No longer tasked with making history by becoming the first UFC fighter to simultaneously hold gold in two weight classes Conor McGregor will instead have another opportunity to showcase his skills and further hone his growing blockbuster appeal. Hoping to wreck the party is late notice newcomer Nate Diaz, a fearsome and fearless warrior who has more of a chance than most are giving him. Also on the card is the anticipated first title defense of the woman who beat the unbeatable. Will Holly Holm remain perfect, or can Miesha Tate finally capture UFC gold with another upset? What else can we expect to happen at UFC 196?
Women’s Bantamweight
Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Underestimate Valentina Shevchenko at your own peril. The Kyrgyzstan kickboxing champion is far from one-dimensional and has the skills to make her journey to the top of the division an extremely quick one. Making her debut late last year with a decision win over Sarah Kaufman on just eight days notice, fans are anxious to see how she’ll fare with a full training camp this time out.
Amanda Nunes is no joke however; essentially a top contender since the birth of the division three years ago. The Brazilian has some excellent Octagon performances on her resume, but has also shown fragility in the face of a stiff challenge. With over seventy fights spread across boxing, kickboxing and MMA, Shevchenko is one of Nunes’ toughest and tested challenges to date, and I don’t think she has what it takes to stop the decorated Eastern striker.
Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO
Light Heavyweight
Corey Anderson vs. Tom Lawler
Corey Anderson may have the worst nickname in the sport, but his skills more than make up for it. Sweeping The Ultimate Fighter two years ago the Illinois native has since compiled a respectable record inside the UFC and boasts impressive grapple-heavy beatdowns of Jan Błachowicz and Fabio Maldonado in his last outings. Anderson will likely fall back on his wrestling once again here, and he’ll be wise to do so against a fighter who has a knack for finishing his opponents.
Returning to the division following a middling run at 185, Tom Lawler knows that a win here will launch him right back into the mix at light heavyweight, but he’ll have to deliver a career best performance to progress. Much larger, stronger and with a distinct advantage in the grappling department, Anderson will probably be able to grind his way to another victory here.
Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko via TKO
Light Heavyweight
Corey Anderson vs. Tom Lawler
Corey Anderson may have the worst nickname in the sport, but his skills more than make up for it. Sweeping The Ultimate Fighter two years ago the Illinois native has since compiled a respectable record inside the UFC and boasts impressive grapple-heavy beatdowns of Jan Błachowicz and Fabio Maldonado in his last outings. Anderson will likely fall back on his wrestling once again here, and he’ll be wise to do so against a fighter who has a knack for finishing his opponents.
Returning to the division following a middling run at 185, Tom Lawler knows that a win here will launch him right back into the mix at light heavyweight, but he’ll have to deliver a career best performance to progress. Much larger, stronger and with a distinct advantage in the grappling department, Anderson will probably be able to grind his way to another victory here.
Prediction: Corey Anderson via decision
Light Heavyweight
Gian Villante vs. Ilir Latifi
Another light heavyweight contest with potential contender-making implications. Gian Villante might not have the greatest professional record, but he’s proven himself as a tough out for just about anyone hoping to progress to the upper tiers of the division. Highly athletic with a background in amatuer wrestling and football, the New Yorker has actually produced his best work in the Octagon with his fists and has tasted success with knockouts wins over Anthony Perosh and the aforementioned Corey Anderson.
When he’s not starching foes inside the cage Ilir Latifi can usually be found beating the crap out fellow 205 pounder Alexander Gustafsson, a training partner who has helped bring out the best in the Swedish powerhouse. With renewed confidence thanks to recent success, and knowing that Villante’s major weakness lies in his striking defense it’s going to be hard to pick against Latifi. If the Swede pushes the pace and utilises the counter he’ll likely find a way to switch off the lights midway through the fight.
Prediction: Ilir Latifi via TKO
Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Holly Holm © vs. Miesha Tate
Single-handedly ruining Ronda Rousey’s life, melting the internet and becoming a hero to those tired of the former champion’s incessant, self-indulgent bullshit, Holly Holm changed the game when her head kick knockout saw her capture the title last November. A return fight against Rousey will happen eventually, but first Holm will have to defend her gold against another upset-minded warrior.
Long considered by just about everyone as the best female fighter not named Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate is probably also the most well rounded WMMA competitor around at the moment. A smart pressure fighter with a strong grappling system, ever-improving striking and heart that shames most of her peers, Tate will be an extremely difficult puzzle for the new champion to solve. Knowing that this will likely be her final chance to become a UFC champion, Tate will do her utmost to drag Holm into her domain, but this is something that the champion is all too familiar with.
Holm isn’t Rousey. She’s not going to rush forward all guns blazing. Holm is measured, disciplined and, like Tate, has an iron will. Footwork and counter striking will be key to fending off the relentless pressure of her challenger, and she might need to produce some effective counter wrestling to fend off takedown attempts that will almost certainly be utilised over the course of the fight.
Had Holm not pulled off the shock win against Rousey I’d likely be predicting a Tate victory here, but it did happen and like many I find it extremely hard picking against a champion who might still be keeping us in the dark with regards to the other aspects of her game. This is a much closer fight than most think, but Holm should be able to use her striking and movement to stay out of danger en route to a close decision.
Prediction: Holly Holm via decision
Welterweight
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz
It’s not quite the main event we all wanted, but against Nate Diaz the ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor will instead have a great opportunity to test himself in new waters. Competing at welterweight for the first time in his professional career all eyes will be on McGregor to see just how differently he performs 25 pounds above the weight limit have become accustomed to watching him compete at. Already favorably framed, McGregor will likely be trading a little speed for a lot of power, but as the Irishman has already pointed out none of this really matters as long as you have precision and timing sorted.
Predictably Nate Diaz is an extremely favorable matchup for the featherweight champion, but that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t got the tools required to spring the upset. A first degree BJJ black belt under Cesar Gracie, Diaz will be able to put McGregor in a world of trouble if he finds a way to drag the fight to the ground. If he can’t get the fight there Diaz has exceptional boxing and with a slight reach advantage has the potential to be competitive on the feet. Failing all this Diaz is one of the UFC’s most durable competitors, and has only been finished with strikes once...and even then he was trying to fight back.
With better preparation and riding confidence that few will ever enjoy in their entire career the smart money will obviously be on Conor McGregor to put on another classic winning performance. He can outsmart Diaz with superior movement, stun with some of his spectacular kicks, before eventually finding the finish with another devastating left.
‘Mystic Mac’ believes he’ll finish inside the first round. ‘Mystic...err...Keyboard Warrior’ predicts Diaz will be a little too tough to suffer such an early defeat. McGregor wins in the third.
Prediction: Conor McGregor via TKO
UFC Fight Picks 2016 Record: 10-8
What do you think will happen at UFC 196? Leave your predictions below!
Prediction: Ilir Latifi via TKO
Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Holly Holm © vs. Miesha Tate
Single-handedly ruining Ronda Rousey’s life, melting the internet and becoming a hero to those tired of the former champion’s incessant, self-indulgent bullshit, Holly Holm changed the game when her head kick knockout saw her capture the title last November. A return fight against Rousey will happen eventually, but first Holm will have to defend her gold against another upset-minded warrior.
Long considered by just about everyone as the best female fighter not named Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate is probably also the most well rounded WMMA competitor around at the moment. A smart pressure fighter with a strong grappling system, ever-improving striking and heart that shames most of her peers, Tate will be an extremely difficult puzzle for the new champion to solve. Knowing that this will likely be her final chance to become a UFC champion, Tate will do her utmost to drag Holm into her domain, but this is something that the champion is all too familiar with.
Holm isn’t Rousey. She’s not going to rush forward all guns blazing. Holm is measured, disciplined and, like Tate, has an iron will. Footwork and counter striking will be key to fending off the relentless pressure of her challenger, and she might need to produce some effective counter wrestling to fend off takedown attempts that will almost certainly be utilised over the course of the fight.
Had Holm not pulled off the shock win against Rousey I’d likely be predicting a Tate victory here, but it did happen and like many I find it extremely hard picking against a champion who might still be keeping us in the dark with regards to the other aspects of her game. This is a much closer fight than most think, but Holm should be able to use her striking and movement to stay out of danger en route to a close decision.
Prediction: Holly Holm via decision
Welterweight
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz
It’s not quite the main event we all wanted, but against Nate Diaz the ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor will instead have a great opportunity to test himself in new waters. Competing at welterweight for the first time in his professional career all eyes will be on McGregor to see just how differently he performs 25 pounds above the weight limit have become accustomed to watching him compete at. Already favorably framed, McGregor will likely be trading a little speed for a lot of power, but as the Irishman has already pointed out none of this really matters as long as you have precision and timing sorted.
Predictably Nate Diaz is an extremely favorable matchup for the featherweight champion, but that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t got the tools required to spring the upset. A first degree BJJ black belt under Cesar Gracie, Diaz will be able to put McGregor in a world of trouble if he finds a way to drag the fight to the ground. If he can’t get the fight there Diaz has exceptional boxing and with a slight reach advantage has the potential to be competitive on the feet. Failing all this Diaz is one of the UFC’s most durable competitors, and has only been finished with strikes once...and even then he was trying to fight back.
With better preparation and riding confidence that few will ever enjoy in their entire career the smart money will obviously be on Conor McGregor to put on another classic winning performance. He can outsmart Diaz with superior movement, stun with some of his spectacular kicks, before eventually finding the finish with another devastating left.
‘Mystic Mac’ believes he’ll finish inside the first round. ‘Mystic...err...Keyboard Warrior’ predicts Diaz will be a little too tough to suffer such an early defeat. McGregor wins in the third.
Prediction: Conor McGregor via TKO
UFC Fight Picks 2016 Record: 10-8
What do you think will happen at UFC 196? Leave your predictions below!
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