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The UFC has been on a roll lately with a plethora of star studded pay-per-views in 2015 and things will continue rolling on with UFC 185. The event will be headlined by a pair of title bouts as UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis defends against Rafael Dos Anjos and UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza defends against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Also, Matt Brown faces Johny Hendricks and Roy Nelson faces Alistair Overeem in a key heavyweight bout.
Main Card
Main Event
UFC Lightweight Title Fight Anthony “Showtime†Pettis (18-2-0) (Champion) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (23-7-0)
Pettis will be making the second defense of his championship, last defending it against Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181. Dos Anjos earned a shot at the title by winning eight of his last nine fights and he is on a three fight winning streak at the moment. Pettis is one of the few fighters under the UFC to have held titles in both the UFC and WEC (lightweight champion in both organizations). During his most recent run, Dos Anjos defeated two previous UFC/WEC Lightweight Title challengers (Donald Cerrone/Nate Diaz) and a former UFC Lightweight Champion (Ben Henderson). Pettis is good when he keeps fighters at range and Dos Anjos is good at pressuring fighters, Pettis wins via a close split decision.
Co-Main Event
UFC Women’s Strawweight Title Fight
Carla “Cookie Monster†Esparza (10-2-0) (Champion) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (8-0-0)
Esparza will be making the first defense of her championship, as she won it by defeating Rose Namajunas at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale. Jedrzejczyk earned a title shot after earning a pair of victories in the UFC over Julianna De Lima and Claudia Gadelha. Besides holding gold in the UFC, Esparza was also the first ever Invicta FC Strawweight Champion as she defeating UFC veteran Bec Rawlings at Invicta FC IV. Prior to coming to the UFC in 2014, Jedrzejczyk had defeated and retired UFC veteran Rosi Sexton at Cage Warriors 69. Esparza must use her wrestling to control Jedrzejczyk to hold onto the title, which is exactly what will happen in this one.
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Matt “The Immortal†Brown (19-12-0) vs. Johny “Bigg Rigg†Hendricks (16-3-0)
Brown has won seven of his last eight fights under the UFC banner, with his lone loss coming to current UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler. Hendricks will be fighting for the first time since losing the UFC Welterweight Title to Robbie Lawler at UFC 181. This fight should be an action packed affair from bell to bell, but Brown will squeak out a close split decision over Brown.
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Roy “Big Country†Nelson (20-10-0) vs. Alistair “The Demolition Man†Overeem (38-14-0-1NC)
Nelson has only won just one of his last four fights under the UFC banner, with that lone win coming over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Nogueira. Overeem has won two of his last three fights in UFC competition, most notably defeating Frank Mir at UFC 169. These are two fighters who should engage in nothing short of a slugfest, which is where Nelson will knockout Overeem in the first.
UFC Flyweight Division Fight
Chris “Kamikaze†Cariaso (17-6-0) vs. Henry “The Messenger†Cejudo (7-0-0)
Cariaso will be competing for the first time since losing to UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 178. Cejudo made his UFC debut back at UFC On Fox 13, which is where he defeated Dustin Kimura by unanimous decision. Cejudo is one of the best wrestlers in the flyweight division and he will control Cariaso on the ground to get a decision.
Preliminary Card
Ross Pearson over Sam Stout
Elias Theodoru over Roger Narvaez
Daron Cruickshank over Beneil Dariush
Jared Rosholt over Josh Copeland
Sergio Pettis over Ryan Benoit
Jake Lindsey over Joseph Duffy
Larissa Pacheco over Germaine De Randamie
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