5 talking points going into UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje

#2. Who is the real queen of the strawweights – Rose Namajunas or Carla Ezparza?

It's always interesting when a challenger already has a win over a reigning UFC champion. It arguably dimishes the prestige of holding a world title when a champion has previously lost to a top contender, calling into question who the best fighter in the division really is.

Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza were contestants on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). They were the clear-cut best fighters on the reality show and made it all the way to the final, where the victor was to be crowned the UFC's inaugural strawweight champion. Esparza came out on top and became the first-ever champion of the promotion's 115-pound division.

TUF 20 Finale [Image via @MMAFighting on Twitter]

Carla Esparza subsequently lost the belt to Joanna Jędrzejczyk, who went on to rule the division for two years before being dethroned by Rose Namajunas. The title changed hands a few more times thereafter before finding its way back to Namajunas.

'Thug' Rose is among the most well-rounded fighters in the world. She started her career as a submission specialist and, in recent years, has emerged as a dangerous striker as well. Her knockout victories over Jędrzejczyk and Zhang Weili are a testament to this notion. However, Esparza remains the toughest stylistic matchup for Namajunas.

Esparza is undeniably the best wrestler in the division, a strong asset in a bracket brimming with strikers. if she can take her former foe down and control from top position, it could be a long night for the reigning strawweight queen.

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#1. Will Justin Gaethje claim undisputed UFC gold, or will Charles Oliveira's reign continue?

Charles Oliveira has had arguably the toughest road to UFC gold we've ever witnessed. The reigning 155-pound champion is now in his prime and is among the most dangerous fighters around. He currently owns the records for the most finishes and submissions in promotional history.

Oliveira joined the organization around 12 years ago as an unbeaten grappling phenom and endured a turbulent run in the featherweight and lightweight divisions before eventually finding his groove in 2018. Since then, 'Do Bronx' has beaten every opponent he's faced en route to winning the lightweight championship.

In his last two outings, Oliveira beat Michael Chandler via TKO to claim the lightweight strap and subsequently defended it with a submission win over Dustin Poirier. In his second title defense, he is slated to take on former interim champion Justin Gaethje.

Justin Gaethje has already made one attempt at becoming the undisputed lightweight champion. He came up short on that occasion against the now-retired Khabib Nurmagomedov. He will be hoping his second attempt produces a different outcome when he locks horns with Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 274.

Gaethje gained notoriety for being an incredibly entertaining fighter during his time outside of MMA's biggest promotion. Since joining the promotion, 'The Highlight' has lived up to his standing as an all-action brawler and has further added to his reputation for being – as Joe Rogan puts it – "The most violent man in the most violent sport."

Justin Gaethje [Image via @btsportufc on Twitter]

While Justin Gaethje is known for his tendency to get into barnburners and striking slugfests, he showcased a different side to his game in his most recent bout. Against Michael Chandler, barring an insane first round, he displayed a mature approach, understanding that getting the win was of paramount importance.

If Gaethje adopts the same mindset when he takes on Charles Oliveira, we could have an incredible matchup on our hands. On the flipside, if he fights in an impulsive manner, Oliveira has the skills to capitalize. For 'Do Bronx', he will have to be wary of his American counterpart's lethal striking and will be counting on his ability to weather the storm as he did against Chandler and Dustin Poirier.

Stylistically, this fight is arguably the best headliner we've had all year. With two well-rounded and lethal finishers at the height of their powers set to contest undisputed lightweight gold, fans can expect fireworks when the octagon doors finally close.

Overall, UFC 274 promises to be a truly memorable event.

UFC 274 fan-made poster [Image via @konartistdesign on Twitter]