Two months ago the MMA world looked at UFC 187 as the largest event of the summer. Champion Jon Jones was to defend his title against his toughest opponent yet, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson. Johnson had the 1 punch KO power needed to upset someone as great as Jon and the buzz around the fight was beginning to build.
Then Jon Jones was charged for a felony hit & run, stripped of his UFC light heavyweight title and suspended indefinitely. In steps Daniel Cormier, his only loss coming in January to Jones and hungry for another opportunity. The narrative lost a lot of its luster because the fight had no true heel, no adequate build up. The card then needed the co-main event between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort to be the fight that drums up interest from the casual fans, but with that both men stayed out of the spotlight and the hype once again fell flat.
That all changed at yesterday’s weigh ins. Cormier disrespected Johnson after both men weighed in and Weidman went after Vitor; accusing him of cheating and boosting his testosterone. The UFC finally had its narrative but it was a little too late to draw in casual fans. The hope now is that UFC 187 becomes a card revered in retrospect.
A card known as the greatest of the year despite injuries and suspensions. The four main event fighters have the ability to put on all-time great matches and it’s up to them to leave UFC 187 with more hype than even once anticipated.
Here’s Our Predictions for Tonight’s Fights
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
Mike Pyle vs. Colby Covington – Pyle via Split Decision
Islam Makhachev vs. Leo Kuntz – Makhachev via Split Decision
Justin Scoggins vs. Josh Sampo – Scoggins via 2nd Rd TKO
Fox Sports 1 Prelims
John Dodson vs. Zach Makovsky – Dodson via 1st Rd KO
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Josh Burkman – Burkman via Unanimous Decision
Uriah Hall vs. Rafael Natal – Hall via Unanimous Decision
Rose Namajunas vs. Nina Ansaroff – Ansaroff via Split Decision
PPV Main Card
Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi – Cerrone via 1st Rd Submission
Travis Browne vs. Andrei Arlovski – Browne via 1st Rd TKO
Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga – Benavidez via Unanimous Decision
Co-Main Event
Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort – Weidman via 3rd Rd TKO
Main Event
Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier – Cormier via Unanimous Decision