UFC Vegas 109 brings another exciting fight card to Las Vegas, although there is more than just a blockbuster main event to keep fans interested.
While the clash between Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez should excite the UFC faithful, there is talent up and down the card who will be hoping to make their mark at the UFC Apex.
With numerous last-minute replacements, fighters battling for their careers, and some up-and-coming young stars, there is plenty going on worthy of discussion in Las Vegas this week.
Here are some of the things you need to watch out for on August 9 at UFC Vegas 109.
- READ MORE – UFC Vegas 109 Full fight card as Roman Dolidze battles Anthony Hernandez in the Middleweight main event
A win at UFC Vegas 109 could be crucial for Christian Rodriguez’s future as a top UFC fighter
UFC Vegas 109 looks to provide a crossroads for Christian Rodriguez. He seems to have the ability and potential to be a top fighter in the Featherweight division, although recent results have cast aspersions on his future in the UFC.
CeeRod has had some very entertaining fights since debuting in 2022, despite kicking off his career with a loss to Jonathan Pearce.
Wins over Joshua Weens and Austin Bashi have shown his ability and toughness in the octagon, but Rodriguez has struggled for consistency over the past year.
He has won just two of his last four fights and has gone tumbling down the rankings with two big losses.
If he wants to see himself at the top of the card and challenging for titles, his fight against Andre Fili will be crucial to that goal.
A loss could see Dana White cut his losses and focus on another prospect, while a win could reignite that fire in his belly and send him right to the top, if only he can string some good wins together over the next few fights.
Steve Erceg has had to contend with a third-planned opponent for UFC Vegas 109
It has been a tough road to UFC Vegas 109 for Steve Erceg, although it is hard to blame him for the constantly changing fight he is signed on for.
The Australian fighter was originally booked to face off with former UFC Flyweight title challenger Alex Perez in the co-main event.
However, yet another Perez pullout meant that the fight had to be canned, with a new opponent found for the 30-year-old.
Erceg’s next opponent, the South Korean Park Hyun Sung, pulled out of the bout with a week’s notice, instead battling in the main event in Las Vegas just one week earlier, in a defeat to Tatsuro Taira.
With a day to go before the fight, Erceg has been given a third opponent in Ode’ Osbourne. As it stands, that bout is still going ahead, although it is hard to tell what will happen with his bad luck.
Elijah Smith could catapult himself into a top-15 discussion with a victory
One man who could see his career skyrocket with a win at UFC Vegas 109 is Elijah Smith.
“Swift” is just 22 years old and already has an impressive canon of wins to his name as he continues his journey in the UFC.
The Bantamweight fighter earned a UFC contract with a win over Aaron Tau on the Dana White Contender Series, before an impressive and mature performance to beat Vince Morales on his UFC debut earlier this year.
While he hasn’t shown it in the big leagues yet, Smith is an impressive finisher in a number of ways and managed to beat opponents by knockout and submission, and in various different ways, to earn his spot in the top level of MMA.
He faces Tsohiomi Kazama on the prelims of UFC Vegas 109, and an impressive win could have fans start talking about him as one to watch in the Bantamweight division going forward.