UFC 178 isn’t big on size, but it should more than make up for that with excitement.
Headlined by a flyweight title fight between Demetrious Johnson and Chris Cariaso, the lighter weight classes are set to take center stage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night. With the long-awaited debut of Eddie Alvarez and the return of former UFC champion Dominick Cruz also on tap, the card is chock full of intrigue.
Here’s a look at how and when to catch all the action, along with predictions for every fight.
Odds via OddsShark.com.
Storylines to Watch
The Return of Dominick Cruz
Demetrious Johnson may serve as the headliner for Saturday night’s card, but the man who sent the champion to the flyweight division might be the most intriguing fighter on the card.
After a nearly three-year layoff, former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will finally return to the Octagon against Takeya Mizugaki.
The last time we saw The Dominator in the cage, he was showcasing his well-rounded skill set in a successful title defense against Johnson. Now, the question everyone has on their mind is whether Cruz can regain that form after such a long time away from fighting, two ACL reconstruction surgeries and a torn groin, as noted by Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports.
Even though three years seem like an eternity in the sport of MMA, it isn’t difficult to remember that Cruz once lived up to his Dominator moniker. His only loss came back in 2007 to Urijah Faber, and it would be shocking to see him add one to the loss column against Mizugaki.
Expect there to be some rust for the 29-year-old but not enough to keep him from outpointing his veteran opponent.
The Debut of Eddie Alvarez
For years, Eddie Alvarez has been near the top of nearly every “Fighters We Wish Were in the UFC” list. The two-time Bellator champion has always tantalized fans with his ability to finish fights and sparked the matchmaking imaginations of those who want to know where he ranks among the UFC’s lightweights.
On Saturday night, he’ll finally answer those questions.
Alvarez won’t be stepping into the easiest of challenges in his debut, either. Donald Cerrone will welcome him to the Octagon. With Cowboy winning four consecutive fights by finish, he’s not an easy out for anyone.
Still, Alvarez has already promised fireworks, per UFC Tonight:
The newcomer may have the purest of intentions. He’s used to throwing down and providing the fans with what they want.
However, it’s hard to shake the feeling things won’t go as planned for Alvarez. He wouldn’t be the first one to struggle in his UFC debut after dominating in Bellator (looking at you, Hector Lombard). Alvarez should eke out a victory, but finishing Cerrone is a tall task.
The Dominance of Demetrious Johnson
It’s taken a while, but Demetrious Johnson is finally getting the respect he deserves. Few fighters can match the technical prowess and pure athleticism that Mighty Mouse possesses in the cage, and now he’s No. 4 in the latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings.
The opponent Johnson faces on Saturday night might not be that exciting. Chris Cariaso last fought Louis Smolka to a split decision. Smolka doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page.
However, that doesn’t mean that the fight will be a total snoozefest. Watching one of the best in the sport do his thing is something that every fight fan should be able to enjoy.
This should also be yet another opportunity for Johnson to fight the criticism that he’s unable to finish fights after failing to put away Ali Bagautinov in his last title defense. Johnson should be able to put an emphatic exclamation mark on an exciting card with his third finish in four fights.
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