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The most highly anticipated fight the UFC has featured in a very long time finally comes to a head this Saturday Night as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones faces the undefeated Daniel Cormier. The co-main event is a bout worth keeping an eye on as well with Donald Cerrone battling the young upstart in Myles Jury. Also, Josh Burkman makes his long anticipated return to the UFC and Brad Tavares faces Nate Marquardt in a key middleweight bout.
Main Card
Main Event
UFC Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Jon “Bones†Jones (20-1-0) (Champion) vs. Daniel “DC†Cormier (15-0-0)
Jones will be making the eighth defense of his championship, last defending it against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172. Cormier has been undefeated thus far in his MMA career, defeating Patrick Cummins and Dan Henderson since his move to light heavyweight. Jones has been one of the better finishers in title bouts, with five of the seven championship bouts he has been involved in not going to a decision. Cormier is no stranger to big time bouts, having won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix by defeating former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett in the finals. This bout will be about Cormier closing the distance on Jones, whose fight IQ is among the best in all of MMA, Jones will hold the title via a controversial decision.
Co-Main Event
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Donald “Cowboy†Cerrone (25-6-0-1NC) vs. Myles “Fury†Jury (15-0-0)
Cerrone had arguably the most successful 2014 out of any fighter in the UFC, winning all four of his fights within the UFC. Jury has come out of nowhere to become a top contender in the UFC, notching wins over Diego Sanchez and Takanori Gomi. Cerrone has only gone to a decision once in his last six fights, which was a victory over former Bellator MMA Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 178. Jury has primarily fought TUF alumni during his time in the UFC, with five of his six UFC wins coming over members of the reality show. Cerrone could easily be a bout away from a title shot, he will use his superior striking skills to TKO Jury and end his undefeated streak.
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Nate “The Great†Marquardt (33-13-2) vs. Brad Tavares (12-3-0)
Marquardt has only won just one of three in his second UFC run, but he is a former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion. Tavares will enter the fight riding a two fight losing streak, his August 2014 bout against Tim Boetsch was his first bout in four years that did not go to a decision. Tavares needs to avoid the ground game of Marquardt to get the win and he will do so by using his superior boxing skills to get a close decision victory.
UFC Flyweight Division Fight
Louis “Goodnight†Gaudinot (6-3-0-1NC) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (14-1-0)
Gaudinot has only won just one of four fights under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over John Lineker at UFC On Fox III. Horiguchi has already won three bouts under the UFC banner and he is a former Vale Tudo Japan Bantamweight Champion. Horiguchi is quietly becoming a top prospect in the UFC and Gaudinot is nowhere near his skill set, Horiguchi submits Gaudinot in the third.
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Josh “The People’s Warrior†Burkman (27-10-0) vs. Hector “Showeather†Lombard (34-4-1-1NC)
Burkman is starting his second stint in the UFC, he did win four of five fights during his stint with the World Series Of Fighting. Lombard has been undefeated since dropping to welterweight in the UFC, defeating Nate Marquardt and Jake Shields. Lombard has returned to being the dominant fighter he once was since dropping to welterweight, he uses his overly aggressive striking style to knockout Burkman in the first.
Preliminary Card
Danny Castillo over Paul Felder
Marcus Brimage over Cody Garbrandt
Shawn Jordan over Jared Cannonier
Evan Dunham over Rodrigo Damm
Matts Nilsson over Omari Akhmedov
Alexis Dufresne over Marion Reneau
