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UFC 191: Fight Card, PPV Start Time and Final Johnson vs. Dodson 2 Predictions

It’s rematch time at UFC 191, where Demetrious Johnson will clash with John Dodson in Las Vegas in a rematch of their classic encounter from 2013.
Johnson hasn’t experienced much in the way of competition since, ruling the flyweight division with an ir…

It’s rematch time at UFC 191, where Demetrious Johnson will clash with John Dodson in Las Vegas in a rematch of their classic encounter from 2013.

Johnson hasn’t experienced much in the way of competition since, ruling the flyweight division with an iron fist and elite submission skills. It’s been a rockier journey for Dodson, who dealt with a knee issue while clamoring for a rematch.

The headline act is a perfect topper on Saturday, but the promotion didn’t hold back in making the rest of the card must-see action, either.

Below, let’s take a look at the important info surrounding the event and make some calls on the top fights.

UFC 191 Viewing Info, Card and Predictions

Predicting Top Fights

Andrei Arlovski vs. Frank Mir

It seems one of the most obvious heavyweight bouts will unfold after years of it somehow not happening.

Frank Mir might be 36 years old, but he’s still chugging along. His four-fight skid is well in the rearview mirror after two wins. Still, one can’t help but feel like Mir will either get a title shot with a win here or fade in a bad way.

Arlovski’s story isn’t much different. He’s the same age as Mir, the exception being his undefeated mark in three UFC bouts. His last two fights have come as Round 1 wins, as have Mir’s.

For Mir, he sounded surprised the promotion didn’t put a longer build behind two guys with more than a decade of experience, similar stories and who are fighting to stay alive, if not gain a title shot.

Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog captured his thoughts:

I thought that this fight had so much history behind it that maybe the buildup would have been longer than six weeks. [Since] both of us represent the same qualities of persevering through adversity, I would have liked it if one of us had the title and one of us came up to challenge so many years later. I thought that would have been a much more interesting [story] than just kind of a hurried rush, with both of us at this point of our success.

A bigger buildup might have been nice, but either way, it won’t impact the action in the Octagon.

These two love to slug it out. Per UFC.com, Arlovski lands 3.19 significant strikes per minute to Mir’s 2.28. Mir continues to get better in this regard, though, no longer the sluggish, almost laughable upright heavyweight defender who would prefer to take it to the mat.

Still, Mir’s best shot is on the mat, but it won’t be easy for him to get there. Arlovski defends 85.7 percent of the takedowns thrown his way, and in an upright battle, he’s the pick, because he’s quicker and more devastating with the blows.

Prediction: Arlovski via KO.

Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson

It’s easy to point out Dodson’s road back from knee surgery, but he didn’t show much of an issue getting a unanimous decision against Zach Makovsky back in May at UFC 187.

In other words, he looks like the guy who caught Johnson and took him down in their first title match. He still looks like the guy who is the fastest at the weight behind Johnson, if not the one who packs the most power behind his punches.

Given the above, it’s understandable Dodson is confident going into the rematch.

“I will guarantee that I am going to come out there and do something that’s never been done,” Dodson said, per UFC.com’s Matt Parrino. “I’m going to stop Demetrious Johnson on Sept. 5.”

Still, when it comes down to prediction time, it’s hard to go against the champion. Just because Johnson seems to have had an easy go of it in his title defenses as of late doesn’t mean he isn’t improving.

In fact, he continues to look better by the bout, tempering his speed when necessary and using a methodical approach to win by the time the bell rings. His speed isn’t a crutch, as it might be for Dodson—it’s one talent in what is perhaps the most well-rounded package in the sport.

As such, look for Johnson to avoid the early match-ending strikes from his opponent, settle into a pace and win this one on the cards. So long as he avoids the early onslaught, he’s good for another title defense in what should be another classic.

Prediction: Johnson via decision.

Odds via Odds Shark.com as of September 3. Stats and info via UFC.com, unless otherwise specified.

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Johnson vs. Dodson 2: Latest Odds, Predictions and Pre-Fight Twitter Hype

One of UFC’s most anticipated rematches goes down Saturday when Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson step into the Octagon to headline UFC 191.Intriguing matchups litter the card, but none matches the hype of Johnson vs. Dodson 2, what some have waited a…

One of UFC’s most anticipated rematches goes down Saturday when Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson step into the Octagon to headline UFC 191.

Intriguing matchups litter the card, but none matches the hype of Johnson vs. Dodson 2, what some have waited almost two years for after an epic first showdown. Dodson came somewhat out of left field in 2013 and gave the reigning flyweight champion the most memorable defense of his run thus far.

Things come to a head again Saturday.

Here’s the card, how Las Vegas feels about each matchup and predictions:

The main card is especially interesting. Paige VanZant stands as one of the most intriguing names in the women’s division. Anthony Johnson remains on the redemption tour after winding up on the wrong side of a Jon Jones-vacated title belt scrap against Daniel Cormier.

Then there’s veteran Frank Mir, who continues his surprising extended stay, the four-loss streak ending last February against Antonio Silva. It’s a two-fight winning streak now, too, thanks to a knockout win against Todd Duffee in July.

The 36-year-old superstar took to Twitter to help hype his fight against Andrei Arlovski:

Call it a trap fight for Mir, though, and one of the most interesting bouts in months considering The Pit Bull remains undefeated in UFC with three wins, the last a TKO against Travis Browne at UFC 187.

Still, nothing compares to the hype of the headline act.

Saturday is title defense No. 7 for Mighty Mouse, and it’s been a heck of a run thus far, even if Dodson gave him the best run for his money. Most wins since the epic matchup have come via submission, with a decision (Ali Bagautinov) and knockout (Joseph Benavidez) sprinkled in for good measure.

As UFC captured, the challenger doesn’t sound like he wants to let this one go to the scorecards like their first bout did and undoubtedly like Johnson might prefer:

It also sounds like Dodson already has a blueprint sketched about what comes next, per Fox Sports:

Dodson seems to be a popular pick in this title bout, if not because many would like a breath of fresh air in the division, but because he’s a sly underdog pick while still making his way back from an ACL injury.

Fellow UFC fighter Derek Brunson was one of many to take to social media to support the challenger:

It’s all white noise to the champ. Johnson hit the mat in unexpected fashion the first time around, but it doesn’t sound like he will alter his approach at all Saturday.

He spoke with Elias Cepeda of Fox Sports on the matter: “Why avoid kicking if he barely nicked me? Everyone may think they land but they don’t really land. It’s just the way I like to go about doing things. If you can punch me, good for you. I’m coming right back at you, anyway.”

For Johnson, another chance to take down Dodson means a chance at improvement and history, as Fox Sports and UFC revealed:

Twitter is alight with buzz concerning this matchup for good reason.

With Las Vegas the backdrop, a necessary rematch and two guys who love to chat with the media and seem to share a general dislike, social media was bound to explode. No doubt it will be even livelier once the two touch gloves and get down to business Saturday.

No matter who wins, the fans do. This is a matchup two years in the making, and it will redefine the flyweight division by night’s end.

Odds via Odds Shark as of September 3. Stats and info via UFC.com, unless otherwise specified.

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Rousey vs. Correia Results: Winner and Storylines to Watch After UFC 190

Ronda Rousey took her time securing her sixth UFC title defense Saturday against Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro.
Well, sort of, at least.
It took Rousey 34 seconds to score a violent knockout rarely seen in the division. By comparison, she …

Ronda Rousey took her time securing her sixth UFC title defense Saturday against Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro.

Well, sort of, at least.

It took Rousey 34 seconds to score a violent knockout rarely seen in the division. By comparison, she needed 14 seconds to submit Cat Zingano and 16 to score a knockout of Alexis Davis.

Still, Rousey took care of business in shocking fashion, playing to her opponent’s strengths and still emerging the sport’s top force. The ripple effect will prove vast, so after a look at the main card’s results, let’s look at some of the storylines to watch.

UFC Main Card 190 Results

Storylines to Watch After UFC 190

Bethe Correia‘s Bright Future

The globe didn’t get to learn much about Correia on Saturday, which is a shame given her immense talent and bright future.

Correia did the smart thing against Rousey, feeling out the opponent and attempting to step into the trading game, her strength. It failed, of course, but it was better than not entering the Octagon at all.

ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto captured the challenger’s thoughts on the quick finish:

I think she felt my strikes. She tried to grab me. I defended takedowns. Those things happen. Her hands landed. That’s her merit. I fell but I thought I was doing the right game, which was to attack, counterattack, defend takedowns and hit her. In that moment, I slipped. I got up. She connected a good punch. That’s it. That’s fighting.

Still, Correia lasted longer than most and 20 seconds longer than Zingano. It’s just where the sport stands given Rousey‘s jaw-dropping dominance, and as such, it won’t take long for Correia to get back into the No. 1 contender realm.

Remember, she beat Shayna Baszler at UFC 177 via a Round 2 TKO and Jessamyn Duke at UFC 172 via unanimous decision. She’s versatile, and while her best wasn’t good enough, it wouldn’t be hard to sell her as a major threat after a few strong showings.

Speaking of those, it’s easy to see where Correia goes next—down the ladder like the rest. It figures to be temporary, with a bout against Jessica Eye or someone else on the slate.

Regardless, don’t expect Correia to go away anytime soon. Her next move is something to monitor.

Rousey‘s Next Move

It takes someone on a different level to walk into a combat sport, ignore her strength, use her opponent’s and escape with a victory wild enough to stir up a social media frenzy—then walk out like it was just another day at the office.

Whether it was pre-fight trash talk or something else, Rousey walked right in and traded blows, something—in theory—that should have put her at a disadvantage against such a brilliant striker.

Instead, the globe watched in awe as Rousey completed her journey of evolution as a fighter, perhaps staking claim to the most well-rounded fighter in the sport’s history. Dana White put it best, per Fox Sports Live:

So, what’s next?

Another fight with Miesha Tate would make some sense. Remember, the last one went to Round 3 at UFC 168 before the dreaded armbar. Three chances against Rousey seems a bit much for any challenger, but Tate’s won four in a row and represents a serious threat.

Of course, so does one Cristiane Justino. As White notes, via MMAFighting.com, out-of-Octagon things need to come together:

The Cyborg hasn’t lost since 2005 unless one factors in the no-decision from 2011. She represents the fight everyone wants to see and perhaps the best challenge for Rousey, so expect to hear more about the hypothetical matchup if the Cyborg can make it happen.

No matter whom she fights, it’s clear Rousey can win via any approach.

Note: Stats and info courtesy of UFC.com unless otherwise specified.

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UFC 189 Start Time: Card, TV Schedule, Live Stream, Mendes vs. McGregor Picks

Conor McGregor’s showdown with Chad Mendes might not be what fans wanted, but it’s what they will get Saturday in Las Vegas.
It’s a doozy, regardless.
Jose Aldo was the original fighter meant to take on UFC’s hottest commodity, but either way, fans wil…

Conor McGregor’s showdown with Chad Mendes might not be what fans wanted, but it’s what they will get Saturday in Las Vegas.

It’s a doozy, regardless.

Jose Aldo was the original fighter meant to take on UFC’s hottest commodity, but either way, fans will win when the two step into the Octagon thanks to Mendes’ heavy-hitting ways.

Never mind the fact that the rest of the card is bottom-to-top stacked with familiar faces and bouts sure to leave a lasting impact on multiple divisions.

It’s not an event to miss. Here are the details and fights to watch.

UFC 189 PPV Schedule

Date: Saturday, July 11

Fight Times (ET): Fight Pass at 7 p.m.; Fox Sports 1 prelims at 8 p.m.; pay-per-view at 10 p.m.

Location: Staples Center in Los Angeles

Live Stream: UFC.tv

UFC 189 Card

Top Fights

Brad Pickett vs. Thomas Almeida

Thomas Almeida remains one of the hottest commodities in the UFC.

The undefeated 23-year-old Chute Boxe product decimates the opposition in different ways. Per FightMetric.com, he lands a ridiculous 7.82 significant strikes per minute on 51 percent accuracy. His opponent, Brad Pickett? Just 3.18 on 31 percent.

Still, Almeida refuses to take the opposition in a light manner.

Mike Bohn and Christian Stein of MMAJunkie.com caught up with him about the fight: “Brad Pickett is extremely tough; it’s an honor to fight him. He has a lot of experience fighting the best athletes in our weight class, not only as a bantamweight but also as a flyweight. If I get past him, it will be a great leap for my career.”

This looks like an easy enough pick. Pickett has lost two in a row and stands without a win since March 2014. He also has yet to enter the Octagon this year.

Still, any fight involving Almeida at this point is worth the price of admission.

Prediction: Almeida via TKO.

Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald

It’s an odd, odd card when a showdown between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald doesn’t receive a ton of hype due to other fights.

Or just a stacked one.

For Lawler, the lack of press thanks to the Mendes-McGregor showdown isn’t a problem. In fact, it might be a bonus.

“That does not bother me at all,” Lawler said, per Sherdog.com’s Mike Sloan. “I don’t care if I’m the first fight or the last fight; I’m going to go out there and showcase my skill. … I just stick to what I do and that’s train hard and concentrate on myself. I let the UFC do the promoting.”

Sounds great, right? These two are elite fighters, and both need this one in a bad way. MacDonald is elite, but he’s not living up to the hype of Georges St-Pierre yet. Lawler needs to continue his epic roll or the 33-year-old San Diego native risks fading into obscurity.

These two are right down the middle. Both land better than 3.5 significant strikes per minute at above 43 percent accuracy. Both hit on 55 percent or better in takedown accuracy and 65 percent in takedowns defended. In 2013, they fought to a close decision in favor of Ruthless.

Look for the same result. The champion can use his experience from last time out to defend the title.

Prediction: Lawler via decision.

Chad Mendes vs. Conor McGregor

It’s odd to think Mendes is an underdog.

Sure, he lost to Aldo two fights ago, but he still hits almost 50 percent of his strikes and touts a takedown accuracy of 54 percent. He even continues to improve as a wrestler while acting as one of the division’s most dangerous strikers.

While it’s time to leave the McGregor hype behind, there’s a reason for it.

McGregor himself is pretty confident, as MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani captures:

McGregor is the winner of three dating back through 2014 for good reason. He fights in a flurry, averaging 5.72 strikes per minute. He keeps opponents at bay with his unique stance and is competent when things hit the mat.

Some will point out UFC’s fastest-rising star is just like Floyd Mayweather—great at self-promotion and mowing through iffy competition. Others believe the hype.

This one is a 50-50, which makes it a major win for fans. It will reveal whether McGregor is the real deal. For now, the safest route is to think his ability to keep Mendes at range will help him eventually score a decision.

Prediction: McGregor via decision.

Stats and info courtesy of FightMetric.com unless otherwise specified.

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UFC 187 Start Time: Full Card, TV Info, Live Stream, Johnson vs. Cormier Picks

Even sans Jon Jones, UFC’s desire to pump out loaded cards saves Saturday’s UFC 187 and makes it a can’t-miss affair. There’s a lot of bad blood between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort after lengthy delays. The former wants to prove he’s a deserv…

Even sans Jon Jones, UFC’s desire to pump out loaded cards saves Saturday’s UFC 187 and makes it a can’t-miss affair.

There’s a lot of bad blood between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort after lengthy delays. The former wants to prove he’s a deserving champion, and the latter wants to prove age doesn’t matter.

Even the preliminaries offer a little bit of something for everyone, although the event’s headlining act shoulders most of the responsibility.

There, Anthony Johnson against Daniel Cormier is as 50-50 as it gets in a bout capable of ascending only one man’s career.

Here’s the info to know.

UFC 187 Fight Card

Breaking Down Johnson vs. Cormier

As they say, this is for all the marbles.

With Jones out of the picture thanks to a legal situation, the light heavyweight division is wide open.

Interestingly enough, Cormier just took a loss at the hands of Jones via unanimous decision in January, but now finds himself right back in a position to sit in the division’s top spot.

As David Kano points out, though, the underdog with a second chance isn’t the crowd favorite by any means:

Anthony Johnson, on the other hand, is another name capable of rising to the top with Jones on the sidelines.

He’s emerged as one of the promotion’s deadliest strikers, riding a three-fight streak topped off by January’s Round 1 technical knockout of Alexander Gustafsson.

It’s no secret Johnson will come out swinging early and often, but don’t expect it to come in a reckless manner. As he told UFC.com’s Michael Martinez, he understands how dangerous an opponent on a second chance such as Cormier can be:

I’m going to have to push myself a lot harder. He’s going to come and bring it. This is his second opportunity. He missed out on it once and he knows that he’s blessed and fortunate to have a second opportunity after the situation that occurred with Jon Jones.

He’s hungry, man. But the thing is, I’m hungry too, and that’s going to make for a great fight.

There’s an epic, desperation slugfest in the making here.

Johnson receives all the credit as a big hitter, but keep in mind Cormier is much of the same. Over at UFC.com, Johnson averages 3.3 significant strikes landed per minute. Cormier averages 3.78. Johnson lands 45.5 percent of them. Cormier, 48 percent.

After a strong performance against Jones, look for Cormier to outlast Johnson with a higher connection rate.

Prediction: Cormier via split decision.

Breaking Down Weidman vs. Belfort

Folks know the deal with Weidman and Belfort.

Belfort features a massive chip on his shoulder at 38 years of age after a suspension that helped to push this fight back by about a year.

So too does Weidman, though, as he looks to convince the globe he’s a deserving champion. So it goes for a guy who managed two victories against Anderson Silva before a dominant performance against Lyoto Machida.

Want bad blood? This fight has plenty, as Weidman takes exception to circumstances surrounding Belfort. ESPN offers a glimpse:

This one classifies as a war of contrasting styles, even if it has been quite a while since Belfort’s entered the Octagon. He’s a dangerous striker who ran through Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson before the aforementioned issues.

It contrasts well with the well-known technical dominance of Weidman, who at UFC.com averages 3.69 takedowns and defends 100 percent of them, whereas Belfort only defends 51 percent of the attempts thrown his way.

There’s the divide in what should be an epic matchup—barring a stunning knockout by Belfort early, Weidman touts the strengths in the right areas to end the fight on the mat.

Prediction: Weidman via submission.

Stats and information via UFC.com unless otherwise specified.

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Weidman vs. Belfort: Latest Comments, Weigh-in Info and Predictions for UFC 187

The term “bad blood” goes a long way in describing one of Saturday’s most anticipated bouts at UFC 187 when Chris Weidman steps in the Octagon with Vitor Belfort.This one has been on the minds of fight fans everywhere for quite a long time after delays…

The term “bad blood” goes a long way in describing one of Saturday’s most anticipated bouts at UFC 187 when Chris Weidman steps in the Octagon with Vitor Belfort.

This one has been on the minds of fight fans everywhere for quite a long time after delays, suspensions and more pushed back the dance, so there’s plenty to cover when it comes to pre-fight talk and analysis.

These two don’t like each other and one of the most prestigious straps in the promotion is up for grabs, so let’s take a look at recent chatter and more surrounding the fight.

Weigh-in Info and Comments

It’s best to just group these two together because, well, the weigh-in wasn’t of the normal variety.

These two have wanted to step in the Octagon for a long time, so it was only right the weigh-in was a spectacle. Weidman, who continues to earn his place as the top fighter in the sport, didn’t pull any verbal punches at the event.

There, he accused Belfort, who has his known suspension issues in the past, of cheating.

“I’m going to make him pay for it,” Weidman said, per ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto. “Cheaters never prosper. I’m going to make that little saying stick.”

Folks will recall the original bout, scheduled for one year ago, hit the shelf after Belfort tested positive for high testosterone levels. Okamoto pointed out on Twitter some of the pertinent details surrounding Belfort before the weigh-in:

For his part, Belfort remains positive in the face of lengthy delays surrounding the fight, and in a recent media call he pointed out he’s blessed to be in contention at the age of 38, as Mike Sloan of Sherdog.com captures:

“I’ve just been training and keeping my mind focused on what I can do. I wasn’t worried about what I couldn’t do and I’ve been evolving every day. It’s all about perspective [taking negative and turning it into a positive]. I’m blessed. How many guys from my era are still around?”

In short, the recent chatter is what one would come to expect from both after such a long buildup. Weidman touts a chip on his shoulder as he still pushes for global respect as champ and Belfort brings with him much of the same through adversity.

Oh, and in case anyone missed it in the chaos, both weighed in where they need to be.

Prediction

It’s easy to forget amid all the drama what a force the 38-year-old Brazilian star is each time he steps into the Octagon.

Since 2007, Belfort’s only losses came at the hands of Anderson Silva and Jon Jones, while his recent three-win streak features major triumphs against Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson.

At the same time, though, it’s hard to know which Belfort takes the Octagon at UFC 187. He’s a dominant striker and holds an advantage in that area against Weidman, but it’s impossible to know how the lengthy layoff will affect his performance.

Weidman, quietly, has been impressive.

He now features two wins against Silva, and while Belfort was dealing with out-of-ring issues, he even put on a Fight of the Year candidate in a unanimous-decision triumph against Lyoto Machida, silencing critics who consider his wins against Silva flukes.

The champ holds a distinct advantage over his opponent in the Octagon Saturday. Weidman’s an elite grappler in every sense of the description and averages a 3.69 takedown average over at UFC.com.

On the flip side, Belfort’s never been a force on the mat and only defends 51 percent of the takedowns that come his way. Barring an epic knockout blow by Belfort early, look for the technically superior Weidman to retain his strap via submission.

Stats and information via UFC.com unless otherwise specified.

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