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Despite being hampered by a few injuries, this weekend’s UFC 187 card may still be one of the best cards the promotion has put on all year. The event will be headlined by a pair of title bouts as Anthony Johnson faces Daniel Cormier for the vacant light heavyweight title and Chris Weidman defends his middleweight title against Vitor Belfort. Also, Donald Cerrone faces John Makdessi with a potential title shot on the line and Andrei Arlovski looks to keep his career revival going.
Main Card
Main Event
UFC Light Heavyweight Title Decision Fight
Daniel Cormier (15-1-0) vs. Anthony “Rumble†Johnson (19-4-0)
Cormier will be challenging for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title for the second time in a row, as he is coming off of a loss to then champion Jon Jones as UFC 182. Johnson has been undefeated since returning to the UFC, last defeating Alexander Gustafsson at UFC On Fox 14. Cormier has held gold before as he won the 2012 Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix and he was the Xtreme MMA Heavyweight Champion. Johnson has not suffered a defeat in well over two years, with his last defeat coming to Vitor Belfort, who is challenging for middleweight gold at the same event. Cormier must get the fight to the ground if he is to win, but Johnson has improved defense and better striking, which will be the cause of Johnsons win here.
UFC Middleweight Title Fight
“All American†Chris Weidman (12-0-0) (Champion) vs. Vitor “The Phenom†Belfort (24-10-0)
Weidman will be making the third defense of his championship, last defending it against Lyoto Machida at UFC 175. Belfort’s only two defeats in the last nine years came in title fights, with those losses coming to then light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 152 and then middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 126. Weidman has fought a Brazilian fighter in five of his last six fights, as he is fighting Vitor Belfort at UFC 187, while fighting Damian Maia (UFC On Fox II), Anderson Silva (UFC 162 & UFC 168) and Lyoto Machida (UFC 175). Belfort will enter the fight riding a three fight winning streak and he has not suffered a defeat in nearly three years. Weidman can only win if he survives the initial onslaught of Belfort, which he will do to grind out a decision and keep the gold.
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Donald “Cowboy†Cerrone (27-6-0) vs. John “The Bull†Makdessi (13-3-0)
Cerrone will enter the fight riding a seven fight winning streak, last defeating former UFC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson at UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver. Makdessi has won four of five under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Sam Stout by decision at UFC 154. Cerrone gets a lightweight title shot with a victory, which he will get by submitting the overmatched Makdessi in the first.
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Andrei “The Pit Bull†Arlovski (23-10-0-1NC) vs. Travis “Hapa†Browne (17-2-1)
Arlovski has been undefeated since returning to the UFC, most notably defeating Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski II. Browne has won four of his last five under the UFC banner, most notably defeating Josh Barnett at UFC 168. Browne has a huge reach edge when compared to Arlovski, which is an advantage he will use to squeak out a decision win.
UFC Flyweight Division Fight
Joseph Benavidez (21-4-0) vs. John Moraga (16-3-0)
Benavidez has won five of his last six in the UFC, with that lone defeat coming to UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC On Fox IX. Moraga enters the fight on a two fight winning streak, which includes a win over former Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Champion Willie Gates. Benavidez has an unending wrestling game, which he will use to ground Moraga and earn a decision victory.
Preliminary Card
John Dodson over Zach Makovsky
Dong Hyun Kim over Josh Burkman
Rafael Natal over Uriah Hall
Rose Namajunas over Nina Ansaroff
Mike Pyle over Colby Covington
Leo Kuntz over Islam Makhachev
Justin Scoggins over Josh Sampo
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