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UFC 205 Primer: Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown

It may not be the main event, but competing in the featured preliminary bout of UFC 205 is still a prestigious honor. Frankie Edgar and Jeremy Stephens will earn that distinction as they head for a featherweight collision that will greatly further…

Edgar comes into the fight after failing to avenge a loss to Jose Aldo. The losing effort brought Edgar’s five-fight win streak to an end. Though certainly a blow to his momentum, Edgar remains firmly in title contention, and a victory over Stephens would help kick-start another championship run.

Stephens has posted mixed results lately, dropping three of his last five matches. Though numerically unimpressive, both recent wins came against lofty competition, including Dennis Bermudez and former bantamweight champion Renan Barao.

In the lead-up to UFC 205, Bleacher Report examines the Edgar-Stephens matchup, investigating the areas of the bout that each man will shine and which is likely to have his hand raised at the end of the evening.

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UFC 205 Primer: Rashad Evans vs. Tim Kennedy Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Tim Kennedy and Rashad Evans will square off in a preliminary bout at UFC 205. That’s right. The historic card is so loaded that the former light heavyweight champ and the perennial middleweight contender will battle somewhere in the middle of the unde…

But despite the casual scheduling of the affair, the matchup represents a critical event for both combatants. Kennedy returns to the Octagon after a two-year layoff, and he is looking to rebound from a controversial loss to Yoel Romero: a defeat that snapped a four-fight win streak.

Evans is hoping a move to the middleweight division will allow him to bounce back after he dropped four of six contests at light heavyweight.

Which fighter will bounce back and return to the win column? The answer to that question depends on the answer to several others, like who wields the stronger wrestling game? Is Evans’ perceived striking edge really so advantageous? How will Kennedy’s layoff impact his performance?

In anticipation of UFC 205, we explore these questions to reveal the likely winner of this middleweight showdown. Read on.

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Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Michael Bisping will attempt to defend his middleweight title for the first time when he takes on old foe Dan Henderson this October 8 at UFC 204.
The bout is a rematch of their 2009 clash, which took place at UFC 100, and famously ended with Hend…

Michael Bisping will attempt to defend his middleweight title for the first time when he takes on old foe Dan Henderson this October 8 at UFC 204.

The bout is a rematch of their 2009 clash, which took place at UFC 100, and famously ended with Henderson scoring a crushing knockout blow that he followed up with an academic punch to his unconscious opponent.

Beyond the high-stakes characteristic of any title match, this bout also affords the champion a chance to get even. Bisping has been vocal about avenging his defeat to Henderson, and he has been salivating in the lead-up to the bout.

For Henderson, the contest represents what will probably be his last chance to capture UFC gold. The former Olympian has collected many accolades through his mixed martial arts career, but he has never been able to attain a UFC championship—the most prestigious honor the sport has to offer.

In anticipation of the UFC 204 main event, Bleacher Report investigates Bisping vs. Henderson II, examining where each fighter holds an edge and how the bout is likely to conclude.

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Vitor Belfort vs. Gegard Mousasi: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC 204 will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson, but the main event is not the only meaningful bout to be contested at 185 pounds.
Vitor Belfort and Gegard Mousasi will square off for the show’s …

UFC 204 will be headlined by a middleweight title fight between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson, but the main event is not the only meaningful bout to be contested at 185 pounds.

Vitor Belfort and Gegard Mousasi will square off for the show’s co-main event, in a bout with title implications. Perhaps neither man will secure a title nod with a W, but both are perennial contenders who are never too far removed from the championship picture.

Mousasi has earned back-to-back victories thus far in 2016. If not for a knockout loss suffered to Uriah Hall just over a year ago, Mousasi would be riding a five-fight win streak.

Belfort has posted a 1-2 record dating back to May 2015. The sole victory in that equation came against current No. 1 contender Henderson, while the defeats came against Chris Weidman (in a title fight) and Ronaldo Souza.

Both men are well-acquainted with the upper echelon of the UFC’s middleweight class, but their outing this Saturday will mark the first time they have collided directly.

In the lead-up to the match, Bleacher Report will investigate who has the edge where and which fighter is likely to emerge with the win.

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UFC Fight Night 96 Predictions: Main Card Staff Picks

There is no rest for the wicked. As the UFC closes out an action-packed September that featured an event each weekend, the Octagon will return to action Saturday, Oct. 1, for Fight Night 96.
Featured on the fight card is a bantamweight showdown between…

There is no rest for the wicked. As the UFC closes out an action-packed September that featured an event each weekend, the Octagon will return to action Saturday, Oct. 1, for Fight Night 96.

Featured on the fight card is a bantamweight showdown between a couple of fighters who, not so long ago, were flyweight contenders. Both John Dodson and John Lineker have jumped up a weight class in hopes of carving out a title path, but only one will take a leap forward Saturday night.

Since moving to 135 pounds, Lineker has reeled off three impressive wins, running his total win streak to five. Dodson, who joined the promotion as a bantamweight, won in his return to 135 earlier this year.

In the evening’s co-main event, Will Brooks looks to bolster his UFC record to 2-0. The former Bellator champion is set to square off against Alex Oliveira, who has won four of his past five outings.

The full Fight Night 96 main card looks like this:

John Dodson vs. John Lineker
Will Brooks vs. Alex Oliveira
Josh Burkman vs. Zak Ottow
Louis Smolka vs. Brandon Moreno

As always, the Bleacher Report picks team has assembled for the purpose of providing you with our predictions for each bout. It’s Scott Harris, Sydnie Jones, Nathan McCarter, Steven Rondina and Craig Amos coming at you!

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John Dodson vs. John Lineker: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Two former 125-pound contenders who never met in the flyweight division will now meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night 96 in the hopes of becoming title contenders at bantamweight.
John Lineker meets John Dodson is a bout MMA fans will be salivatin…

Two former 125-pound contenders who never met in the flyweight division will now meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night 96 in the hopes of becoming title contenders at bantamweight.

John Lineker meets John Dodson is a bout MMA fans will be salivating over on Saturday.

Every aspect of this fight is close to call. It’s an elite-level matchup of two of the most exciting fighters in the world. A true can’t-miss fight. Only one can move up the ladder in the main event.

Who walks into title contention with a victory on Saturday?

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