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UFC 182: Latest Fight Card Predictions and Projected Winners

UFC 182 offers plenty of excellent MMA action, but the big attraction on the main fight card will be the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship showdown between Jon “Bones” Jones and challenger Daniel Cormier.
Thursday was media day, and Jones and Cormier …

Thursday was media day, and Jones and Cormier had the chance to face each other in front of the cameras before they enter the Octagon. UFC President Dana White had to intervene to make sure the fighting was confined to the designated time and date:

Heated pre-fight commotion has been stirring between Jones and Cormier for some time now, which will only add to the excitement of Saturday’s event at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Below is a look at the complete main card and predictions for every bout, along with a more detailed breakdown of the Jones vs. Cormier title fight.

Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier Preview

As can be ascertained from a gander at this card, the lineup is loaded, but the impassioned battle to cap it all off between Jones and Cormier has the makings of an instant classic.

Bleacher Report MMA highlights just how prolific both UFC stars have been leading up to their date on Saturday:

Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report and the Houston Chronicle weighed in on the championship clash:

Cormier is a rare threat for Jones to deal with on the ground. Both are phenomenal in takedown defense, though, with Jones at 96 percent and Cormier at 100, per FightMetric.com. Thus, it remains to be seen just how much wrestling both will do, despite how effective they are at that facet of fighting.

Even if Jones can take Cormier to the canvas, he may not want to dive down after him, because his true advantage lies in his lethal punching combinations.

It’s evident that Jones isn’t worried about being thrown to the ground; he’s seemingly intent to remain in attack mode against his underdog adversary, via the UFC’s official Twitter account:

Supreme confidence, stamina, superior reach and unique striking angles all give Jones leverage. His spinning elbows, 84″ reach and amazing awareness limit Cormier and the damage his 72″ reach will be able to inflict.

However, Cormier is a perfect 15-0 in MMA, is coming off an impressive victory over Dan Henderson and can harness his Olympic wrestling skills to make this a compelling bout.

That task of pulling Jones down and keeping him there will be tricky. It’s a tough test for Cormier against a more agile foe in Jones, whose powerful, punishing blows ought to prove too much for his wrestle-dependent counterpart to handle.

No one can discount Cormier‘s competitive fire, athleticism, wrestling expertise and track record of UFC success. That will carry him the full distance in Saturday’s fight, but Jones’ diverse arsenal will help him to a clear-cut triumph to retain his title and improve to 21-1.

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Jones vs. Cormier: Highlighting Both Fighters’ Greatest Skill Before UFC 182

Jon “Bones” Jones and Daniel “DC” Cormier have a plethora of skills between them, but they both have a specific quality that they need to accentuate if they hope to win Saturday’s main event at UFC 182.
Jones is already the longest-reigning light heavy…

Jones is already the longest-reigning light heavyweight champion in UFC history, and Cormier is a two-time Olympian with an undefeated professional MMA record. If the fight credentials weren’t enough to make this a must-see fight, the fact that both men hate each other only makes this bout more compelling.

Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter seemingly agrees.

Check out some of the hype for this fight in the video below from the UFC’s YouTube channel.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ll be watching the fight—or at least wishing you could. There may never have been a more universally approved main event in UFC history.

As much as this fight will be about emotion, it’ll also be a chess match. Here’s a look at the most important piece for both men.

Jon Jones‘ Use of Length and Height

Aside from Alexander Gustafsson, every one of Jones’ opponents has had to deal with a massive reach disadvantage. The champion stands 6’4″, and his reach is a condor-like 84 inches.

Against Cormier, Jones’ length will be an even bigger component in the fight. The challenger is just 5’11”, and his reach is only 72 inches. Length isn’t everything, but when the advantage is that dramatic, and when the fighter with the edge is a master at taking advantage of the situation, it could be the determining factor.

Most tall fighters don’t know how to use their length. Like Wladimir Klitschko, Jones has excellent spatial awareness. He knows when he’s in range to strike and when his opponents can’t reach him.

Before Cormier can have any success in Saturday’s fight, he must find a way to close the distance. Obviously that is much easier said than done.

Daniel Cormier’s Wrestling

Cormier’s boxing skills are underrated. He has fast and powerful hands. He has shown them off in previous fights against the likes of Patrick Cummins and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

While that part of DC’s game deserves respect, his chances of winning begin and end with his ability to impose himself as a wrestler.

The former Olympian has perhaps the strongest wrestling base of any fighter in the UFC. He’s a step above Chael Sonnen and Rashad Evans in this category—both of whom Jones has already dismantled.

Can Cormier prove to be any different? That’s the million-dollar question that won’t be answered until the two gladiators settle their differences in the Octagon.

All height and length references per FightMetric.com

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UFC 182 Jones vs. Cormier: Round-by-Round Recap and Analysis

Ladies and gentlemen, UFC 182 is finally here. At long last, we get to witness the amazing grudge match that is light heavyweight champion (and possible greatest fighter of all time) Jon Jones taking on an elite talent in Daniel Cormier.
The figh…

The fight is exciting on multiple levels, and no longer must we wait!

Some say that Jones’ well-rounded skill set, which includes a dynamic, rangy striking game and near-impregnable takedown defense, will be too much for Cormier. Others say that Cormier‘s success against fighters far larger than Jones, achieved through timing-focused punches and world-class wrestling, sets him up for victory.

Either way, the talk is almost over and the fighting begins soon. Circle back here tonight for Bleacher Report’s round-by-round recap and analysis of UFC 182’s main event.

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UFC 182: Fight Card Start Time and Final Jones vs. Cormier Predictions

The time for talking and pre-fight hype has finally passed. Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier will finally fight for the UFC light heavyweight title on pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. The question is, what on earth is goin…

The question is, what on earth is going to happen?

It’s a question that makes this fight so appealing because one of two things will happen. We’ll either see a longtime champion and pound-for-pound kingpin’s mortality put on display, or we’ll see that champion take another step toward being the unequivocal greatest fighter of all time.

There’s no in-between.

Here’s a look at all the information you’ll need to catch the bout and a few final predictions for the highly anticipated main event:

When: Saturday, Jan. 3

Start Time: Fight Pass Prelims at 7 p.m. ET (subscription required); Fox Sports 1 Prelims at 8 p.m. ET; Main Card pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

Live Stream: UFC.tv

Cormier Will Win Round 1

Daniel Cormier has never lost a round in his MMA career. That won’t change in the opening frame in his fight with Jones.

For all the immense talents that Jones has in his arsenal, he’s never been the type of fighter to overwhelm his opponent in the first round. He’s been outpaced in the opening round by Alexander Gustafsson and even Glover Teixiera in his last two bouts, according to FightMetric.

Just because he was outpaced (as measured by significant strikes attempted) doesn’t mean he lost those rounds. Effective aggression is more important than pure volume, but Cormier has shown in the past that he not only sets a high pace in the first round, but he can cause some damage while he’s at it.

Jones is more apt to break down his opponents over the course of a fight, not come out guns a-blazing to make a statement. That approach will likely cost him the opening round.

Cormier Will Earn at Least One Takedown

This fight is being hyped because of the potential for Cormier to push Jones in ways he’s never been pushed before. In one literal sense that’s true. We haven’t seen Jones have to fight off of his back much in his career.

He was taken down by Gustafsson in the opening round of their UFC 165 classic and pulled guard late in a bout against Rashad Evans. Those are the only two times we’ve seen the champion work from the bottom.

If Jones’ pre-fight talk and penchant for challenging opposition at their game is to believed, Jones doesn’t fear Cormier getting him to the mat. MMAWeekly passed along the champion’s thoughts:

I love the fact that people assume that if Daniel takes me down he wins the fight. I love how people assume that he needs to get close to me and then I’m suddenly at some type of a disadvantage. Honestly man, I’m so secure in my abilities as a fighter; in the clinch, dirty-boxing, my jiu-jitsu, my top game, my bottom game, about my wrestling.

Against a shorter, stockier opponent, there’s no denying that Jones’ safest path to victory would be to maintain his striking distance and pick Cormier apart. Jones isn’t always interested in safe, though. He wants to challenge himself.

Mixing it up with Cormier will do just that. However, it’ll also put him in at least one bad position. The Olympic wrestling background of DC may seem overplayed, but it’s a very real threat to Jones. He may not ragdoll him around as easily as he did Dan Henderson and Patrick Cummins at 205, but he’s good enough to become the second man to take down Bones.

Jones Will Ultimately Have His Hand Raised

It won’t be easy. Cormier is advertised as a challenger. Breaking down this bout, Cormier has tools that no challenger before him possessed. He’s knocked out heavyweights, and his ability to throw opponents around demonstrates strength that Jones hasn’t seen.

However, we haven’t seen Cormier dominate top-shelf talent in the light heavyweight division like Jones.

In a fight where there are few dominant edges, Jones has two that could ultimately be the deciding factor—experience and length. Jones will enjoy a 12-inch reach advantage against Cormier. For all of the challenger’s tools, it’s difficult to consistently overcome that in a five-round fight.

The second advantage is that Jones has been here before. He’s gone all five-rounds in title fights three times as opposed to Cormier’s one time in the heavyweight division. But even more importantly, he’s shown an ability to keep his composure in an emotionally charged fight.

The bad blood between Jones and former teammate Rashad Evans was well-documented, but it didn’t keep Bones from methodically beating him over five rounds.

Looking at Cormier pacing around at the weigh-ins, it’s a legitimate concern as to weather DC can successfully compartmentalize his disdain for the champion and fight with the composure it takes to win a title. Should he experience an adrenaline dump after a strong first round, the champion will slowly take advantage and own the later rounds.

As much intrigue as a Cormier win would provide for fans and the division going forward, there are more ways for Jones to win. That makes him the pick by unanimous decision in what should be a memorable fight.

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UFC 182 Fight Card: Best DraftKings Picks from Jones vs. Cormier Card

Mixed martial arts is new to the DraftKings scene, but it won’t take long for fans to catch on to the newest fantasy sports twist. UFC 182 on Saturday from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is a perfect event to push the fusion of MMA and the one-night fantas…

Jon “Bones” Jones will defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Daniel Cormier. By most accounts, these two hate each other. Quite obviously, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden and Jeremy Botter wouldn’t have it any other way.

Whether you’re a casual fan or a diehard who has been down since UFC 1, the Jones-Cormier saga has made for entertaining television. It will all come to a head on Saturday night, and DraftKings might allow you a way to make a few coins off the main event and/or a mixture of the other scraps on tap.

Just like in DK football, basketball and hockey games, the athletes from a night of action are appointed a salary. That salary is based on the projected performance of each fighter.

The higher the probability for success, the more the fighter will cost players to spend through their salary cap. Instead of counting points and yardage, as is the case in football and basketball leagues, significant strikes, takedowns and other statistics are what generate fantasy points in the MMA version of the contests.

For those unaware, here’s how the points break down, per DraftKings.com:

Moves Scoring

Significant Strikes: +0.5 PTS
Advance: +1 PT
Takedown: +2 PTS
Reversal/Sweep: +2 PTS
Knockdown: +3 PTS

Fight Conclusion Bonuses

1st Round Win: +100 PTS
2nd Round Win: +70 PTS
3rd Round Win: +50 PTS
4th Round Win: +40 PTS
5th Round Win: +40 PTS
Decision Win: +25 PTS

Scoring Notes
- Significant Strikes are any Distance Strike or Clinch/Ground Strikes that are considered “Power Strikes” by official scorers.
- Advances include:
  - To Half Guard
  - To Side Control
  - To Mount
  - To Back Control

With that established, here are my picks to click for Saturday night’s epic event. Just below the table is a look at two fighters I believe will score big.

Danny “Last Call” Castillo

I totally believe Jones will beat Daniel Cormier in the main event, but if you asked me which fighter I just had to select from Saturday night’s card, it would be Castillo. This is Last Call’s 20th fight with the UFC, and he’s serious about winning. He tweeted about the milestone on Monday.

The 35-year-old is hungry and desperate for one legitimate run up the lightweight ladder. He needs a win over Paul Felder to move in that direction. Felder is inexperienced, and Castillo has displayed one-punch KO power that will only serve to complement his wrestling skills.

Castillo put Charlie Brenneman down with one shot back in April. I wouldn’t discount the chances he could win in a similar fashion on Saturday. Felder is taking a big step up in competition, and I don’t believe he’s ready.

Even if Castillo doesn’t win by KO or TKO, his busy style should bring in a good number of fantasy points for significant strikes and takedown attempts.

Per Fight Metric, Castillo lands 2.48 significant strikes per 15 minutes, and he pursues takedowns 3.34 times.

Castillo will prove to be worth the price tag attached to him.

Jared Cannonier

To win at DK—especially in MMA—you have to pick the right underdog. Cannonier—who is making his UFC debut— is my choice from Saturday’s crop. He’ll be facing Shawn Jordan in a fight that is there for the taking for Cannonier.

Jordan isn’t much for defense, and he’s been stopped in two of his last three fights. In his UFC career, Jordan has only avoided 48 percent of the strikes aimed his way. Some, such as Adam Martin of MMA Oddsbreaker, think Cannonier is too small to beat Jordan, despite the latter’s recent performances.

At the weigh-in, Cannonier was 235 pounds and Jordan was a hefty 261 pounds, per Aaron Rich of KTSM in El Paso, Texas. The weight disparity will give Cannonier a little boost rather than hinder him.

Jordan will be looking to attack and finish early. If Cannonier looks to counter or is able to get this one into the second round, Jordan will likely be exhausted and Cannonier will take control.

If there was ever a great opponent for a guy fighting in his first UFC bout, it’s this one. Cannonier is undefeated and hungry. For just $8,900, he was screaming: “pick me.”

If you want to get an edge from an unexpected source, you should tab Cannonier as one of your low-cost selections.

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Jon Jones’ Keys to Defeating Daniel Cormier at UFC 182

On Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Jon Jones could make beating Daniel Cormier look easy. At this point, it’s hard to be shocked by Bones’ brilliance. However, Cormier is an undefeated, highly motivated wrestling genius with excellent box…

Jones has faced tough fighters before, but Cormier brings a different skill set to the Octagon.

Per Odds Shark, Jones is the 25-52 favorite to win. The reigning and defending UFC light heavyweight champion will come through victorious as long as he does the following things.

Keep His Cool

The buildup for this fight has been filled with more seemingly genuine hatred than any I can remember. These guys really seem to dislike one another, and it goes beyond simply selling a fight.

Because of the emotion involved, Jones must make sure his temper and obsession with humiliating Cormier doesn’t leave him open to attacks and bad habits. Jones talks about the pressure of fighting an opponent you don’t like in the interview below with UFC.com’s Matt Parrino.

Cormier has the strength and striking ability to put Jones in peril if the champion gets too comfortable.

Use Length

Per Fight Metric, Jones is five inches taller and has a 12-inch reach advantage over Cormier. Normally, the champion is a master at utilizing his length advantage. He has masterful spatial awareness and must use this gift against Cormier.

Staying just far away enough from attacks, but close enough to tag Cormier with kicks and elbows, is key. Jones did this effectively against Rashad Evans when he easily defeated him in April 2012.

If he fights tall and smart against Cormier, the result will be the same.

Avoid the Takedown

In his career, Jones has stopped 97 percent of the takedowns attempted against him. If he is going to beat Cormier, he’ll need to continue his nearly impenetrable takedown defense.

Cormier is one of the sport’s best wrestlers, and he’ll be vicious in the ground-and-pound if he gets Jones in a compromising position.

To win, Jones needs to keep the fight standing, or maintain top control if the fight does go to the mat.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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