UFC 159: Highlighting Best Fights Before Main Event

The UFC has given us some great fights throughout the years, and Saturday night at Prudential Center in New Jersey was no different.

While there were some lackluster fights, UFC 159 also featured some back-and-forth battles, as well as one finish that got the crowd members out of their seats.

Here's a look at the best fights before Jon Jones took on Chael Sonnen in the main event.

Jim Miller vs. Pat Healy

As the No. 5 lightweight in the UFC, Jim Miller was expected by many to defeat Pat Healy to get into the title picture, coming off a victory over Joe Lauzon.

But despite it being Pat Healy's UFC debut, he had plenty of experience in Strikeforce coming into the fight. Despite not beating top competition headed into the fight, Healy proved to be a worthy adversary for Miller. In fact, he won.

Healy won via submission in Round 3 after sinking in a rear-naked choke. This came after he lost the first round to Miller. Despite Miller coming out strong in the third round, Healy roared back, pressing Miller up against the cage and continuing to land shots before he eventually got the submission.

Johnny Bedford vs. Bryan Caraway

Bryan Caraway lost the first round to Johnny Bedford after he failed to capitalize on a pair of takedowns and Bedford landed some big-time strikes, but he did well to compose himself and take control in the next two rounds.

Caraway did quite a bit of damage in the second round, landing a big knee and a few hooks before getting a takedown and landing a few more shots in the final 20 seconds.

After a nice hook by Caraway to start the third round, Bedford came back with his best shot in a while. But Caraway was undeterred, battling through Bedford's takedown defense to ultimately get him on the ground and lock it up with a guillotine choke. Caraway's heart was on full display on Saturday.

Roy Nelson vs. Cheick Kongo

This fight didn't last very long, but, boy, did Roy Nelson end it in spectacular fashion.

After a failed leg kick by Cheick Kongo early in the first round, Nelson pressed the much more athletic challenger up against the cage, but was unable to do much there. But once the fighters were separated, Nelson instantly floored Kongo with a huge right hand. Kongo tried to get up, but was finished. It was yet another fantastic knockout to add to Nelson's career record.