UFC 187: Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier - Preview and Predictions

UFC 187 Fight card

This Saturday, UFC is back in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC 187 (Sunday, 4 A.M, IST). From the two world title fights at the top of the card to a stacked undercard filled with top contenders, UFC 187 is probably the best and the biggest event of 2015 so far.

In the main event, two of the top LHW fighters in UFC, Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson will look to claim the LHW title vacated by Jon Jones while the co-main event features a long-awaited middleweight title scrap between Champion Chris Weidman and challenger Vitor Belfort.

My predictions for the entire UFC 187 are as follow:

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass, Sun, 4 A.M. IST)

• Justin Scoggins Defeats Josh Sampo via Decision
• Islam Makhachev Defeats Leo Kuntz via Decision
• Colby Covington Defeats Mike Pyle via TKO

Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1, Sun, 5:30 A.M. IST)

• Rose Namajunas Defeats Nina Ansaroff via Submission
• Uriah Hall Defeats Rafael Natal via TKO
• Dong Hyun Kim Defeats Josh Burkman via Decision
• John Dodson Defeats Zach Makovsky via TKO

Main Card: (Sony Six / PPV, Sun, 7:30 a.m. IST)

Joseph Benavidez (21-4) vs. John Moraga (16-3)

The main card opener is a fantastic fight between former title challengers Joseph Benavidez and John Moraga, two of the flyweight division's top contenders.

A grappler in his early career, Benavidez has intelligently designed himself into a well-rounded fighter. He has KO power in his hands and has found ways to blend his striking into scrambles that benefit his athleticism. The only losses in Benavidez’s flyweight career have come to champion Demetrious Johnson.

A power puncher with eight career submission victories to his credit, Moraga looks for three straight wins after beating Willie Gates and Justin Scoggins. Moraga has grit in spades and is very hard to finish, even if you make him uncomfortable. His striking is fluid and technical along with a decent ground game to go along with it.

Benavidez is the more technical and consistent striker works at a much quicker pace and likely has more power, in short Benavidez is a better fighter than Moraga and holds all the advantages in this fight. Look for him to dictate the pace and keep eventually taking the fight on the ground and outworking Moraga for whole three rounds.

Prediction: Benavidez wins via Decision

Travis Browne (17-2-1) vs. Andrei Arlovski (23-10)

From flyweight action we move to Heavyweight division. Two big guys trying to take each other’s head off always capture the crowd and that’s what UFC plans to deliver with this fight on the main card.

Browne is a legit top 10 heavyweight in the world. He has finished 15 of his 17 wins, including 13 by knockout, and he has seven stoppages in his eight UFC victories, which demonstrates his ability to finish fights. His footwork and speed for the division is his greatest attribute along with some of the nastiest elbows against the cage.

The 36-year-old Belarussian is a former UFC champion. He has finished 19 fights in his. Undefeated since his return to the UFC, Andrei “Pit Bull” Arlovski has wins over Brendan Schaub and a first round knockout over Antonio Silva. Primarily known for his boxing, he also has an 85% takedown defense rate.B

Browne is the better, younger faster and probably more powerful fighter out of the two. Brown will get the finish and will make a run towards the title.

Prediction: Browne wins via TKO

UFC 187 Poster

Main Card:

Donald Cerrone (27-6) vs. John Makdessi (12-3)

Fan favorite Donald Cerrone, steps into the Octagon one more time searching for his eighth win in a row. After His original opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov got injured, John Makdessi steps in on short notice, who dispatched Shane Campbell in the first round less than a month ago at UFC 186.

Makdessi is a striker with backgrounds in taekwondo and karate, he does his best damage inside the pocket. He also has real power in his hands which he fully showcased impressively in his last fight. He excels at setting his preferred range and fighting long despite his lack of height, and his right hand is vicious and powerful. Nine of his 13 career wins have come by KO.

Cowboy is a Muay Thai fighter with a diverse offensive arsenal. Range striking is still his bread and butter. He probes behind a sharp jab and front kicks, strings together the straight right and left hook in combination and finishes with brutal round kicks at all levels.

His stepping knee to the body serves as a vicious counter to aggressive opponents who want to step into the pocket or change levels for a takedown. He works at an excellent pace and mixes all these attacks beautifully, especially his outstanding finishing ability on the ground once he hurts his opponents on feet. .

Donald Cerrone is probably on a best stretch off his career and he is exactly the kind of long, rangy fighter that have given Makdesi trouble in the past. It’s anyhow hard to prepare for someone like Cerrone with a full training camp and Makdessi is fighting him on a very short notice just tells me that this will not be a good night for Makdesi as Cerrone will hurt him and get the finish to make a statement that he is ready for the title shot.

Prediction: Cerrone wins via Submission

Chris Weidman (12-0) vs. Vitor Belfort (24-10)

Chris Weidman will finally defend his 185-pound title against the ‘phenom’ Vitor Belfort in the co-main event a fight almost one and a half year in the making.

Weidman steps in the Octagon for the first time since defeating Lyoto Machida in July. An All-American Division I wrestler, Weidman has developed an elite striking game in a relatively short amount of time. Weidman is a big middleweight, quick and very well-rounded with a wrestling heavy game.

38-year-old Vitor Belfort gets another shot at UFC gold for the fifth time in his long and legendary career. Belfort is a very explosive fighter who hasn’t gone to a decision since 2007. During his time in the Octagon, Belfort has recorded wins over the likes of Rich Franklin, Randy Couture, Wanderlei Silva, Anthony Johnson, Luke Rockhold, Dan Henderson, and Michael Bisping, while fighting in three different weight classes.

Belfort is very dangerous in the initials round as he possesses a one-kick knockout game, which he has displayed against some pretty good opponents in his past three fights, but this week he will find out what a beast Weidman is inside that octagon. Belfort is crossing way too many red flags in this fight like his age; he is no more on TRT, and one and a half year long layoff.

I personally feel this will going to be a straightforward victory for the champ as he has all the advantages in this fight. I think Belfort going to get rag dolled here by the bull that is Weidman, Who will keep coming at Belfort and will finish him eventually.

Prediction: Weidman wins via TKO

Anthony Johnson (19-4) vs. Daniel Cormier (15-1)

In the main event, Daniel Cormier and Anthony "Rumble" Johnson will clash for a shot at Jon Jones' vacant light heavyweight title and a new light heavyweight champion will be crowned for the first time in four years.

Currently riding a nine fight win streak (six by KO) Anthony “Rumble” Johnson is one of the hardest hitter in the UFC. While wrestling is the strong suit of former Olympian Daniel Cormier, Rumble still defends takedowns at an 85% rate and has neutralized grapplers many times throughout the course of his career.

Cormier is fresh off a competitive five round battle against Jones, and is energized by a second consecutive opportunity at UFC gold. As a volume striker, he excels at clinch work and dirty boxing. Cormier plan will be simple – stay away from Johnson's big shots while pressuring him against the cage and looking to get him on his back with his takedowns.

Johnson won't be easy to take down. He's got a major power advantage over Cormier and has been seriously underrated wrestling for MMA. DC needs to be unpredictable and Johnson needs to show better conditioning and wrestling.

Yes Johnson is more powerful of the two but that power will fade eventually if Cormier plays it smart and applies HW champion Cain like strategy of relentless pressure. It is easier said than done, but if Cormier could keep up that high pace he will wear Johnson down and unless he gets clubbed by rumble early in the fight it should be his fight to lose.

Prediction: Cormier wins via Decision