Every UFC card is only an injury or two away from a stacked card being transformed into a scramble to save the event and UFC 209 is no exception.
The main event sees the rematch for the welterweight title between Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson after the pair drew at UFC 205 in Madison Square Garden.
Neither fighter are known for pulling out of fights but Demian Maia should also be on the card and ready to step in on a full camp if necessary.
More pressingly however is cover for the lightweight contender bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. The fight will decide who gets the next crack at divisional champion Conor McGregor.
The pair have been slated to face off twice before only for both bouts to be cancelled due to injury.
The UFC should book a bout between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chiesa on the 209 card as well. This gives the insurance that if either competitor pulls out of the co-main event, there will be a willing and ready replacement on stand-by.
In 2012, UFC 151 was cancelled after Dan Henderson injured his knee before he was due to challenge Jon Jones for the light-heavyweight title. Chael Sonnen accepted the fight on eight days notice but Jones refused to fight him and the entire card was scrapped.
Elsewhere on the 209 card Mark Hunt squares off against Alistair Overeem in a heavyweight contest while up-and-comers Darren Elkins and Mirsad Bektic will face off at featherweight.
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