UFC 200 preview: Tate-Nunes headlines the biggest MMA card ever

Five years ago, UFC president Dana White said that women would never fight in the UFC.

On Saturday, a women's bantamweight championship bout between Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes headlines the biggest event in MMA history.

How did we get here?

It seems like a lifetime ago that a welterweight rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz was originally scheduled to headline UFC 200. A well documented dispute over promotional responsibilities between McGregor and the promotion broke that up, paving the way for Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier to take center stage.

All was going according to plan until this past Wednesday, when Jones tested positive for a banned substance resulting in his immediate dismissal from the card.

For a moment, it seemed like the returning Brock Lesnar would be granted the main event spot opposite Mark Hunt, giving Lesnar the unique distinction of having closed out both UFC 100 and UFC 200.

However, it was announced that Tate and Nunes would be granted the spot. The decision makes sense due to Tate's popularity and the fact that they are the only remaining undisputed title fight left on the card (featherweights Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar are also fighting for an interim belt).

That history-making main event is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to previewing an MMA card for the ages.

'The Beast' is back

Brock Lesnar is proof that you never say never in this sport.

The former UFC heavyweight champion is ready to compete inside the Octagon for the first time since December 2011. If the weigh-in results are any indication, he's in the best shape of his life.

According to Lesnar, he initially put a halt to his fighting career due to concerns about his health after surviving a near-fatal case of diverticulitis. If he's truly back at full strength, could this mean a second run in the heavyweight division?

Related: UFC 200 predictions: Can Lesnar make a triumphant return?

The UFC certainly didn't give him an easy fight to welcome him back. Standing opposite Lesnar is "The Super Samoan" Mark Hunt, currently ranked No. 8 in the heavyweight division.

Then again, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. A win for Lesnar could legitimately motivate him to take more fights inside the Octagon even though contractually this is a one-time deal.

Don't expect fans to be satisfied with this Lesnar cameo. Win or lose, he remains one of MMA's most polarizing figures.

Chaos reigns as Cormier faces 'The Spider'

UFC 200 was nearly left in shambles when news broke on Wednesday of Jones' failed drug test. Speculation ran rampant as to who could possibly fill his shoes on such short notice.

As it turns out, Anderson "The Spider" Silva was waiting in the wings all along.

According to Silva, he asked his team to contact Dana White and set up negotiations for him to step in for Jones shortly after he heard what happened.

In less than 24 hours, Silva managed to work out a fight agreement, pass his medical and drug tests, and prepare himself for Friday morning's weigh-ins. The only thing that would make this whole tall tale more unbelievable is if he actually manages to beat Cormier.

The surprise booking went a long way to helping Cormier overcome the disappointment of not getting to even the score with his rival Jones and while he has little to gain from beating Silva, it should at least make for a fun, once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

The stars are out for the undercard

It's no exaggeration to say that almost every match on UFC 200 could qualify as a main event on either a PPV or a free televised card.

Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar will rematch in a battle for what will become the undisputed featherweight championship if Conor McGregor never returns to the division, and that's not even one of the last three main card fights.

The same incredulity could be directed at the opener, which sees former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez taking on top-10 ranked Travis Browne.

Further down, we find an embarrassment of riches on the preliminaries.

Former UFC champions Johny Hendricks and T.J. Dillashaw, "Ultimate Fighter" winners Diego Sanchez, Kelvin Gastelum, and Julianna Pena, and world-class contenders Cat Zingano and Raphael Assuncao are all scheduled to fight.

Last but not least, former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi and PRIDE legend Takanori Gomi will also be in action.