It is unfortunate, and the timing could not be worse. But it's not the worst thing.

No, the absolute shame is that Jones has inadvertently taken the focus off what could be the single most compelling fight card in UFC history.

For once, that's not hyperbole. While the temptation is to focus on Jones, the simple fact of the matter is there are so many variables in his alleged violation, so many unanswered questions in these early stages that it's simply not worth getting stuck into until the dust settles and the air clears.

In the meantime, this Sunday the UFC is holding a card so epic, so ridiculously good, that it almost defies belief. For casual fans, the names Jim Miller and Takanori Gomi probably don't mean much, and that's fair enough. But for anyone who has followed the sport and gone back through the history, the Pride era, that fight is unbelievable.

And it's the opening fight on the card. The first cab off the rank on Fight Pass. And it only gets better from there. Let that sink in.

THE FIGHT PASS PRELIMS – 8.30AM AEST

Jim Miller (25-8-1) versus Takanori Gomi (35-11-1)

There was a time when The Fireball Kid, Gomi, was the most feared lightweight fighter in the world, with a reputation for ending fights violently and early. One of the few men to knock down Nick Diaz, when Gomi is on he is a force to be reckoned with. At his best, Gomi threw heavy hands and he threw them with vicious speed. Diaz described that power in the way only a Diaz brother can after his come-from-behind victory in Japan: "That little f***er hit me with a hadouken or some s**t." Unfortunately for Gomi that was nine years ago and he's coming off two knockout losses, and UFC veteran Jim Miller is a hard man to finish at the best of times, with some of the best submission wrestling in the division. At this stage of Gomi's career, this is Miller's fight to lose. MILLER VIA SUBMISSION

Gegard Mousasi (38-6-2) versus Thiago Santos (13-3)

A former DREAM and Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, the unassuming Mousasi has been slightly hit and miss in the UFC, going down to Jacare Souza, Uriah Hall and Lyoto Machida. The thing about Mousasi, however, is that he can never be counted out of a fight, and his ground game is superb. Thiago Santos is a fighter with athleticism to spare and is riding high on a four-fight win streak, but if you look at who Mousasi has lost to and look at Santos, there's a clear gap in fighting acumen. Mousasi won't finish Santos, but he should win a decision if he can weather the early storm. MOUSASI VIA DECISION

Diego Sanchez (26-8) versus Joe Lauzon (25-11)

Can you say guaranteed fireworks? An early contender for fight of the night, Sanchez and Lauzon have earned a combined $900,000 in post-fight bonuses over the span of their UFC careers. Long-time peers, it's almost ridiculous to think they're meeting for the first time at UFC 200. Sanchez started his career as a wrestler but has morphed into a wild brawler with a tendency to win decisions that, quite frankly, he has no business winning. Lauzon is handy on the feet, but jiu jitsu is his game and he hunts for submissions over position, which can leave him in tough spots if he misses his target. This fight could legitimately go either way and if it goes to a decision Sanchez will be the favourite, but my money is on Lauzon snagging a late submission. LAUZON VIA SUBMISSION

FOX SPORTS PRELIMS – 10am AEST

Sage Northcutt (7-1) versus Enrique Marin (8-3)

In professional wrestling, there's a name for a fight like this. It's called a squash match. After his bizarre submission loss to Bryan Barbarena, where he appeared incapable of defending a choke that came from an awful position that he should have easily escaped, the UFC needs to rebuild the Sage Northcutt hype-train. Which isn't to say Enrique Marin is a push-over, but for a legitimately talented fighter like Northcutt, he shouldn't have much trouble coasting to a decision on pure athleticism. It's the one fight this card could probably do without. NORTHCUTT VIA DECISION

TJ Dillashaw (12-3) versus Raphael Assuncao (23-4)

Sometimes things just don't make sense. Take this for example. Two fights after losing a split decision to Raphael Assuncao, a man who hasn't lost a fight since 2011, TJ Dillashaw was beating Renan Barao to claim the bantamweight title while Assuncao was left to do his best impression of Shannon Noll circa 2004. Dillashaw lost his title to returning king Dominic Cruz in a razor-close decision and it remains to be seen if Assuncao, who has been out with injury for almost two years, can adapt to Dillashaw's newly-found footwork. All signs point to Dillashaw taking a decision and edging closer to a rematch with Cruz. DILLASHAW VIA DECISION

Johny Hendricks (17-4) versus Kelvin Gastelum (11-2)

There are certain people, this writer included, who believe Hendricks won his second fight with Robbie Lawler for the UFC welterweight title. Then again, there is a school of thought that following that loss, and his one-sided knockout loss to Stephen Thompson, the former welterweight kingpin is on the decline. I tend to think the Thompson fight was more an indicator of where Thompson stands than any decline in Hendricks' skills. At the end of the day, Hendricks remains an incredibly heavy-handed wrestler who is relentless absorbing shots and moving forward. To be honest, Gastelum shares a lot of similarities with Hendricks, but the key difference is that Hendricks is slightly more polished in his striking and wrestling. He won't be able to crack Gastelum's cast-iron chin, and if the fight stays standing – odds on it will – Hendricks will take what could be a brawl for the ages. HENDRICKS VIA DECISION

Cat Zingano (9-1) versus Julianna Pena (7-2)

Zingano hasn't fought since her disastrous shot at the UFC bantamweight title against Ronda Rousey, a fight that lasted just 14 seconds. For many, that will be the only time they have seen Zingano fight but believe me, first impressions are incredibly misleading. Zingano has a reputation for starting slow but once she gets going she is nearly unstoppable, with some of the nastiest ground and pound in this or any other division. Pena, the winner of season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter, is a muay thai specialist with vicious knees, but Zingano – who holds a win over current title holder Miesha Tate – is head and shoulder above Pena. Expect Zingano to gain full mount in the second or third round and end this fight with elbows. ZINGANO VIA TKO

UFC 200 PAY PER VIEW – 12PM AEST

Cain Velasquez (13-2) versus Travis Browne (18-3)

The real question in this match-up of top-ranked heavyweights is the form, and fitness, of former champion Velasquez. He looked set to go down in UFC history as possibly the greatest heavyweight of all time before injuries derailed his career. He has fought just once in the past three years, against challenger Fabricio Werdum in Mexico City, and when his once-famous cardio deserted him after the first round it was only a matter of time before Werdum sunk in a choke. Browne has been inconsistent in the UFC but he holds a significant power advantage over Velasquez and, as he showed against Alistair Overeem, he's difficult to put away. Having said that, a fully fit Velasquez is the best heavyweight in the world and will be able to push a pace that Browne simply won't be able to match. Expect Velasquez to take Browne down and use his vicious ground and pound to end the fight. VELASQUEZ VIA TKO

Jose Aldo (25-2) versus Frankie Edgar (20-4-1) for the interim featherweight title

Aldo is an automatic inclusion in the UFC Hall of Fame when his illustrious career draws to a close, and Edgar won't be far behind him. Their first match-up, in 2013, was relatively close but Aldo won a clear decision, three rounds to two. In his last fight, Aldo was knocked out in just 13 seconds by a certain Irishman, relinquishing the title in the first KO loss of his career. Edgar has taken his game to another level, taking out Chad Mendes in the first round with a short left hook. Quite simply, this is a battle of speed versus power. Edgar holds the speed advantage, and Aldo holds the power. The way Edgar is fighting at the moment, I simply can't pick against him. He'll take this fight in a five-round decision and with his wrestling chops, Conor McGregor will have a tough decision to make. EDGAR VIA DECISION

Miesha Tate (18-5) versus Amanda Nunes (12-4) for the women's bantamweight title

If Ronda Rousey hadn't found her way into MMA, Tate would be considered possibly the greatest women's bantamweight fighter of all time. A considerable part of that is down to her sheer determination and will to win. In Strikeforce, against Rousey, her arm was bent at an angle that would make a mathematician blush, and she wouldn't tap. She was being clearly beaten by Holly Holm but refused to give in, securing a fifth round submission in a stunning come-from-behind performance. Ever her loss to Cat Zingano can be excused, given the nature of the stoppage. Quite simply, if you want to beat Tate, you need to put her away, and there are not many who can do that. Nunes has the skills to do so. A vicious striker with excellent submission skills, the only knock on her is that under pressure, she can wilt. Nobody pours on the pressure like Tate. It's not an absolute lock, but Tate's grappling and toughness should be too much for Nunes. TATE VIA TKO

Mark Hunt (12-10) versus Brock Lesnar (5-3)

The mixed martial arts records of Mark Hunt and Brock Lesnar might not seem tailor-made for the main event of UFC 200, but let's put this into perspective. Lesnar headlined UFC 100, defeating Frank Mir to claim the undisputed UFC title. He is the biggest pay-per-view draw in the company's history, despite what Conor McGregor may claim. His return, announced at UFC 199, shocked the world who thought the main that claimed the heavyweight title in just his third fight inside the UFC would never fight again. The question is, how will he handle the experience and deadly striking of Mark Hunt after five years out of the sport? Hunt has a combined combat sports record of 43-24, is a former K1 world kickboxing champion and is renowned for his knockout power. To put it mildly, Lesnar has never reacted well to being hit, tending to shy away from punches. On the other hand, Lesnar has submission skills, and if Hunt has a weakness. There are simply two scenarios to this fight. If Lesnar takes Hunt down, Lesnar wins the fight. If Hunt keeps it standing, he knocks Lesnar out. Now, patriotism has no place in predicting fights, but Hunt is always counted out, and has overcome the odds so many times that I simply cannot pick against him. Expect Lesnar's return to MMA to be short lived. HUNT VIA KO

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