Even as the UFC light heavyweight champion finds himself mired in the flat spin of a drug scandal, the division rolls on around him.
Saturday’s UFC on Fox 14 features two potentially meaningful 205-pound scraps. Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson battle for likely No. 1 contender status, while perennial contenders Ryan Bader and Phil Davis continue to search for the signature win that will put them on the fast track.
In addition, all-time great Dan Henderson returns to the middleweight division, looking to break out of a 1-4 slump dating back to Feb. 2013.
The fact that it all goes down inside a stadium-sized arena in Stockholm, Sweden and will air live on network television in the U.S. only adds to the grandeur.
As always, there are predictions to be made. Boldly, if possible.
Here, Bleacher Report lead MMA writers Chad Dundas (that’s me) and Jonathan Snowden give it the old college try. OK, fine, junior college.