This weekend it’s UFC 187, which sees two titles go on the line as middleweight king Chris Weidman defends his strap against Vitor Belfort, plus Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier square off for the now vacant light-heavyweight crown.
Here the MMA PLUS staff offer their predictions for the UFC 187 main card bouts.
Vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: Anthony Johnson Vs. Daniel Cormier
Darryl
Although I’m intrigued about this match up, I don’t believe the winner should be taking the belt home. We can all agree Jones needs to get his house in order after his latest ‘incident,’ but I don’t feel Cormier should be getting a shot at the belt less than six months after being shut down by the champion. If he wins, how can we take him seriously as a legitimate champion? And I think he will win.
Many have ‘Rumble’ as their favorite, and for good reason as we’ve witnessed the power and accuracy in his striking since he came back to the UFC. But I think Cormier will weather an early storm and outwork and eventually tire-out his opponent, en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Cormier: via unanimous decision
Alistair
For me Johnson’s size and physical advantages will be the difference here. “Rumble” is three inches taller than his man, has a six inch reach advantage, and looked explosive when sending Alex Gustafsson packing inside a round. Plus, Cormier’s power didn’t seem as effective against high-level 205ers such as Dan Henderson and, of course, Jon Jones. I think this is Johnson’s time. He’ll stop him late.
Johnson: KO (round 4)
Roberto
As soon as he returned to the Ultimate Fighting Championship I backed Rumble to be the next UFC light heavyweight champion and nothing will change my mind despite the late switch of opponent. Cormier will try and often succeed to use his wrestling to take “Rumble” down but I just think the Blackzilians man’s stopping power will result in a stoppage before the championship rounds.
Johnson: via TKO (round 3)
Jorden
I had an easier time giving thought towards Johnson taking a shock victory over Jones than I do against Cormier. This fight is on a knife edge for me. While I view Cormier as the perennial top contender, likely to beat everyone bar Jones, the danger levels of ‘Rumble’ are off the charts and at 205lbs he’s seen off a greater line up of contenders than Cormier thus far. Technique wise, my head is telling me to go with Cormier via decision, but I can’t get past the inevitability that ‘Rumble’ will strike this man, and with tremendous stopping power. Perhaps in the later round when Cormier tires.
Johnson: via TKO (round 5)
Andreas
Well it won’t be Jon Jones. Yes, with the champ being forced to ‘relinquish’ his belt due to his legal matters outside of the cage a new light-heavyweight champion will be crowned. Although I live by the theory you’re not champion till you beat the man who has the belt. So let’s think of the belt as light-heavyweight championship Mark 2, and Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson is super, fight. Most simply put it’s wrestling against pure knockout power, and in every instance you have to favour Johnson, purely for the fact if Cormier has to get in close to initiate the takedown, he’s going to get hit! Unless he can implement a smart outside strategy I don’t see him leaving UFC 187 as champion.
Johnson: via (close) decision
UFC Middleweight Championship: (Champion) Chris Weidman Vs. Vitor Belfort
Darryl
It’s think there are a couple of big questions that could dictate the way this one plays out, which are: how has the extended lay off has affected Vitor, and how much has the ban on TRT diminished his performance? It’s 18 months since he last competed, which is a long time when you’re 38 years of age, and without the testosterone replacement therapy that made his striking as devastating as it was in his 20s, it’ll be interesting to see which Vitor turns up.
I think regardless though, Weidman will find a way to victory. I think his wrestling is too strong and I see him eventually take the steam out if his opponent before submitting him.
Weidman: via submission (round 3)
Alistair
It’s always exciting to see a fighter develop and hone their skills when already drawing big crowds in the UFC – that’s exactly what Chris Weidman has done. With the help of Ray Longo and Matt Serra, he has downed all kinds of opponents and even upset Anderson Silva twice. Let’s not forget he starched Mark Munoz, a true veteran of the sport, in only his ninth professional fight. Longo and Serra seem to have the gameplan to dispatch any opponent right now, plus I believe this fight has come a year or so too late for Belfort.
Weidman: via unanimous decision
Roberto
I keep on betting against the champion Weidman and head is telling me that I should finally back the man who twice defeated pound-for-pound great Anderson Silva but once again my heart is telling me to go with “The Phenom” so once again I am left with age old decision of head versus heart so who am I going for this time?
As much as the prospect of the Brazilian becoming only the third fighter to hold UFC titles in three different weight classes makes picking Belfort very tempting, I’m going to playing it safe and pick the champ to retain his title.
Weidman: via decision
Jorden
It’s somewhat a surprise that this fight is still going ahead. On top of all the injury postponements, a lot of us felt that 38-year-old Vitor Belfort would promptly become fossilized on the mats of the Blackzilian gym after the elixir that is TRT became outlawed.
Nevertheless, both fighters seem to have made it and Vitor looks in reasonably good shape as we approach fight night, if not looking slightly aged. It would be magical to see ‘The Phenom’ continue his devastating ways, but then there would be the question; what was the point in all that TRT? So logic suggests that Belfort simply can’t win this fight. Weidman will fight with intelligence and strategy, forcing his grappling upon Belfort, looking to finish this fight on the ground.
Weidman: via submission (round 2)
Andreas
Finally, Vitor Belfort gets his shot at the middleweight title, after him and Chris Weidman exchanged the injury bug over the past year. I feel this is the most intriguing fight on the card, mainly for the fact everyone is questioning how “The Phenom” will look now without the help of his now shamed friend-TRT. Honestly, I feel people are looking too far into that, and some of the ridiculous claims that TRT gave Belfort magical powers to pull out awesome spinning knockouts is just laughable.
Belfort will look just as good as he has in his previous few bouts, but he is against a man much more dangerous than the likes of Dan Henderson and co. Weidman’s wrestling is brilliant, his stand-up is great, it’s hard to find his weak area. The only thing that can be questioned is his durability, as he looked to be lacking in the later rounds of the Lyoto Machida win.
Simply, Vitor wins early or late, otherwise, if Weidman can negate the attacks of the Brazilian he should be able to score the decision win at UFC 187.
Weidman: via decision
Lightweight: Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi
Darryl
I was gutted when I heard Khabib Nurmagomedov was out against Cerrone, but props to Makdessi for stepping in, as this is a serious jump up in competition.
Unfortunately for the Canadian, I think it’s one too great, as his stand up style will play into the hands of Cerrone, whose one of the division’s better strikers, and I think his high class Thai boxing will be too much for his opponents. I see it being an entertaining fight, but ultimately I think Cerrone takes his first stoppage since he knocked out Jim Miller four fights ago.
Cerrone: via TKO (round 2)
Alistair
On paper, Cerrone should strut into the Octagon, nail the Stone Cold Stunner and finish with ground-and-pound before hot-footing it off for another round of beers. In reality, Makdesski can bang and he looked explosive beating Shane Campbell in round one last month. He can go toe-to-toe with “Cowboy” – or I hope he can – but I think he’s in dangerous waters once the fight hits the ground.
Cerrone: via submission (round 2)
Roberto
PLEASEEEEE this is too easy. Cerrone to run through Makdessi on the way to collecting his 8th win on the bounce and claim the next shot at RDA’s lightweight title.
Cerrone: via TKO (round 2)
Jorden
Like a lamb to the slaughter. Makdessi looked good in his return to the Octagon but I can’t help but feel he’s been put in there to make Cerrone look good before he snatches himself a title shot. ‘Cowboy’ is on a roll!
Cerrone: via unanimous decision
Andreas
As my colleagues have already stated, John Makdessi did indeed look impressive upon his return to the Octagon, but Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone is a different beast. I expect Cerrone to pile on the pressure and solidify himself as the number one contender at lightweight after UFC 187. If the stars aligns and Cerrone’s long climb up the mountain ends with him snatching the belt from Rafael dos Anjos, his first defence against a returning Khabib Nurmagomedov has dollar signs written all over it.
Cerrone: via TKO (round 1)
Heavyweight: Travis Browne Vs. Andre Arlovski
Darryl
Despite winning his two bouts since returning to the UFC, former heavyweight champion Arlovski has looked sluggish – especially in his defeat of Brendan Shaub – and he’ll need to improve if he’s to upset the odds and defeat Browne and I just don’t see it happening.
Although his career is still quite young, Browne has proven to be a legitimate contender in the division and I think the younger, quicker fighter will be too much for Arlovski, who may have another stoppage by strikes defeat added to his record (he already has seven).
Browne: via TKO (round 1)
Alistair
For the sake of the ailing heavyweight division, I hope Browne can provide fireworks here. His athleticism, range of striking and finishing instincts make him one of the most watchable contenders in the division. Cardio is problem though – as shown by his struggles against Fabricio Werdum – so can he step up a level to the likes of Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos? A gunshy Arvlovski could provide his perfect chance to shine.
Browne: via KO (round 2)
Roberto
I can only see this clash of heavyweights going one way. Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter Arlovski will enter the octagon looking for his third win in a row (fifth overall) since making his return to the UFC but unfortunately he faces one of the most dangerous men of the division in Browne.
I expect Browne to take know time remind fans as to why he is considered one of the top contenders for Cain Velasquez’s (and Fabricio Werdum’s Interim) heavyweight title stopping his former teammate.
Browne: via TKO (round 1)
Jorden
I’m always supportive of Arlovski as one of my all time favourites, he’s surprised a lot of critics by solidifying his presence back in the UFC. However, Browne is just too athletic and unpredictable, coupled with his size and power. It’s saddening to admit but Arlovski will need to dig extremely deep to pull out a performance that can win this one.
Browne: via KO (round 3)
Andreas
To me this is a really, really, good fight. Good matchmaking has brought Andre Arlovski and Travis Browne together, two of the current best guys at heavyweight. Two men who prefer to stand and trade on the feet, expect a knockout either way. Arlovski has looked decent upon return, but I believe UFC 187 will see Browne’s diversity in striking guide him to the win.
Browne: via KO (round 3)
Flyweight: Joseph Benavidez Vs. John Moraga
Darryl
This is a good fight to kick the main card off, as both men are entertaining fighters who know how to end fights, with Benavidez possessing great power for a flyweight, whilst Moraga has numerous submission victories to his name.
Benavidez is in a strange position, having lost to the champion, Demetrious Johnson, twice already, but such is the shallow nature of the division, he may well be granted another shot with a dominant victory.
That may spur him on, and I feel he has more in every department and could score the victory in any scenario. I’ll go for submission, as the fabled Alpha Male guillotine is always a decent bet.
Benavidez: via submission (round 2)
Alistair
Admittedly I’ve never been a fan of the flyweights. Yes, the top four or five are wonderfully talented athletes but I’m not sure they stack up in terms of marketability or entertainment value. In Benavidez, though, we have a truly well-rounded mixed martial artist with no weaknesses other than that Demetrious Johnson, the champ, is more powerful and better conditioned than he is. The Team Alpha Male star is a demon on the ground, so he should be looking for a quick tapout.
Benavidez: via submission (round 2)
Roberto
I agree with Darryl’s assessment of Benavidez and can’t see past the team Alpha Male fighter picking up a submission win over Moraga.
Benavidez: via submission (round 3)
Jorden
While considered to be a painfully shallow division, we have a fun flyweight contest on our hands and the physical ability of the top 125lb contenders is some of the most entertaining to watch. That being said, it’s will be a monumental task for a fresh challenger to break through some of this division’s top contenders, who themselves may be held back by their ability to beat all comers only to lose to the champion, and Benavidez is a prime example of this. The Team Alpha Male fighter is the bigger hitter with grit and more of an edge to him, with a tight grip of his #2 ranking.
Benavidez: via unanimous decision
Andreas
A nice little scrap to open the UFC 187. Both men are on two fight streaks, and both men have fought; and lost (in Benavidez’s case twice) to champion Demetrious Johnson. I think it is a much closer fight than my partners are giving credit for, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Moraga stole the decision due to his awkward style.
Moraga: via decision
