UFC 191 is here, and Saturday’s proceedings at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas shouldn’t disappoint.
With a flyweight title showdown between John Dodson and Demetrious Johnson slated to captivate fans during the evening’s main event, buzz is building as the two competitors get set to write another chapter in their evolving rivalry.
But before we break down the evening’s biggest clashes, here’s all you need to know regarding when and where to watch Saturday’s fights, with a complete overview of the main card at UFC 191.
TV Schedule: Early prelims on UFC Fight Pass (7 p.m. ET), Fox Sports 1 prelims (8 p.m. ET), main card on pay-per-view (10 p.m. ET)
Live Stream: UFC.TV
Paige VanZant (5-1; 2-0 UFC) vs. Alex Chambers (5-2; 1-1 UFC)
By the numbers, Paige VanZant enters Saturday night with the odds on her side. 12 Gauge is 5-1 lifetime, and she’s won three straight bouts since losing to Tecia Torres by unanimous decision over two years ago.
Additionally, VanZant is landing 4.59 strikes per minute, which is far superior to Alex Chambers’ mark of 3.09, per UFC.com. She’s also been far more accurate with her strikes, landing 64 percent compared to Chambers’ 45.16 percent.
With VanZant ranked seventh among strawweight fighters and Chambers still seeking to carve out a spot among the sport’s most prestigious names, expect the favorite to come through with flying colors.
Prediction: VanZant def. Chambers by KO
Saturday’s second fight will pit Jan Blachowicz against Corey Anderson in a light heavyweight showdown. And considering both fighters are coming off losses back in April, they’ll both be pressing to get back in the win column.
With 18 wins to his name, Blachowicz is the more esteemed fighter at this stage in his career. However, the 25-year-old Anderson flashed plenty of potential by rattling off four straight victories—including two knockouts—as he burst onto the scene.
But tactically, Saturday’s showdown should favor Blachowicz despite the fact that he’s seven years older than Anderson.
“While Blachowicz isn’t a particularly powerful puncher, his kicks definitely land with a serious impact,” MMA Mania’s Andrew Richardson wrote. “In Anderson’s last bout, his opponent landed dozens of hard low kicks that did have an effect on the TUF winner.”
In a tight battle of experience versus potential, the former should win out in a bout that goes the distance.
Prediction: Blachowicz def. Anderson by unanimous decision
Anthony Johnson (19-5; 10-5 UFC) vs. Jimi Manuwa (15-1; 4-1 UFC)
The marquee light heavyweight event of the evening will pit the top-ranked Anthony Johnson against the seventh-ranked Jimi Manuwa, who was most recently seen defeating Blachowicz by unanimous decision.
However, despite owning the light heavyweight division’s top ranking, Johnson lost the vacant light heavyweight title fight to Daniel Cormier back at UFC 187. Now he is searching for answers, with Manuwa boasting confidence in spades.
“I’ve just got this belief in myself, and he’s probably got the same belief,” Manuwa said, according to FoxSports.com’s Elias Cepeda. “But, I can’t go in there and lose. I’ve had a good camp. I’m fit, I’m ready. How the hell is he going to beat me? That’s what I always think in my fights. I’m just going to fight the way I fight.”
His challenger figures to do just the same.
“Johnson’s hallmark is his aggression,” Bleacher Report’s Patrick Wyman wrote. “He constantly pressures, using crisp cage-cutting footwork and powerful kicks from both stances to limit his opponent’s lateral movement and push him back toward the cage.”
Manuwa‘s not short on bravado, but Johnson’s polished resume, tactical edge and determination to get back on the winning track will overwhelm a worthy challenger.
Prediction: Johnson def. Manuwa by KO
Andrei Arlovski and Frank Mir will inject some nostalgia into Saturday night’s proceedings when they finally clash for a throwback affair.
According to MMA Weekly (via Yahoo Sports), Arlovski and Mir were slated to square off in a title unification bout 10 years ago, but those plans were derailed as Mir battled knee and leg injuries.
The good news for fans is that the competitive spark between the two is still very much alive.
“It is going to be an honor to fight Frank because I am extremely happy for him,” Arlovski said, per MMA Weekly. “Frank and I, we’re like old school fighters. He is climbing back on the top right now, I’m number four, and I’m very excited for that fight and I’m sure the fans are too.”
Arlovski enters Saturday night on a five-bout winning streak that includes wins at UFC 174 and UFC 187, but his opponent hasn’t fared similarly of late.
Although Mir has rattled off wins in his last two efforts in the Octagon, he lost four matches in a row before downing Antonio Silva and Todd Duffee via first-round knockouts.
Mir’s mini resurgence can provide a glimmer of hope, but Arlovski should prove to be a dominant presence when the long-awaited tilt gets underway.
Prediction: Arlovski def. Mir by KO
Demetrious Johnson (22-2-1; 10-1-1 UFC) vs. John Dodson (17-6; 7-1 UFC)
Demetrious Johnson successfully defended his 125-pound title belt against John Dodson over two years ago, and he’s been on a tear ever since.
While Dodson was out of the ring for nearly a year as he battled injuries, Johnson kept busy. Since their fight in January 2013, Johnson has defended his belt on five separate occasions, with three of those wins coming by submission.
“Johnson will threaten with a submission just to get his opponent to defend so he can then transition to something else,” Bleacher Report’s Nathan McCarter wrote. “This is the most distinct and clear advantage for Johnson in this fight.”
Dodson, meanwhile, got busy with back-to-back wins after returning to the Octagon last summer—which now gives him three straight dating back to late 2013.
But in order to keep that streak alive, Dodson will need to exorcise some demons after Johnson defeated him by unanimous decision in Chicago.
“He went for the finish after hurting Johnson somewhat wildly and tired himself out,” McCarter wrote. “The champion began to take the fight over, and Dodson was mostly a non-factor in the championship rounds.”
The 30-year-old Dodson should certainly have a better tactical understanding of his opponent this time around, but recent trends suggest Johnson should be in the driver’s seat, assuming he can withstand some early aggression from his eager challenger.
Prediction: Johnson def. Dodson by unanimous decision
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