3 fights to look forward to and 2 that will likely disappoint at UFC 266

UFC 266 will serve as a combo breaker after back-to-back events that featured fighters who are not too well-known. The September 25 event will see some of the octagon's biggest stars return to action, as well as two title fights.

Alexander Volkanovski will defend the featherweight title for the first time in over a year in the main event. UFC 266 will also mark challenger Brian Ortega's first fight in 11 months.

In the co-main event of UFC 266, women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will look to make her sixth title defense. She will square off with veteran Lauren Murphy, who has earned her first championship opportunity after being with the UFC for seven years.

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On top of all that, the returning Nick Diaz will lock horns with fellow welterweight legend Robbie Lawler in an epic showdown. The two will run it back several years after their initial encounter at UFC 47.

Needless to say, UFC 266 is shaping up to be one of the best events in recent memory. But even the most stacked of fight cards don't always deliver a 100% satisfaction rating. With that said, let's take a look at three fights to look forward to and two that will likely disappoint at UFC 266.

Fight to look forward to at UFC 266: Curtis Blaydes vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

UFC 266: Curtis Blaydes vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik [Photo via @jairzinho.rozenstruik on IG]

Hard-hitting big-men Curtis Blaydes and Jairzinho Rozenstruik will square off to solidify their status in the heavyweight division at UFC 266.

Blaydes appeared to be on the fast-track to title contention when he strung together five straight victories after losing his UFC debut to reigning champ Francis Ngannou. However, that changed when he ran into 'The Predator' once again and was sent to the back of the line.

'Razor' recovered by amassing another four-fight winning streak. Unfortunately for Blaydes, an uppercut from Derrick Lewis in his last outing derailed his championship aspirations once again.

Meanwhile, Rozenstruik was also undefeated with 10 wins until he met Ngannou. 'Bigi Boy' bounced back with an impressive victory over former champ Junior dos Santos, but fell short against current interim champ Ciryl Gane.

If there's a fight you wouldn't want to miss, this is definitely it. No bathroom breaks, no looking on your phone; blink and you'll miss it. When two powerful finishers collide, the only foreseeable outcome is a knockout or a TKO.

Fight that will likely disappoint at UFC 266: Dan Hooker vs. Nasrat Haqparast

Dan Hooker vs. Nasrat Haqparast, which will take place during the UFC 266 prelims, has the potential to be an action-packed matchup. That's if the bout takes place at all.

Lightweight standout Hooker will look to get back to his winning ways. 'The Hangman' compiled three impressive wins against James Vick, Al Iaquinta and Paul Felder. However, the Kiwi fighter's momentum was halted by consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler in his most recent outings.

Meanwhile, Haqparast has become one of the most notable up-and-comers in the talent-rich 155-pound weight class. The 26-year-old is enjoying a two-fight winning streak and has been successful in five out of his seven UFC fights.

Hooker vs. Haqparast has the potential to be a barnburner as both men are talented strikers. Unfortunately, the two competitors had to deal with clearance issues with their U.S. visas.

For that reason, there's a possibility that both men didn't get to prepare how they would have wanted to and might not be at their best forms. On top of that, it's still unclear whether Haqparast will make it to Las Vegas for the September 25 event.

Fight to look forward to at UFC 266: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy

UFC 266: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy [Photo via @espnmma on IG]

Valentina Shevchenko will once again enter as a heavy favorite at UFC 266. She will be gunning for a seventh consecutive win and sixth successful title defense against Lauren Murphy.

Frankly, it's difficult to buy into the belief that Murphy stands a chance to upset the long-reigning queen of the women's flyweight division. Given that the co-main event is fairly predictable, is this still something to be excited about?

The answer is still yes, even though most fans know Shevchenko is likely to walk out of UFC 266 as the victor. In her most recent fight, 'Bullet' showed she's full of surprises when she grappled with Jessica Andrade and beat her at her own game.

On top of that, sheer domination from a superior champion is always a sight to behold. With that in mind, the co-main event of UFC 266 is definitely a fight to look forward to.

Fight that will likely disappoint at UFC 266: Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler

UFC 266: Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler [Photo credit: @nickdiaz209 on IG]

A rematch that's 17 years in the making will take place on the main card of UFC 266. After spending several years away from the octagon, Nick Diaz will return against a familiar foe in former welterweight champ Robbie Lawler.

Most UFC fans, especially those who are 30 years old and above, look forward to this matchup more than they do the title fights. It isn't surprising as Diaz and Lawler are two legends of the sport, and we all know that nostalgia is one hell of a drug.

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Unfortunately, there's a glaring issue in what should be a blockbuster matchup. Diaz and Lawler have been several years removed from their primes. But what makes the matchup palatable is that these combatants are at the same point in their respective careers. This isn't the classic UFC matchmaking style in which they use an out-of-shape legend to build up a young up-and-comer.

That said, though, we can't expect Diaz vs. Lawler 2 to resemble their first fight at UFC 47. It's unfortunate that the two welterweight stars did not cross paths during their primes, and for that reason, this fight might disappoint.

Fight to look forward to at UFC 266: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega

UFC 266: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega [Photo via @briantcity on IG]

After spending a few weeks competing as opposing coaches during The Ultimate Fighter season 29, featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega will finally come to blows.

A championship matchup between the two was originally slated for the co-main event of UFC 260. Unfortunately, Volkanovski contracted COVID-19 several days ahead of the title bout. But instead of rebooking the fight for the very next pay-per-view, the 145-pound stars agreed to put their meeting on hold so they could participate in TUF 29.

The UFC 266 main event clash is especially rewarding to those who religiously watched the show. An argument could be made that the bad blood between Volkanovski and Ortega was fabricated for the sake of the show. Nonetheless, this fight could serve as a payoff for fans who tuned in every week.

TUF 29 aside, Volkanovski vs. Ortega is an intriguing matchup in itself. 'T-City' has shown significant signs of improvement in his last fight and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain the same quality of performance at championship level.