5 barnburners to look forward to at UFC 276

#2. Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 3 – UFC 276 co-main event

Who is the best featherweight in the world right now?

Volkanovski vs. Holloway 3 Artist Series Poster [Image via @ufc on Twitter]

Presently, Alexander Volkanovski has cemented himself as the best 145-pounder on the planet with back-to-back wins over former champion Max Holloway, in addition to his last two dominant title defenses against Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung.

However, Volkanovski's second win over Holloway remains one of the most debated decisions ever. A significant portion of the MMA community is of the opinion that 'Blessed' deserved the judges' nod in the rematch.

An argument can be made for both fighters winning the second fight, and one thing is undeniably clear, they are so evenly matched.

Having spent 50 minutes opposite one another already, the adjustments they make going into their upcoming trilogy fight will play a pivotal role.

While Max Holloway is known for his volume and has set records with his striking output, he was outstruck by the reigning featherweight king over the course of their two previous clashes.

On the other hand, Alexander Volkanovski was dropped twice by Holloway in the rematch and struggled in the early stages of the fight.

This high stakes legacy fight has all the makings of an all-time classic and it could come down to the intangibles, rather than their equally dangerous skillsets. This bout has huge implications on the line, and such, could produce a title fight that will be remembered for a long time to come.

Volkanovski vs. Holloway 3 [Image via @DaredevilUFC on Twitter]

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#1. Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena

Every single time Bryan Bareberena has competed inside the octagon, he has solidified his standing as one of the most entertaining fighters on the roster. 'Bam Bam' has endeared himself to UFC fans since signing with the promotion in 2014.

Barberena has already featured in four 'Fight of the Night' bouts in the UFC. His wars with Vicente Luque and Jason Witt were incredible sights to behold, and in his most recent outing, the veteran edged out a decision over Matt Brown, which blew the roof off the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this year.

At UFC 276, Bryan Barnerena will take on former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, who is also no stranger to winning post-fight bonuses. Lawler has also won four 'Fight of the Night' bonuses, and his 2015 title defense against Rory MacDonald remains one of the greatest title fights in UFC history.

This matchup doesn't have the shine of the two championship fights atop the card, or the intrigue surrounding the Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira and Pedro Munhoz vs. Sean O'Malley bouts.

However, the clear frontrunner for the 'Fight of the Night' award is, without a doubt, the Lawler vs. Barberena fight, which is all but guaranteed to deliver the goods and has 'barnburner' written all over it.