Quick thoughts before the fights (Main card only.) (Also, 187 is what police respond to as a murder. So, I can’t call this just, 187)
Joseph Benevediz vs. John Moraga
Joseph Benevediz should be capable of taking and controlling this fight wherever it goes. I don’t see how Moraga makes this fight his fight. I think he’ll grind him out until he can overwhelm him; maybe Moraga gets sloppy when he’s tired, but it ends the same either way.
Travis Browne vs. Andrea Arlovski
It’d be a great fight for Arlovski if it were just a boxing match. But as time progressed Arlovski started using his hands way more than anything else and threw his entire ground game directly out the window. Odd, considering he is a pretty good grappler. If Arlovski really mixed things up, he could win. But I don’t see that happening. His best bet is to get a knock out in the first round. But Browne is a better mixed martial artist. Browne wins by his ability to transition to different aspects of the fight. While Arlovski sticks with one despite the fact that he has many other skills.
Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi
Donald is the better kick boxer, he’s the better grappler and he has the world behind him. People love him. This could be great for John if he shows up to fight. Having people see him perform well and against Cowboy would be a huge career jump for him. But I don’t see his kickboxing or his ability to close the distance or keep the pace with Cowboy a factor. John should be kicked enough times low until they start coming up high. That’s the night.
Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort
Bet everything on Weidman. Chris will break his will first. Then he will pound out a victory. The kicks that Vitor has been throwing are great, but they won’t be effective against a guy trying to close the distance constantly and keep you on your heels. Vitor has a great punches chance and maybe he starts throwing elbows from close. If Vitor can land a left straight right down the center and staggers and finish Chris, that’s it. I don’t see it happening.
Vitor tries to flurry, he’ll be on his back. Vitor tries to submit, he’ll lose his position. Vitor tries to kick; he will get dragged to the ground. I cannot say I see it going any other way.
Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier
In a weird triangle, I think, Rumble beats Gus and Gus beats Daniel and Daniel beats Rumble. Gus can beat Daniel because he can establish a distance, jab his face off and keep Daniel away from him for 25 minutes, or at least make him eat 10 punches trying to come in. Anthony does not strike that way. Anthony throws punches that need distance to connect and he throws them in maybe one to three punch combinations but all with power. Power punches don’t keep people off you because they just have to get around one to grab you and the puncher is either smart and sitting down on their punches or throwing everything behind them and slightly off balance. It’ll be very hard for Anthony to land his outrageously powerful punches from his back. I think Daniel is going to throw some haymakers to make Rumble just a little off balance and then Daniel is going to grab him and not let go.
The best thing Rumble can do, mix it up. Throw a few, fake a take down, throw a few, and throw low and high. Fake. Outside of that, I think Daniel grabs him and does everything in his power to not let him upright.
