UFC Fight Nights 71 and 72: 6 Reasons to Watch Wednesday and Saturday Cards

Oh, did you think you were going to get a break? Not a chance. Strap it back in, MMA fans. Another week, another two events from the UFC.

This week is particularly strange. We have UFC Fight Night 71 going down in San Diego on Wednesday, then UFC Fight Night 72 airing Saturday night from across the pond in the rough-and-tumble burg of Glasgow, Scotland.

In Wednesday's main event, we have heavyweights Frank Mir and Todd Duffee squaring off in a classic grappler (Mir) vs. striker (Duffee) matchup. Saturday brings something similar, with middleweight kickboxer Michael Bisping facing jiu-jitsu standout Thales Leites.

But with 24 total bouts going down, there are plenty of storylines and stakes to break down. Is it UFC 189 all over again? No, it is not. All the more reason why we should take this deep dive we're about to take.

So if you're feeling burned out, try to repress that feeling. Here are six reasons to watch the UFC action this week, three for each card.

Can Todd Duffee Finally Convert His Potential?

Eric Jamison/Associated Press

Todd Duffee captured the collective imagination of UFC fans when he laid out Tim Hague in a record-tying seven seconds in his UFC debut back in 2009.

Since then, injuries, an abrupt UFC release, extended contract-related difficulties, more injuries and a bout with a rare and painful nerve condition have derailed a promising start.

He finally clawed his way back to the UFC and is making the most of it, winning his last two bouts by knockout in an average of one minute and 18 seconds. That's the power that originally got everyone so excited.

Duffee (9-2) is only 29 years old. There's still time to build an elite career, but he has to start Wednesday. It's his first time in the main event of a UFC card. If he doesn't come through, it will be his last. But if he delivers, this could be the start of something fun.

Holly Holm at the Highest Level

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Has there ever been a female fighter who entered MMA behind this much hype? Not even Ronda Rousey can claim to have been as talked up as Holly Holm was before setting foot in a cage.

Holm's world championship-level boxing has fueled the hype, and her All-American look certainly hasn't dampened anything. 

Holm, who trains at the vaunted Jackson-Winkeljohn camp in New Mexico, struggled in her UFC debut. She ultimately scraped out a split-decision win over Raquel Pennington to move to 8-0 and salvage her unblemished pro record, but it was far from inspiring.

Marion Reneau, her opponent Wednesday, is in some ways the anti-Holm. The 38-year-old working mom was all but anonymous when she entered the UFC, but her surprisingly polished skills have earned her two victories, and her confidence on the mic earned her plenty of fans.

Holm is the favorite, but Reneau can definitely win this fight. We'll see if Holm can rise to the occasion in the biggest MMA fight of her career to date.

Tony Ferguson (Finally) Fights for Contender Status

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The UFC Fight Night 71 co-main event could help establish the newest fighter "in the mix" at the top of the crowded lightweight division.

All Tony Ferguson had to do to get here was win five straight contests, two of which notched him post-fight bonuses. For some reason, though, everyone likes to sleep on Ferguson and his well-rounded skill set, smart fighting style and athleticism. 

His submission of Gleison Tibau in February sounded the wake-up call. If Ferguson can get past a tough but possibly fading talent in Josh Thomson on Wednesday, everyone should finally be awake.

What Does Michael Bisping Have Left?

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Michael Bisping was rendered obsolete in the span of one weekend. And he wasn't even fighting.

At UFC 189 last Saturday, Conor McGregor established himself as a kind of Bisping 2.0, with his electric striking, brash demeanor and, oh yeah, victory in a title fight.

This Saturday, the British middleweight will fight Thales Leites for a chance to return to relevance at the highest level of the game, where he has made his home for the past eight years.

Bisping is 36 years old now and doesn't appear likely to make any major leaps forward in terms of his style, which we all understand to be a cardio-driven point-boxing approach. He'll always have a home in the broadcast booth. But what about in the UFC middleweight division? That's a more open question.

Are Scottish MMA Fans Cool?

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Irish MMA fans just upped the ante on everybody at UFC 189. This Saturday, the spotlight will be on their neighbors to the north when the UFC comes to Scotland for the first time.

Tickets went quickly, and Glaswegians will have plenty to root for. Along with Brits like Bisping and lightweight Ross Pearson and Irishmen like flyweight Paddy Holohan, they'll have a couple of their own to pull for as well.

Strawweight striker Joanne Calderwood is a popular fighter and Glasgow native who has failed thus far to gain secure footing in the UFC. She will try to turn that around against Cortney Casey-Sanchez. Scottish featherweight Rob Whiteford also takes on Paul Redmond in the undercard.

Scotland sports fans have shown plenty of enthusiasm in other areas. We'll see if they're able to distinguish themselves in a part of the world where MMA is suddenly a blazing wildfire.

Tuning Up the Last Man to Tune Up McGregor

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Joseph Duffy (left)

Joseph Duffy is a walking winning lottery ticket.

Not to take anything away from his pro boxing pedigree or his MMA talents, which have led him to a 13-1 pro MMA record, but he has one W on his record that is particularly significant in the UFC today.

Back in 2010, the Irishman made his debut for Britain's respected Cage Warriors promotion. And he did so successfully, scoring an arm-triangle submission in a mere 38 seconds.

Duffy's opponent in that contest? Another Irishman by the name of McGregor. Conor McGregor.

In fact, Duffy is the last man to defeat McGregor in a pro cage fight. Duffy is a lightweight and McGregor is a featherweight, but that could change, especially given McGregor's oft-repeated desire to compete in multiple weight classes.

If Duffy can defeat Brazilian Ivan Jorge, as he is heavily favored to do, it could serve as a springboard toward a profitable rematch.

Scott Harris writes about MMA for Bleacher Report. For more, follow Scott on Twitter.