UFC 195 will get MMA off to a wonderful start in 2016 on Saturday, with the main event between welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit set to be a belter of a contest.
Lawler comes into this one having enjoyed a renaissance in his UFC career, beating Johny Hendricks to take the title in December 2014 and then defending it in a spectacular showdown with Rory MacDonald at UFC 189. Condit, another man who is renowned for his exciting fighting style, is seeking to wrest away Lawler’s belt.
It’s the main attraction on what is a stellar card of fighting, including some intriguing preliminary bouts. Here are all the details you need on where to stream those fights, the card in full and a look at who is likely to come out on top in these clashes.
Event start time: 6:30 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. PT, 11:30 p.m. GMT
Preliminary bouts can be watched via UFC Fight Pass and Fox Sports Go.
Lawler vs. Condit
Condit will hope to prosper on arguably the biggest night of his career so far, as he seeks to usurp the champion Lawler in what many are expecting to be one of the standout fights of 2016.
That’s due to the precedent both men have set in previous outings. Condit has regularly thrilled fans around the globe with his brash style, with bouts against MacDonald, Georges St-Pierre, Hendricks and Martin Kampmann standing out as especially memorable. The man from New Mexico also has a reputation for producing sensational knockouts.
UFC President Dana White gave us reminder of what Condit is capable of ahead of this one, with this clip of his stunning victory over Dong Hyun Kim in 2011:
Lawler may well be one of his most durable opponents to date, though. Despite being bloodied and bruised by MacDonald at UFC 189, the champion still had enough in him to up his levels in the fifth round, finishing his game opponent with a flurry of shots.
It’s expected this fight will go a similar way. They are both exceptional strikers, and neither takes a step back inside the Octagon. As aforementioned, they have both proved their warrior-like qualities time after time.
Even the biggest names in the sport are looking forward to this one, including light heavyweight star Jon Jones:
In a bout that is set to sway back and forth, there’s likely to be little separating these two. It’s a fight that will rarely go to the mat, which means Condit’s technical advantage is unlikely to be too decisive. If he can stay disciplined, the challenger has a fine chance of taking this one, but Lawler’s superior power will most likely see him emerge victorious from a bloodbath.
Prediction: Lawler via decision
Brandao vs. Ortega
Diego Brandao and Brian Ortega will face off on the undercard of this bill in what should be an intriguing contest between two exciting featherweights.
Brandao is seeking to re-establish himself as a less erratic competitor, having failed to find consistency when stepping into the cage against savvy opposition such as current champion Conor McGregor. The Brazilian can be savage at times, capable of rocking fighters with his power and keeping them on edge with his submission quality. A more measured approach will surely help him too.
Ortega will test out any frailties, as was evident in the 24-year-old’s brilliant win over Thiago Tavares. Ortega was pleased to hear that his triumph, which came via technical knockout in the third round, was rated as one of the best of 2015:
There’s a swell of momentum behind Ortega at the moment, with his showmanship and technical qualities making him popular among fans. Brandao will be the biggest test of his short career to date, though, as the youngster seeks to secure his 10th win in professional MMA.
Whoever wins this one will propel himself up the ladder in a featherweight division that is wide-open at the moment. As a young fighter, there’s little pressure on Ortega to prosper here, with the 28-year-old Brandao knowing the time is now for him to put together a sequence and move up the rankings.
The Brazilian has not coped well with high expectations in the past. As a result, Ortega will get the job done inside the distance, most likely via submission.
Prediction: Ortega via submission
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