Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will battle Daniel Cormier for the vacant UFC light heavyweight belt at UFC 187, a main event that was originally scheduled to feature superstar Jon Jones.
However, the UFC stripped Jones of his title and suspended him from the company after he was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run incident, per Fox Sports Live (h/t Mike Bohn and Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie). Having failed to capture the gold from Jones in January—losing via unanimous decision—Cormier has stepped up to provide Johnson’s final hurdle for the prize.
This battle will round off a tremendous night of action in arguably the UFC’s most stacked night of the year. Here, we detail starts times for the prelims and the main card, with a rundown of live-stream options for those who are watching online.
Prelims Start Time: 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT/11:30 p.m. GMT.
Main Card Start Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT/3 a.m. GMT.
Live Stream: Fight Pass, UFC TV, YouTube.
Here’s a full selection of predictions, followed by a focus on the main event:
Johnson to Overcome Cormier…Just
It’s been well over three years since Johnson last tasted defeat in the UFC. Vitor Belfort’s victory at UFC 142 in January 2012 via rear-naked choke came inside the first round, but at that stage, it’s fair to say The Phenom’s explosive all-round style ranked as one of Johnson’s most dangerous potential matchups. Rumble has worked tremendously hard since then, racking up nine victories, to put himself on the brink of glory.
Just like Belfort in 2012, Cormier should be considered a nightmare opponent for Rumble. DC’s entire game plan is built around his top-quality wrestling skills. Cormier’s stocky frame allows him to overpower opponents in close quarters, particularly on the ground and up against the cage.
Despite being three inches shorter than Rumble, per UFC.com, Cormier’s high activity level will see him attempt to close the distance on Johnson’s jab. He’s a man who, if allowed to assert his bulk, will simply manhandle and overpower anyone in his path.
Johnson is a strong defensive wrestler, but he cannot allow Cormier the chance to limit his movement. Rumble is better-suited to staying on his feet, utilising short, sharp combinations to stop Cormier from trudging forward. His jab is an obvious go-to weapon, but weaving in and out with a variety of kicks should also slow his opponent down.
Rumble is expecting Cormier to throw everything at him, per MMA Weekly:
This fight is going to boil down to minuscule details. Most significantly of all, Johnson’s ability to concentrate is likely to be key. He is prone to losing his rhythm when under pressure, swinging wildly to try to regain control. These are the exact moments when Cormier can impose his frightening physicality.
However, Johnson’s previous experience against Belfort should stand him in good stead here. He’s become an increasingly thoughtful fighter over the years, mixing the right blend of control and all-out savagery, to put himself in this position.
If he moves unpredictably and doesn’t engage in grapples or any kind of lockup, Johnson should score enough points to grab the title.
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