UFC Nashville preview: Veterans take center stage

When the Octagon makes its fourth trip to Nashville, Tenn., it will bring a who's who of MMA lifers with it.

The six-fight main card of UFC Fight Night 108 features battle-tested featherweight Cub Swanson, original "Ultimate Fighter" Diego Sanchez, and 23-fight UFC veteran Joe Lauzon, just to name the three most well-known competitors on the card.

Also holding down the fort are John Dodson, Jake Ellenberger, and Eddie Wineland, all three of whom have been fighting professionally for 12-plus years. If the UFC's FOX cards are designed to put an emphasis on the next generation of stars, then Fight Night events exist to give a home to fan favorites who are guaranteed to put on a show for folks who don't necessarily want to shell out 60 bucks for a pay-per-view.

All of these men are facing stiff challenges Saturday, with Swanson having to deal with the most unpredictable situation of all.

Killer Cub vs. The Russian Hammer

In the evening's main event, Swanson finds himself in a curious matchup with Artem Lobov. Making just his fifth UFC appearance, Lobov is far more famous for his close association with Conor McGregor than his own achievements in the Octagon, but his willingness to stand and bang is expected to make for an entertaining clash with his more experienced opponent.

This is a win-win situation for Lobov, who has been pegged as the biggest underdog in Nashville despite his sudden headlining status. If he can upset Swanson it will go a long way toward dispelling the notion that he's just McGregor's little buddy:

Sanchez, Lauzon vs. Father Time

Combined, Sanchez and Lauzon have nearly 30 years of professional fighting experience. The lightweights will be tested Saturday when Sanchez takes on "Raging" Al Iaquinta and Lauzon fights promising Scottish warrior Stevie Ray.

Iaquinta hasn't made the walk to the Octagon since April 2015, his career hindered by a contract dispute with the UFC that didn't appear to reach a particularly satisfying resolution for the 29-year-old New York native. Fittingly, he faces a company man in Sanchez.

"Lionheart" will be fighting under the UFC banner for the 26th time, a number that trails only Michael Bisping, Frank Mir, and Georges St-Pierre, each of whom have 27 UFC appearances. Even at 35, his single-minded approach to combat is unwavering:

The second scheduled bout on the UFC Fight Night 108 main card tells a similar story as Lauzon carries credentials that are almost as impressive as Sanchez's. "J-Lau" is also a former TUF contestant, and he parlayed his stint on that reality show into 23 UFC lightweight appearances, third-most behind Jim Miller (25) and Gleison Tibau (26).

His reward for all that cage time is a clash with Ray, a 27-year-old with a 4-1 UFC record. Defeating a name like Lauzon is exactly the kind of feat that helps a young fighter cross the gap between pretenders and contenders.

Lauzon is aware of where he stands in the organization, but he has no intention of rolling over for Ray:

The Juggernaut vs. Platinum

Nobody at UFC Fight Night 108 has more contests under their belt than Jake "The Juggernaut" Ellenberger. When he meets Mike Perry in the main card opener, it will be the 44th time Ellenberger straps on the gloves.

That probably doesn't mean squat to Perry, a Florida-based brawler who made a splash in 2016 with knockouts of Hyun Gyu Lim and Danny Roberts. "Platinum" is developing a reputation for his unwavering confidence and constantly bubbling aggression, which was on full display at Friday's weigh-ins:

Ellenberger has seen sluggers like Perry come and go, so he won't be intimidated when that cage door closes. However, with his iron chin starting to show some dents over the past couple of years, the beginning of the end could be coming much sooner than expected for the 32-year-old.