterans and rising contenders.

The two on the surface at this moment in time are Khabib Nurmagomedov and Edson Barboza. Nurmagomedov, a ferocious and relentless wrestler with an imposing style, steps in as a clear favourite. Still unbeaten in 24 fights, in many people's eyes he is well overdue a title shot.

Unfortunately, Khabib has struggled with injuries and sporadic appearances over several years which has seen him unable to gain a title opportunity. Barboza, on the other hand, is a veteran with many UFC appearances. He may have a few losses on his record, but each time he has shown noticeable improvements in his return.

Coached by Mark Henry, Barboza is surrounded by excellent training partners such as Frankie Edgar and Eddie Alvarez. His level of striking in MMA is unrivalled as far as I'm concerned and anyone following his career would be hard-pressed to find someone as technically skilled.

His finishes over Terry Etim, in 2012, and more recently over Beneil Dariush, back in March, were nothing short of spectacular and you know when watching him fight that a highlight reel finish can occur at any moment. In a straight kickboxing match, Barboza smokes Khabib nine times out of 10 but in a MMA fight the grappling skills of Nurmagomedov not only introduce the possibility of losing the fight but also being held down and beaten up for as long as it takes.

Barboza absolutely must not lock horns with Khabib. It's all about using those silky smooth striking skills to sharpshoot and look for the knockout.

In the main event, the most formidable force in all of women's MMA is set to defend her title against the toughest challenge of her career. Holly Holm is not only the former bantamweight champion and multiple time boxing champion, but also the first person to beat Ronda Rousey. That puts her in a good position to take on yet another unstoppable force in Cris Cyborg.

A recklessly aggressive Muay Thai fighter with a truly intimidating physical presence, finding a worthy opponent for Cyborg has been more of a challenge than winning the UFC title.

Her overwhelming style is too much for the majority of her opposition. That, coupled with her many years of high level training and competition makes her a heavy favourite against anyone the UFC could offer up.

Holm stunned Rousey at UFC 193 (Getty)

If I were to construct the ideal opponent for Cyborg - the perfect type of fighter to challenge her most - I would create a fighter much like Holm. Holm is strong, well-conditioned and very experienced, technically skilled and able to set traps and adjust to difficult opponents. She is excellent at using her height and reach to her advantage, standing very side on and using lots of long kicks.

Her experience in the boxing ring prepared her for these high pressure events and the kind of aggression she is likely to see from Cyborg will not fluster her like it does everyone else. Holm is patient, measured and quite prepared to play the long game over five rounds. Cyborg likes to get her work done early and fights in violent flurries to try and expose an opening for the finish.

It is an intriguing bout and one that will either solidify Cyborg as the dominant force in women's MMA, or see Holly Holm once again shock the world and halt an unstoppable force in its tracks.

Watch UFC 219: Cyborg vs. Holm live on BT Sport 1 from 1am GMT early on Sunday, December 31, or catch the Early Prelims exclusively on UFC Fight Pass from 12:30am GMT