Also featured is the long awaited, much delayed title clash between middleweight champion Chris Weidman and longtime rival Vitor Belfort. At 38 years old, the Brazilian challenger is hoping to achieve two things: Become only the third man to win gold at two weight classes, and be the first to defeat the current reigning 185 pound champion.
Johnson vs. Cormier
One man’s crisis has become another man’s opportunity. The stripping of Jon Jones’ light heavyweight championship has engulfed the UFC’s ‘glamour division’ in controversy and uncertainty. Hoping to spearhead a new era, Anthony Johnson is fighting to complete a remarkable career resurgence by capturing the title.Originally, and almost inexplicably, Johnson began his career as a welterweight. Frequently missing weight and performing way below his potential, the fighter decided to move to a more natural weight in 2012, and has been unstoppable since. No longer drained due to torrid weight cuts, ‘Rumble’ is stronger and faster than ever before, and this is surely the reason for his recent dominance. Primarily a striker who actively seeks a quick finish, Johnson also possesses an underrated wrestling base; something that he ably demonstrated in his promotional comeback victory over Phil Davis.
A polar opposite to Johnson, Daniel Cormier started his professional career in the heavyweight division before deciding to make the move due to not wanting to fight his friend and AKA colleague, reigning heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. Finally making his debut at 205 pounds Cormier smashed his way to a title shot with Jones, but was unable to unseat the former champ when they met earlier this year. A decorated amatuer wrestler, Cormier has since added boxing and an effective bag of submissions to his already frightening arsenal.
Prediction: Unwilling to let another title opportunity slip through his fingers, and wary of Johnson’s early ferocity, expect Cormier to shoot for a takedown almost instantly. Johnson has experienced success against wrestlers before, but Cormier is a completely different proposition. If he’s unable to take the fight to the ground, at least initially, look for the former Strikeforce Grand-Prix champion to push ‘Rumble’ against the fence in an attempt to wear his opponent down. Johnson has the potential to end the fight with a single shot, but Cormier has fought larger, more powerful men before and has managed to survive. ‘DC’ should win this by a clear decision.
Weidman vs. Belfort
Delayed for what seems like an eternity, Chris Weidman will finally defend his title against veteran Vitor Belfort; a man whose recent successes have been marred by his use of performance enhancing medication.
Hoping to wear UFC gold for the first time in eleven years, Vitor Belfort will be competing for the first time since the ban of TRT, a previously legal treatment the Brazilian had been using to prolong his storied nineteen year career. Formerly a one-time light heavyweight champ, Belfort has pretty much done it all over the last two decades, dethroning the currently undefeated conqueror of former middleweight king Anderson Silva would surely be the icing on the cake. Well-versed in a multitude of disciplines including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay-Thai, Judo and Karate, Belfort is dangerous anywhere inside the Octagon.
Facing his third consecutive Brazilian, Chris Weidman knows that a victory over Belfort will finally cement his status as the division’s undisputed ruler after two unfortunately controversial victories over Silva, and a competitive win over Lyoto Machida. Undefeated in all of his twelve fights, the New York-based fighter has reached the upper echelon of the sport by relying on his exceptional wrestling and excellent ground game. Throw in Ray Longo-trained boxing and you have a champion level fighter who truly deserves to be called champion.
Prediction: Belfort is dangerous everywhere, but his real advantage will lie in his striking. Weidman will probably look to take the fight to the mat, but will need to be prepared to encounter and defend multiple submission attempts from the challenger. The real unknown is Belfort’s conditioning; this is his first fight without TRT. Will he be able to compete in the same way he did against Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson? Survey says no. Belfort possesses the veteran advantage, but he will wilt under Weidman’s unrelenting pace and grind. If Weidman doesn’t submit the Brazilian, he should take a lopsided decision victory.
UFC 187 Main Card Predictions - Picks in bold:
Flyweight - Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga
Heavyweight - Travis Browne vs. Andrei Arlovski
Lightweight - Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi
Middleweight Championship - Chris Weidman © vs. Vitor Belfort
Light Heavyweight Championship - Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier
UFC FIght Picks 2015 Record (25-10)
What do you think will happen at UFC 187? Leave your predictions below!
Prediction: Belfort is dangerous everywhere, but his real advantage will lie in his striking. Weidman will probably look to take the fight to the mat, but will need to be prepared to encounter and defend multiple submission attempts from the challenger. The real unknown is Belfort’s conditioning; this is his first fight without TRT. Will he be able to compete in the same way he did against Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson? Survey says no. Belfort possesses the veteran advantage, but he will wilt under Weidman’s unrelenting pace and grind. If Weidman doesn’t submit the Brazilian, he should take a lopsided decision victory.
UFC 187 Main Card Predictions - Picks in bold:
Flyweight - Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga
Heavyweight - Travis Browne vs. Andrei Arlovski
Lightweight - Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi
Middleweight Championship - Chris Weidman © vs. Vitor Belfort
Light Heavyweight Championship - Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier
UFC FIght Picks 2015 Record (25-10)
What do you think will happen at UFC 187? Leave your predictions below!
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