UFC 209 had all the makings of an exciting and thrilling event. The co-main event, a matchup between undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson, winner of nine straight fights, for the interim lightweight title was billed as potentially the best lightweight matchup in history.
Nurmagomedov, however, had last minute weight cutting issues and was hospitalized hours before stepping on the scale, leading to cancellation of the bout.
The main event, a rematch of UFC 205 for welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson, couldn'tu200b salvage the card either. When the dust settled the octagon for the second time in four months following a a controversial and disputed back and forth bout that earned “Fight of the Year” nods and demanded a rematchu200b, it concluding the event in anti-climatic fashion.