When UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones squares off against Daniel Cormier on Saturday in the main event of UFC 182, mixed martial arts fans will witness the culmination of months of trash talking.
There are few megafights anymore due to the oversaturation of the UFC product, but hardcore and casual MMA fans alike can get behind the battle between Jones and Cormier. After several pre-fight verbal arguments and a physical confrontation at a press conference, fight fans are ready to see the action in the Octagon.
Here is the full UFC 182 fight card, predictions for each bout and what gives challenger Daniel Cormier the edge in this matchup.
Daniel Cormier’s Biggest Edge
While there is no discounting the wrestling ability of Jon Jones, the advantage Cormier has over the champion is his elite ability on the mat.
From the very beginning of his wrestling career, Cormier was a man to be feared. With three state championships, two National Junior College Athletic Association Championships and a second-place finish at nationals while at Oklahoma State University in 2001, he is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the UFC.
Add in the fact that Cormier joined the Team USA freestyle wrestling team and was on the 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams, and there is no doubt that he is one of the most gifted mat technicians in the sport today.
Jon Anik of Fox Sports 1 revealed Jones’ thoughts on Cormier’s perceived wrestling advantage:
The trash talking has heated up overall, as Jones told Fox Sports 1’s America’s Pregame (h/t MMAJunkie.com) that he’d be ready to fight at the weigh-ins if necessary. Cormier immediately responded to those comments:
I think you have to (keep your emotions in check). What’s the point of fighting on Friday when we’ve got to wait 24 hours to fight on Saturday? Right now, it’s about staying the course and being professional. It will be good to see him in that state.
As Jon says, we take it how it goes. It’s a matter of, “How are we going to do this?” I would prefer to wait until Saturday, but if we had to fight on Friday, it would be OK, I guess.
While Cormier has the edge, Jones is no slouch. Not only did he also win a high school state championship, but he also was able to win a NJCAA Championship in 2006, just as Cormier did.
Jones may not have the extensive college and Olympic wrestling training that Cormier does, but the champion does have more Brazilian jiu-jitsu training and a serious advantage in experience inside the UFC Octagon.
With Cormier’s move from heavyweight to light heavyweight, he has a serious amount of power in his punches and is the kind of challenger who would give Jones trouble. It will be a great main event and fans should be ready to see a new champion crowned.
Predicted Winner: Cormier via fourth-round technical knockout.
Stats via UFC.com.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com