UFC 186 has gone through some notable changes since it was originally announced, but we seem to have settled on a lineup of fights. The card isn’t exactly packed with superstars, but it still rates a cut above a normal Fight Night event.
The long-awaited rematch between UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw and Renan Barao was supposed to take place as the main event. Unfortunately, for the second time, that fight was postponed. The rematch was called off once before at UFC 177 due to Barao falling ill during his weight cut.
This time, the champion had to bow out due to injury.
The UFC flyweight title fight between champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and Kyoji Horiguchi replaces Dillashaw vs. Barao as the main event. Johnson is one of the best fighters in the world, but he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Size bias and ignorance are the best explanations for the lack of appreciation for one of the best fighters in the world.
Nonetheless, Johnson keeps fighting and winning.
The co-feature between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Fabio Maldonado almost didn’t happen. A lawsuit filed by Bellator FC, Jackson’s previous promotion, initially blocked his participation in the event. However, on April 21, per Damon Martin of Fox Sports, the injunction was lifted, and Rampage was cleared to take on Maldonado.
Needless to say, UFC President Dana White was pleased with the news. Per a press release (h/t Martin) White said: “We are happy with the decision from the New Jersey Court allowing Rampage to fight in Montreal this Saturday night. I am looking forward to seeing Rampage back in the Octagon.”
Now that almost everything is intact, here’s a look at the viewing information and my predictions for every fight on the card. Let’s focus on the bouts that I predict will result in Fight Night bonuses. Those bouts are highlighted in the table below and further analyzed in the text that follows.
Fight of the Night: Makdessi vs. Campbell
Both John “The Bull” Makdessi and “Shaolin” Shane Campbell enjoy standing and striking. Makdessi’s boxing is above-average, and Campbell’s background as a kickboxer makes him a live underdog in the bout. Per Odds Shark, Campbell’s odds of 151-100 are likely enticing to bettors.
He’s a bit of an unknown commodity considering this is his UFC debut, but he is a good striker who can handle himself off his back. He’s also good at scrambling to his feet, as you can see in his TKO win over Jerrid Burke via AXS TV Fights.
Campbell will also enjoy a four-inch height advantage against Makdessi. This is a battle between two proud Canadians who are fighting in front of their countrymen. Makdessi is looking to make a significant move in the lightweight division, while Campbell wants to make an impact with the promotion overall.
While Makdessi has the edge in experience, Campbell has the physical advantages.
Style agreement, potential career advancement and the elements of pride make this my pick for Fight of the Night.
Performance of the Night No. 1: Thomas Almeida
At just 23 years old, Thomas Almeida is 18-0 with 17 wins by stoppage. The only opponent he’s faced as a professional who has gone the distance with him is Tim Gorman in Almeida’s last bout. That fight was the Brazilian’s UFC debut.
While he dominated Gorman en route to a unanimous-decision victory, he’ll undoubtedly want to finish the job in his second bout with the promotion.
Yves Jabouin is a good candidate to be stopped. The 35-year-old has lost by knockout (four) or submission (three) in seven of his nine defeats. He’s a good athlete, but the Haitian veteran won’t be any match for Almeida’s surgical and powerful striking.
Bet on Almeida securing an impressive victory via strikes or submission after a hard shot drops Jabouin and makes him vulnerable to a choke. It should be impressive enough to garner one of the Performance of the Night bonuses.
Performance of the Night No. 2: Demetrious Johnson
As Bleacher Report’s Jordy McElroy surmises in his article about Mighty Mouse’s lack of appeal to UFC fans, Johnson’s bout might not be the most watched fight of the card.
Despite his lack of popularity, the champion is still a demon in the Octagon. He has a new challenge ahead of him in Horiguchi, but truth be told, Jackson is a little too fast on his feet and vastly superior as a grappler compared to his opponent.
This fight should turn out to be a showcase for Johnson amidst talk that he isn’t a draw. He could elect to take a few more chances to satisfy the crowd, but his fight IQ is too good to allow himself to fall victim to such insecurities.
He’ll dominate a good opponent and finish him in the second round via submission. Whether the crowd is halfway to their cars or looking at their cellphones when it happens is another story.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com