Tag: Anthony Johnson

Gambling Addiction Enabler: ‘UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier’ Edition

(The UFC 187 open workout highlights, where Chris Weidman once again proves to be the most likeable human being ever. via MMAJunkie.)

By Dan George

This Saturday night, the UFC will be looking to rebound from a lackluster UFC 186 outing that was decimated  by a shocking drug testing failure, a judge changing his mind at the eleventh hour and an injury which forced the cancellation of the original main event. Thankfully, the UFC was able to roll it’s drugs, courts and cancellation issues into one fighter this time around, which allowed the stacked card to remain relatively intact.

Will Vitor Belfort roundhouse kick his way to becoming the new UFC middleweight champion? Will the winner of Johnson vs. Cormier be considered the true light heavyweight champion? How soon after the main event winner is announced will we see the predictable “I got next” tweet from Jon Jones that is immediately deleted?

The short answers to those questions: No, no, and 30 seconds. But join us anyway as we examine the UFC 187 betting lines (courtesy of 5dimes) and try to steer clear of the land mines known as the undercard while swinging for the fences on the main card.

The post Gambling Addiction Enabler: ‘UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier’ Edition appeared first on Cagepotato.


(The UFC 187 open workout highlights, where Chris Weidman once again proves to be the most likeable human being ever. via MMAJunkie.)

By Dan George

This Saturday night, the UFC will be looking to rebound from a lackluster UFC 186 outing that was decimated  by a shocking drug testing failure, a judge changing his mind at the eleventh hour and an injury which forced the cancellation of the original main event. Thankfully, the UFC was able to roll it’s drugs, courts and cancellation issues into one fighter this time around, which allowed the stacked card to remain relatively intact.

Will Vitor Belfort roundhouse kick his way to becoming the new UFC middleweight champion? Will the winner of Johnson vs. Cormier be considered the true light heavyweight champion? How soon after the main event winner is announced will we see the predictable “I got next” tweet from Jon Jones that is immediately deleted?

The short answers to those questions: No, no, and 30 seconds. But join us anyway as we examine the UFC 187 betting lines (courtesy of 5dimes) and try to steer clear of the land mines known as the undercard while swinging for the fences on the main card.

Stay the Hell Away From

Colby Covington (-275) vs. Mike Pyle (+235)

Covington will be facing his toughest opponent in his 7-0 career thus far and the ATT product is being picked by most to win over Mike Pyle. It feels like a few years ago when Rick Story was the heavy favorite against Pyle, and in the end, “Quicksand” stayed true to his name and managed to pull out the split decision win. Covington is an outstanding grappler, Pyle hasn’t been out grappled in 5 years, and we have yet to see Covington KO an opponent. Pyle almost makes the good dogs, but best to leave money out of this one and enjoy an entertaining ground fight.

Josh Burkman (+240) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (-280)

After being heralded for a new found dynamic offensive based style, the “Stun Gun” found out what can happen when you throw caution to the wind against the higher ranked welterweights like Tyron Woodley. Burkman may be in the ever dreadful position of fighting for his spot on the UFC roster here, but he may be able to catch a gunshy Kim early or use his superior boxing to eek out a decision. Kim is not easily outworked on the mat and is the right favorite, but with the high price it’s best to pass and see what happens.

The Good Dogs

Uriah Hall (-365) vs. Rafael Natal (+305)

Uriah Hall created quite the buzz during his stint on TUF and has fired off three straight wins coming into this bout with Rafael Natal, who is on a two fight win streak of his own. If Natal does not allow Hall to settle in and find his distance, he should be able to mix in some grappling and find a way to pull off the upset. If the bout stays on the feet for considerable amounts of time, however, Uriah almost certainly wins by some form of violent stoppage. This bout feels like more of a coin flip (Uriah is 3-2 in the UFC) then it’s being labeled as, and with that feeling in mind, why not take the side that will give you 3 to 1 on your money?

Chris Weidman (-525) vs. Vitor Belfort (+415)

The “All American” is looking for his third successful title defense, once again against a Brazilian legend in Vitor Belfort who is attempting to put a cap on his long MMA career by winning the middleweight title. Many feel Weidman will be able to take Vitor down and dominate him round after round until Belfort fades, eventually catching him with a submission or provoking a stoppage from the referee due to strikes. The other popular notion seems to be that a non-TRTor will look like a shadow of his former self, which seems to explain why “The Phenom” is coming in as the +415 underdog on Saturday.

Belfort has only lost to Jon Jones and Anderson Silva since returning to the UFC, and has always been proven to be a fast, powerful, and ever-dynamic striker. Unfortunately, Belfort has also shown a tendency to fade and freeze up as his fights enter the later rounds. If “The Phenom” hopes to capture the belt, it will most likely have to come early in the fight rather than later. Weidman has proven to be hittable and it would not be an overstatement to claim that he has yet to be hit by a striker with the power Vitor possesses. The +115 prop that this fight goes over 2 ½ rounds may be a nice option for the Weidman bettors, but a straight bet on Belfort to win early wouldn’t be the worst decision you can make.

Other Main Card Bouts

Joseph Benavidez (-650) vs. John Moraga (+475)

John Moraga is going to put up much more of a resistance than that ridiculous +475 line suggests. Both fighters ceilings are at the very top of the division, and against one another, we may be looking at a long fight that requires the judges to determine a winner. Moraga works well off his back and is quite aggressive with submission attempts, but this is a facet of MMA that is too inconsistently rewarded by judges. The -130 prop that Benavidez wins by decision, the -175 prop that the fight goes the distance, and the -210 prop that the fight goes over 2 ½” rounds are all much more lucrative options than the steep price for the favorite. Joseph Benavidez to win.

Travis Browne (-450) vs. Andrei Arlovski (+360)

Andrei Arlovski has enjoyed two straight wins since returning to the UFC and is coming off an impressive and surprising KO of Big Foot Silva, the same man who handed Browne his first loss in 2012. “Hapa” has improved at a higher rate than Arlovski over the past few years, though, and should vault back into the Heavyweight title mix with a stoppage of Arlovski reminiscent of the latter’s fight with Brett Rogers, as Browne generally wins inside the first round. Again, the -125 prop bet that this fight does not go past midway through the 2nd round and/or Browne wins in the 1st round at +150 pay the best. Travis Browne to win.

Donald Cerrone (-550) vs. John Makdessi (+425)

Makdessi is a beast, but he’s filling in on short notice here against a true elite lightweight in Cerrone. His height and reach disadvantage to “Cowboy” will be the determining factor in this fight, as Cerrone utilizes his length much better than Shane Campbell did. Makdessi has been bested by strikers with significant height and reach advantages (Njokuani) as well as capable grapplers (Hallman) in the past and Cerrone is of higher caliber than any opponent John has faced up until now. With 3 straight decision wins, +130 prop Cerrone wins inside the distance is another nice prop to look at as “Cowboy” will be hunting for another performance of the night bonus this time around. Cowboy to win.

Daniel Cormier (-135) vs. Anthony Johnson (+115)

Looking nothing less than stellar during his run to the light heavyweight title shot, Anthony Johnson will face former number one contender Daniel Cormier, who comes into Las Vegas with a second chance to claim the belt in as many fights. Cormier holds any and every grappling advantage on the mat, but it has been Johnson’s stellar takedown defense that has many wondering if Cormier will be forced to stand and trade with the heavy-handed “Rumble.” If DC can avoid the big kicks and punches of Johnson early on, he should be able to mix up his striking with pressure against the cage to break Johnson down over time and become the new light weight champ. Cormier to win.

Parlay 1

-Dodson+Browne+Cerrone

Parlay 2

-Cormier+Browne

Props

-Benavidez vs Moraga goes to decision

-Browne vs Arlovski under  1.5 rounds

Enjoy the fights and may the winners be yours!

The post Gambling Addiction Enabler: ‘UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier’ Edition appeared first on Cagepotato.

Johnson vs. Cormier: Odds, Comments and Predictions for UFC 187 Before Weigh-In

The weigh-in for the UFC 187 clash between Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Daniel Cormier for the vacant light heavyweight championship is set for Friday night at 7 p.m. ET. The event will take place at the Grand Theatre at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
UFC…

The weigh-in for the UFC 187 clash between Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Daniel Cormier for the vacant light heavyweight championship is set for Friday night at 7 p.m. ET. The event will take place at the Grand Theatre at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

UFC’s decision to strip Jon Jones of the belt due to a legal situation has opened the door for a new face of the light heavyweight division. It’s a golden opportunity for either Johnson or Cormier to really elevate his status within the promotion.

Let’s check out the latest odds for what should be a closely contested, highly entertaining bout on Saturday evening, followed by a preview of the action and a prediction for who will walk away with the title.

 

Fight Odds

 

Preview

As the odds illustrate, this is a tossup bout. It’s possible to make a strong case for either fighter doing enough to win the belt. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to which one is better able to execute his game plan in a pressure-packed situation.

Johnson wants to push the tempo to give himself as many striking opportunities as possible. It’s his power that allowed him to score first-round knockouts of Alexander Gustafsson and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his last two fights.

Cormier will prefer a more methodical pace, one where he can defend Rumble’s offensive forays and then counter. DC will prefer to get his opponent to the mat, where he can put his wrestling background on display.

Make no mistake: Cormier also has his fair share of pop. If for whatever reason this fight turns into an all-out brawl, he’ll still have a realistic shot of winning. But that’s not the best approach for him this time around, given Johnson’s recent success when coming out aggressively.

He’s also coming into the fight with a new attitude. Damon Martin of Fox Sports passed along the fighter’s comments about a recent talk with Oklahoma State coach John Smith that really changed his perspective on things:

In that statement, I said, ‘Coach, you’re right. I don’t have to win Saturday. I want to win.’ I want to win for myself, for my family and to accomplish this goal, but I don’t have to do nothing. I just have to go out and compete to the best of my ability and go out and represent my family, this organization, my sponsors, my team and everybody close to me as good as I can. I don’t have to do nothing.

Johnson knows Cormier represents a tough challenge. In fact, he told Mike Bohn and John Morgan of MMA Junkie that it could be more difficult than a bout with Jones:

I really mean (this is a tougher fight). This is ‘DC’s’ second chance. When people get second chances they tend to go a little bit harder. He’s going to come at me like a bulldog and I expect that. The fact that I expect it means it won’t surprise me with anything he brings. I know what I’m getting myself into and so does he.

There are a lot of fights that don’t live up to the hype. This one has the feel of a battle that should live up to, and possibly exceed, the pre-match talk.

Zach Dunn of Last Word on Sports believes the end result will be a Cormier triumph:

I couple this “all or nothing” mindset with Cormier‘s brilliant fight psychology and I see him coming out victorious. I think Cormier pushes Rumble up and goes for the takedowns. Come round three or four Rumble will not have much left. He may be able to hold out for a decision loss but I imagine he folds again. I think the only way Rumble wins is to catch an aggressive DC coming in. Cormier is also very aware of this and I expect him to setup (sic) his shots.

It’s a solid argument, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the fight plays out that way.

That said, Johnson is a star on the rise of late. He knows this is his chance to take a major leap in his career. Cormier had a similar opportunity last time out against Jones and fell woefully short. Whether he will be able to rebound with a top-tier performance is a mystery.

Look for Johnson to come out firing on all cylinders once again. He should be able to win a couple of early rounds, which will put the pressure squarely on Cormier‘s shoulders, and a comeback won’t be in the cards.

Prediction: Johnson by unanimous decision

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

With Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson on Tap, Chaos Reigns Among UFC Champs

It occasionally seems like becoming UFC champion is the worst thing that could ever happen to a professional MMA fighter.
It may be the biggest prize in the sport, but there is mounting evidence that UFC gold is bad for your health. Take Saturday night…

It occasionally seems like becoming UFC champion is the worst thing that could ever happen to a professional MMA fighter.

It may be the biggest prize in the sport, but there is mounting evidence that UFC gold is bad for your health. Take Saturday night’s UFC 187 for example, where Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson will vie to become light heavyweight champion only after the last light heavyweight champion’s life imploded.

If this were an isolated incident, you could just blame it on Jon Jones’ personal issues and move on. In truth, however, this weekend marks the third time since the beginning of 2014 that the UFC has had to crown a new champion under somewhat ugly circumstances.

It started with Georges St-Pierre’s public breakdown in the wake of his hard-fought UFC 167 victory over Johny Hendricks in November 2013. Seven years on top of the welterweight division had clearly taken their toll on the French Canadian phenom, and after he officially began an indefinite sabbatical from MMA in December of that year, it took three months to set Hendricks up with a bout against Robbie Lawler for the vacant title.

On January 6, 2014, just 24 days after St-Pierre announced his departure, the UFC also had to strip bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz in order to promote Renan Barao to “undisputed” titlist. Barao had been carrying around the “interim” championship for a year-and-a-half, so the change wasn’t necessarily earth-shattering, but just four months after his official promotion he dropped the strap to T.J. Dillashaw.

These days, the UFC is even having trouble getting Barao and Dillashaw together for a rematch. And Cruz? Let’s just say the narrative thread was lost a long time ago.

The most trying character of the bunch is Cain Velasquez. The heavyweight champion’s perennially injured status and the borderline cursed nature of the 265-pound title in general are both well-worn tropes for MMA fans. Velasquez’s on-again, off-again career trajectory finally became too much for UFC executives to bear last November, when they opted to put an interim title on Fabricio Werdum for defeating Mark Hunt at UFC 180.

Velasquez and Werdum are scheduled for a unification bout next month, and conventional wisdom says Velasquez could get stripped outright if he somehow doesn’t make the date.

And so, you see: All in all, there has been a lot of turmoil at the top.

The end of Jones’ reign as 205-pound kingpin was the most unceremonious of all, and the result may be a historically inauspicious start for either Cormier or Johnson.

We suspected all along that Jones would ultimately have to slip the knife between his own ribs—he’d been too dominant as champion for anyone else to do it. Cracks were long visible in his personal life, and they became chasms after a positive test for cocaine went public in the wake of his UFC 182 win over Cormier.

But Jones always seemed like too much of a control freak to lose the handle completely, so his April arrest on felony hit-and-run charges made for a surprising denouement. The UFC had little other choice than to put him on company-mandated timeout. Public scrutiny had simply grown too hot, too pointed.

Now, though, his absence puts Cormier and Johnson in an equally tough spot.

Cormier comes in as the favorite on paper and in most peoples’ hearts. The likable former Olympian is the kind of guy everybody wants to see succeed, but Jones just ran over him in January. That alone makes D.C.’s standing as a potential champion seem dicey.

Johnson, meanwhile, spent much of the lead-up to this fight mired in a domestic violence scandal of his own making. UFC President Dana White has not exactly painted himself as the most enlightened fellow on the subject during his own media appearances this week, either. Now, we’re all just holding our breath, waiting to see how the notoriously irascible company would handle the public relations quandary of Johnson becoming champ.

No matter which of them gets the belt wrapped around his waist at the end of Saturday night, there are going to be significant complications. It will be difficult to accept either guy as the light heavyweight’s new standard-bearer.

We’re accustomed to simpler, more linear storytelling in fight sports, so we’ll all just be waiting for Jones to return and reclaim the top spot—or legitimize the new champion with his blood.

It’s nobody’s fault. We’re just used to neat-and-tidy outcomes and resolutions free of ambiguity. It’s unfair to hang those expectations on Cormier, obviously, and Johnson’s considerable baggage is part of a more important but different discussion.

At this point though, it’s hard to ignore the instability at the top of the UFC pecking order. The cases of Velasquez and Cruz remind us of the physical toll of being the best, while Jones’ and St-Pierre’s expose the psychological pitfalls that await, as well. It’s one thing to get to the top—by any means necessary, in this sport—but it’s another thing entirely to stay there.

Meanwhile, Cormier and Johnson stand as examples that, when a great champion leaves or is forced out, you can’t just pick up where he left off.

There’s a lot of history to inherit along with that title, and not all of it is pretty.

Win at your own risk.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 187: Keys to Victory for Johnson, Cormier, Weidman and Belfort

UFC 187 will feature four of the most dominant fighters in the world today. Anthony Johnson, Daniel Cormier, Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort will be featured in the main and co-main event, respectively. Johnson and Cormier will do battle to lay claim t…

UFC 187 will feature four of the most dominant fighters in the world today. Anthony Johnson, Daniel Cormier, Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort will be featured in the main and co-main event, respectively. Johnson and Cormier will do battle to lay claim to the vacant light heavyweight title, while the long-awaited matchup between Weidman and Belfort serves as an explosive and unpredictable middleweight championship bout.

 

Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier

Despite the way in which the light heavyweight championship came about (the stripping of Jon Jones’ title after being involved in a hit-and-run incident), many believe the new main event will live up to expectations. In fact, Johnson believes Cormier presents a greater challenge than the former 205-pound champion in Jones.

Per Mike Bohn and John Morgan of MMAjunkie, Johnson stated:

I really mean (this is a tougher fight). This is DC’s second chance. When people get second chances, they tend to go a little bit harder. He’s going to come at me like a bulldog and I expect that. The fact that I expect it means it won’t surprise me with anything he brings. I know what I’m getting myself into and so does he.

UFC 187 will mark Cormier‘s second chance at the light heavyweight title, leaving no doubt that he will be “hungry” in his sophomore attempt to secure gold.

 

Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort

The Weidman-Belfort matchup is highly anticipated among the world of mixed martial arts. The middleweight champion stands without a loss and defeated one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time in Anderson Silva (twice) in the process. Weidman is motivated to remain undefeated, and according to MMA Weekly, he has expressed interest in setting himself apart from the rest of the division.

My goal every time is to separate myself in the division and make a statement for the world, prove to myself where I think my abilities are, prove to my coaches what they think. So, I’m coming to this fight to make a statement. I’m doing this fight to look for a finish.

However, Belfort, with over 19 years of MMA experience, brings a wealth of knowledge to the Octagon and is 10-2 in his last 12 matchups (only having lost to then-champions Silva and Jones). He is a formidable opponent, and at 38 years old, the Brazilian fighter may be looking at his final championship title opportunity at UFC 187.

The following highlights each fighter’s keys to victory in their attempt to secure or maintain championship gold this Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Begin Slideshow

UFC 187: A Complete A-to-Z Preview

(This seems like a good a time as any to remind you that this is a thing that exists.)

By Nasir Jabbar 

Nation, UFC 187 is approaching us, and what was once being touted as one of the greatest cards in Zuffa history is now simply “a very good one.” The card took some bumps and bruises — quite literally when original UFC 187 headliner Jon Jones broke a pregnant lady’s arm during his now infamous hit-and-run (too soon?) — but nonetheless, there’s still two title fights and a few important match-ups to determine the next line of challengers to look forward too.

So you know the drill, instead of the same ol’ recycled text recapping each fighter’s recent matches and predicting how they will win this weekend, I’ve compiled an A-to-Z list previewing each and every aspect of UFC 187. Join me?

The post UFC 187: A Complete A-to-Z Preview appeared first on Cagepotato.


(This seems like a good a time as any to remind you that this is a thing that exists.)

By Nasir Jabbar 

Nation, UFC 187 is approaching us, and what was once being touted as one of the greatest cards in Zuffa history is now simply “a very good one.” The card took some bumps and bruises — quite literally when original UFC 187 headliner Jon Jones broke a pregnant lady’s arm during his now infamous hit-and-run (too soon?) — but nonetheless, there’s still two title fights and a few important match-ups to determine the next line of challengers to look forward too.

So you know the drill, instead of the same ol’ recycled text recapping each fighter’s recent matches and predicting how they will win this weekend, I’ve compiled an A-to-Z list previewing each and every aspect of UFC 187. Join me?

A is for Animal
Once the new title fight was arranged, Daniel Cormier didn’t waste time heating things up by belittling Anthony Johnson‘s past performances in particular his defeat to former-teammate Josh Koscheck. “Rumble” refutes his claims insisting he’s a different kind of animal now.

B is for Blackzillians
After much scrutinised criticism aimed at the team, the Florida-based camp are now flourishing, having picked up their first major MMA title (Eddie Alvarez capturing the Bellator lightweight strap) and sitting on the brink of two coveted UFC titles, with Johnson and Vitor Belfort.

C is for Clinch
Johnson has had problems stuffing takedowns from the clinch, an area where his opponent specialises in landing effective blows and takedowns. Johnson displayed his improved takedown defence in the victory over Phil Davis, but faces a more difficult challenge in the former-Olympian.

D is for Dagestan
Islam Makhachev is the latest product to come out of Dagestan, the region has served as a conveyor belt feeding some of the best talent to the sport. The undefeated-lightweight will make his UFC debut as he takes on Leo Kuntz.

E is for Ex-Champion
If/When Jones returns, he’ll be known as the ex-champion. I really don’t have much to add to that, other than that I’m still having trouble processing it.

F is for Flyweights
The 125lbs division will be heavily featured at UFC 187, with the returning John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez, John Moraga, Zach Makovsky, Justin Scoggins and Josh Sampo all in action. So suck on that, Bisping!

G is for Greed/Garbage
For the UFC 187 competitors, this will be their final fight until the Reebok deal kicks in. The pay structure was revealed last week, and let’s just say that the only thing uglier than the figures have been how many fighters have reacted. Like the majority of Reebok’s gear, it don’t look pretty.

H is for Hit-and-Run
A reference to the mishap which ultimately cost Jones his UFC title and many lucrative sponsors, or a comment on the fighting style of John Dodson? YOU DECIDE.

I is for Inactivity
Chris Weidman and Belfort share a combined 27-months of inactivity. Donald Cerrone has fought seven times in that span. Seven.

J is for Jon Jones
Seriously, god damn it, Jon.

K is for Khabib Nurmagomedov
The Russian phenom has once again got himself injured and subsequently pulled from another scheduled fight with ‘Cowboy’.

L is for Las Vegas
UFC 187 will be the first combat sports event in Las Vegas since the financial behemoth that was Mayweather vs. Pacquaio. Is the city still reeling from a hangover, and just how bad will this effect UFC’s business in Sin City?

M is for MMA Math
Travis Browne was knocked out by “Bigfoot”, who himself got knocked out by Andrei Arlovski. MMA Math would suggest Arlovski knock out Browne. Will this come to fruition?

N is for Narrative
If Cormier emerges victorious, a possible mega-fight with Jones could be in the offing. Their first fight was successful on pay-per-view, was competitive enough to warrant a rematch, and they’ve still got beef to boot. Of course, Johnson provides a stern test, and more importantly, Jones faces an uphill struggle just to get back into the MMA bubble. Still, what a storyline it might entail.

O is for Obstacles
Jones’ manager indicated that we may have seen the last of him, but the New York native is still fairly young and has time to rebuild his professional career. I guess you could say that there are many legal *obstacles* in the way for the former champ. (*winks to camera*)

P is for “Punk”
The winner of the light-heavyweight title bout is a “Punk.” Well, according to Chael Sonnen.

Q is for Question
Some questioned the UFC’s decision to insert Cormier into the title picture on the heels of a title defeat. However, the man he was originally expected to face, Ryan Bader, has yet to fight for a world title and is currently riding a four-fight win streak. Just sayin’, the TUF winner *could* have been a worthy challenger.

R is for Risky
With Khabib having gone down with an injury yet again, Cerrone is now set to take on John Makdessi, the unranked Canadian is a dangerous opponent and a risky proposition giving his status in the division.

S is for Sparring
Cormier has alluded to the fact that not having Cain Velasquez around during preparation for Jon Jones was ultimately the deciding factor in his loss. The heavyweight champion has now recovered from his ongoing injuries (for now), which allowed him to help Comrier train for Johnson.

T is for Take Four
Weidman vs. Belfort has been scratched from the following shows: UFC 173, 181 and 184. Pray with us Nation. Pray that neither Weidman or Belfort slip in the sauna tomorrow night.

U is for “Unfair”
Vitor Belfort spoke about his frustration of the extensive drug-testing, even stating that it was, wait for it, “unfair”. This guy. Belfort is synonymous with a few things; fast hands, animal/Jesus metaphors, and a chequered drug past. Having been busted for PED’s and violated the limits of the pesky TRT, such claim seems ridiculous.

V is for Vacant
As a result of Jones’ tribulation, Johnson and Cormier will fight for the vacant UFC light-heavyweight championship. (Not all of these are mind-blowers.)

W is for What Could of Been
Us MMA fans just can’t have nice things.

X is for X-Factor
Has anyone else ever gotten stuck in a Youtube hole that began with an Anthony Johnson highlight reel and ended with a “Top 20 X-Factor Auditions of All Time” compilation?

Y is Youth
Despite suffering defeats, both Scoggins and Rose Namajunas are still green and have youth on their side as they try to re emerge as potential challengers.

Z is for Zzz
MMA Math to aside, either Browne or Arlovski is getting put to sleep.

The post UFC 187: A Complete A-to-Z Preview appeared first on Cagepotato.

VIDEOS: Kickstart Your Week With the Full ‘UFC 187 Countdown’ Special

Although it might not be the card it once was, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone complaining about the lineup of this weekend’s UFC 187 card. You’ve got Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier for the “undisputed but actually still quite disputable” light heavyweight title in the night’s main event, Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort in an “Oh Thank God, they’re both finally healthy” middleweight title fight, and names like Cerrone, Arlovski, Dodson, and Thug Rose punctuating the rest of the card. I mean, it’s no Fight Night: Broomfield, but it’s still really something.

So in order to get us hyped up for this week’s action, the UFC has generously made their Countdown series for the event available online via their Youtube channel. You can check out a full preview of Cormier vs. Johnson above, then head after the jump to hear Belfort talk about the power of Jesus while Weidman challenges Matt Serra to a hoagie-off and fails miserably.

(Fair warning: I can not confirm with 100% certainty that either of those things happen in the Weidman-Belfort Countdown, but am simply taking an educated guess.)

The post VIDEOS: Kickstart Your Week With the Full ‘UFC 187 Countdown’ Special appeared first on Cagepotato.

Although it might not be the card it once was, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone complaining about the lineup of this weekend’s UFC 187 card. You’ve got Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier for the “undisputed but actually still quite disputable” light heavyweight title in the night’s main event, Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort in an “Oh Thank God, they’re both finally healthy” middleweight title fight, and names like Cerrone, Arlovski, Dodson, and Thug Rose punctuating the rest of the card. I mean, it’s no Fight Night: Broomfield, but it’s still really something.

So in order to get us hyped up for this week’s action, the UFC has generously made their Countdown series for the event available online via their Youtube channel. You can check out a full preview of Cormier vs. Johnson above, then head after the jump to hear Belfort talk about the power of Jesus while Weidman challenges Matt Serra to a hoagie-off and fails miserably.

(Fair warning: I can not confirm with 100% certainty that either of those things happen in the Weidman-Belfort Countdown, but am simply taking an educated guess.)

The post VIDEOS: Kickstart Your Week With the Full ‘UFC 187 Countdown’ Special appeared first on Cagepotato.