'Countdown to UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw' debuts May 18 on FOX Sports 1

The UFC’s traditional pre-event show returns on Sunday, May 18, with the debut of “Countdown to UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw” on FOX Sports 1.

The one-hour special previews the card’s headlining bout between UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao and Team Alpha Male contender T.J. Dillashaw (9-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC), who headline UFC 173 in a five-round title fight.

“Countdown” airs at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT), and replays airs throughout the week.

UFC 173 takes place May 24 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and stream on UFC Fight Pass.

“Countdown” will focus on the headliner, which sees the 27-year-old Barao look for the second defense of his UFC bantamweight belt. The Brazilian is unbeaten in his past 32 official contests, including a perfect 9-0 mark in his combined time in the UFC and WEC.

Meanwhile, Dillashaw is 5-1 in his past six fights, with the lone loss coming by contentious split decision to Raphael Assuncao, who was expected to get the next shot at Barao but was forced to step aside when lingering injury left him unable to accept the offer.

The official UFC 173 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw
• for UFC bantamweight title
• Daniel Cormier vs. Dan Henderson
• Jake Ellenberger vs. Robbie Lawler
• Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera
• James Krause vs. Jamie Varner

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)

• Michael Chiesa vs. Francisco Trinaldo
• Tony Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno
• Chico Camus vs. Chris Holdsworth
• Mitch Clarke vs. Al Iaquinta

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6:30 p.m. ET)

• Anthony Njokuani vs. Vinc Pichel
• Doo Ho Choi vs. Sam Sicilia
• Jingliang Li vs. David Michaud

For the latest on UFC 173, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Renan Barao)