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Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier: Full Preview, Predictions for Entire UFC 182 Card

The 2015 UFC slate begins with a bang as Jon Jones returns to the octagon to defend the light heavyweight title against Daniel Cormier. The fight highlights an event that provides a nice mix of established fighters and those on the rise.
Furthermore, i…

Furthermore, it’s a card that features a lot of bouts that should be hotly contested. Although there are some sizable favorites in the likes of Kyoji Horiguchi and Hector Lombard, several of the bouts on Saturday night are legitimate toss-ups.

With that in mind, let’s check out the complete group of fights scheduled for UFC 182 and make predictions for each. It’s followed by a deeper dive into the main event.

Complete UFC 182 Predictions

Main-Event Preview

Jones has defended the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship seven times since he won the belt in 2011 with a victory over Mauricio Rua. Many over those bouts were one-sided in his favor as he established himself as a dominant force and a major draw.

Cormier presents a unique challenge. He brings a lot of power to the table, which was the same basic outlook when Jones went up against Alexander Gustafsson. Of course, he managed to retain the belt in that fight, but he did it only after a brawl that could have gone either way.

The difference this time is that the challenger also brings notable wrestling ability to the table. Cormier would love to turn this fight into a brawl with plenty of close-range exchanges and time on the mat, where he should have the edge.

Jones doesn’t believe that’s the case, though. Akhilesh Gannavarapu of Sports Keeda passed along comments from the champion, who’s confident regardless of how the battle plays out:

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.

You wouldn’t expect a fighter to say anything else. The reality is that his best chance of finishing a successful defense is implementing a more conservative approach where he can use his length to control the pace of the bout.

It wouldn’t lead to an entertaining encounter—in fact, it would probably be called an ugly win in the aftermath—but it all comes down to winning. A fight that favors quality of strikes over quantity works to his advantage.

Regardless of the style the fight takes on, it’s one of the most anticipated battles in a long time, as noted by Dave Meltzer of MMA Fighting:

Ultimately, it feels like a fight where the advantage will shift numerous times. When Cormier is able to land some shots so he can move in and get the fight to the mat, he’ll grab the edge. The key is how often he’ll be able to do it.

The deciding factor may be experience. Jones has been on this stage a bunch of times in recent years. This is Cormier‘s first time at this level. In turn, it might take him a little longer to settle in than normal, and the champion will capitalize on that.

Prediction: Jon Jones by unanimous decision.

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Video: Watch the UFC 182 Weigh-Ins Live Featuring Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier will collide this Saturday night at UFC 182 in Las Vegas for UFC’s light heavyweight title.
Before the fight can be made official, both fighters have to make weight. There will be 22 fighters in total weighing in …

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier will collide this Saturday night at UFC 182 in Las Vegas for UFC’s light heavyweight title.

Before the fight can be made official, both fighters have to make weight. There will be 22 fighters in total weighing in Friday at 7 p.m. ET.

Thursday, the two faced off during the UFC 182 media day—and things got heated. Thankfully, things did not get physical and lead to a brawl—like what happened a few months ago during a different media day at the MGM Grand.

Jones and Cormier have been jawing at each other for years.

It all started when the two ran into each other backstage at UFC 121. Jones introduced himself to Cormier and made a comment about how he bet he could take down the two-time Olympian. Jones says he meant it as an icebreaker, but Cormier took it as a slight.

The tension between the two has only escalated since then, and the two will finally get a chance to settle the score at UFC 182.

The full fight card lineup is below. Check back for official results. For a more detailed accounting of the weigh-ins, follow along with our live blog.

UFC 182 Fight Card

Jon Jones ( ) vs. Daniel Cormier ( )
Donald Cerrone ( ) vs. Myles Jury ( )
Brad Tavares ( ) vs. Nate Marquardt ( )
Kyoji Horiguchi ( ) vs. Louis Gaudinot ( )
Hector Lombard ( ) vs. Josh Burkman ( )
Danny Castillo ( ) vs. Paul Felder ( )
Marcus Brimage ( ) vs. Cody Garbrandt ( )
Shawn Jordan ( ) vs. Jared Cannonier ( )
Evan Dunham ( ) vs. Rodrigo Damm ( )
Omari Akhmedov ( ) vs. Mats Nilsson ( )
Alexis Dufresne ( ) vs. Marion Reneau ( )

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UFC 182 Start Time: Full Card, TV Info, Live Stream and Predictions

UFC 182 is almost guaranteed to start the new year off with a bang. In addition to a long-awaited main event featuring reigning light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and rival Daniel Cormier, the Las Vegas card is littered with matchups that have barn-b…

For all the hype surrounding the main event, both Myles Jury and Donald Cerrone have done enough inside the Octagon to warrant serious attention. The two lightweight contenders are among the hottest commodities in the division thanks to Jury’s undefeated record and Cowboy’s five-fight win streak.

Add in a few intriguing fights to watch on the undercard, and it’s clear that this isn’t a card fight fans will want to miss.

Here’s a look at all the information you need to catch the action from Vegas.

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

Odds via Odds Shark.

Storylines to Watch

Will Hector Lombard Finally Put Together a Winning Streak?

When Hector Lombard officially made the move to the UFC in July of 2012, it appeared he was destined for stardom. The Cuban-Australian fighter entered the promotion with a long reign as Bellator champion and a winning streak that went back to 2006.

Then a split-decision loss to Tim Boetsch happened.

“Lightning” came back strong with a knockout win over Rousimar Palhares but disappointed once again with a split-decision loss to Yushin Okami. As it turns out, it might just be that he needed a move to welterweight to be relevant in the UFC.

Lombard made the move to the lighter weight division after that loss and has since knocked out Nate Marquardt and earned a decision win over Jake Shields. That’s back-to-back wins, but two wins does not a real winning streak make.

Josh Burkman isn’t the toughest challenge of Lombard’s career. The 34-year-old is returning to the Octagon after journeying through World Series of Fighting and other promotions since being released from the UFC in 2008.

However, he will provide Lombard an opportunity to showcase the skills that made him such an exciting addition to the UFC roster. An impressive win here should set up a high-profile win against a top-five welterweight.

Is Myles Jury a Legitimate Lightweight Contender?

All Myles Jury has done since his professional debut is win. The 25-year-old has a perfect 15-0 record. Yes, he lost to Al Iaquinta in The Ultimate Fighter, but he’s done more than enough to show that the loss was more of an aberration than an indication of his actual talent.

What’s still in doubt is how he will react to the spotlight that comes with a co-main event slot on a pay-per-view. Given the magnitude of this card and the quality of his opponent, a fight this big is uncharted territory for Jury.

Yet the rising star has his sights set even higher, per Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report:

A win over Cerrone puts me next in line for that title shot. And that’s what I want. Anthony Pettis beat Cerrone and got a title shot. A lot of people that beat Cerrone, back in WEC and in the UFC, get title shots. … When I beat Cerrone, you better bet I’m going to be asking for that title shot.

A win over Cerrone would certainly prove he belongs in the discussion as a title contender. Cowboy’s recent five-fight win streak includes victories over Jim Miller, Edson Barboza and Eddie Alvarez. That’s much more established talent than the level of competition Jury has defeated.

Cowboy should be able to test Jury in ways that other opponents have not been able to.

Can Jones vs. Cormier Live Up to the Hype?

There are few fights for Jon Jones that are truly compelling. Because he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, there are not many opponents whom the UFC can truly sell as legitimate threats to the champion.

One of the few happens to be Daniel Cormier. As Jonathan Snowden of Bleacher Report noted on Twitter, the matchup has some saying this will be an all-timer and others saying this will be a one-sided beatdown:

DC is unlike any challenger that Jones has faced in his career.

Yes, comparisons could be made to Rashad Evans. Both are excellent athletes whose main challenge against someone like Jones is closing the distance, but that’s where the comparisons end.

Evans doesn’t have nearly the wrestling credentials of Cormier, nor does he have the track record of defeating men much larger than himself in the heavyweight division.

On the other hand, Jones-Evans was a marketable matchup thanks to some familiar bad blood between the two. The personal feud and hype machine did a great job of bamboozling fans into thinking they were watching an intriguing matchup between former champions. Instead, they witnessed another emphatic chapter of Bones’ legacy.

Have fans done it again? Or is Cormier‘s rare blend of strength and athleticism truly enough to get the champion in trouble?

That remains to be seen, but those questions will certainly make fans tune in come Saturday night.

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Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier: Keys to Victory for Each Fighter

The light heavyweight title tilt we have all been waiting for is nearly here, and the most compelling 205-pound championship fight ever has us all on the edge of our seats before the two combatants even step inside the cage.
Jon Jones defends his champ…

Jon Jones defends his championship for a record eighth time when he faces No. 2-ranked contender Daniel Cormier.

Cormier is an elite wrestler who has dominated throughout his MMA career. He is 2-0 at light heavyweight after leaving the heavyweight division as one of its top contenders. Jones has been the greatest light heavyweight we have known in this young sport. Their collision is made even more enticing by the hatred they have for one another.

Here are their keys to victory in the UFC 182 main event.

Cormier‘s Keys to Victory

Close the Distance

Jones utilizes his reach better than almost anyone in the sport today, and he will have a 12″ reach advantage against Cormier. That puts the challenger at a significant disadvantage.

Cormier has dealt with this disadvantage nearly his entire career, and it has yet to be a big problem. It will be Saturday. It was not a big problem during Cormier’s bouts at heavyweight because of the nature of the individual matchups and the former Olympian’s grappling skills. He also possessed a speed advantage at heavyweight that he will not have against Jones.

The challenger has to find ways to get inside. He cannot be successful being stuck outside of range. This is his primary key to winning the fight.

Complete Takedowns

The better wrestler must get takedowns, but it is not because of how good he is in this specific area. Rather, it helps set up success later in the fight.

If Cormier is successful with his wrestling, then it makes Jones react to his shots and feints. It begins to give DC more options against Jones that he otherwise would not have. He will be able to slip in strikes as Jones reacts to defend.

If Jones can stuff the takedowns, his confidence will grow, and Cormier will not have many paths to victory.

Controlled Aggression

This is a grudge match of the highest order. They hate one another.

Cormier has to manager his anger and control his aggression. The greatest risk for making key mistakes is when a fighter cannot channel his anger accordingly. Being overaggressive leads to finishes. A cerebral fighter like Jones will take advantage.

The AKA product is a smart fighter in his own right, but he is the one that has to come forward to defeat the champion. He is the one who has to force the action. The onus is on him.

Cormier must stay within himself for however long the fight may go.

Jones’ Keys to Victory

Establish Distance

Cormier has to get inside, but Jones will want to establish his distance.

Jones does this in a variety of ways, but the two he is most effective with is the jab and front kick. His long limbs are one of the biggest reasons he is the champion today. No one uses his or her body as well as Jones.

Jones has made his natural advantages even more significant through his hard work during training. That is a credit to the tutelage of Greg Jackson and Mike Winklejohn.

Keeping DC on the outside will be Jones’ easiest path to victory Saturday, and it is also one of his easiest options.

Utilize Trips

Much like he can control the distance of the fights with his long legs, Jones also uses them expertly in fights.

Jones is not going to be able to clinch with Cormier and win the takedown battles. Cormier is just much better than him in that position, and he is the stronger fighter. Jones has to use leverage. He can be successful in tripping Cormier to the canvas.

We have not seen how Cormier reacts on the bottom, and Jones is always improving on his ground control. They both have amazing takedown defense, but Cormier‘s balance would be effected by one of Jones’ trips.

Landing even one successful takedown will take some confidence away from Cormier and open the former Olympian’s eyes to the notion that Jones can take him to the mat. It will make him begin to second guess.

Make DC Work

Cormier has went five rounds before, but that was in a fight where he controlled the action. DC tossed Josh Barnett around the cage and rode his way to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix title.

Cormier’s cardio has never truly been tested. It is easy to manage your gas tank when you are the one in control from bell to bell. If Jones can force Cormier to work early and often, it will pay off in the championship rounds.

Jones has shown his heart and resolve in the past, and we know he can go five full rounds in a back-and-forth battle. He will need to keep a steady workrate Saturday against Cormier. If DC does begin to gas, it will be all over, and Jones will be able to do just about whatever he wants.

This is a fantastic fight that can go a number of ways. It will be about who executes his game plan, and who can make the necessary adjustments. Remember these keys to victory when the two elite fighters square off in Vegas and see who comes away holding 12 pounds of gold.

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Jones vs. Cormier: Latest Predictions Before Anticipated UFC 182 Main Event

When UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones squares off against Daniel Cormier on Saturday in the main event of UFC 182, mixed martial arts fans will witness the culmination of months of trash talking.
There are few megafights anymore due to the over…

There are few megafights anymore due to the oversaturation of the UFC product, but hardcore and casual MMA fans alike can get behind the battle between Jones and Cormier. After several pre-fight verbal arguments and a physical confrontation at a press conference, fight fans are ready to see the action in the Octagon.

Here is the full UFC 182 fight card, predictions for each bout and what gives challenger Daniel Cormier the edge in this matchup.

Daniel Cormier’s Biggest Edge

While there is no discounting the wrestling ability of Jon Jones, the advantage Cormier has over the champion is his elite ability on the mat.

From the very beginning of his wrestling career, Cormier was a man to be feared. With three state championships, two National Junior College Athletic Association Championships and a second-place finish at nationals while at Oklahoma State University in 2001, he is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the UFC.

Add in the fact that Cormier joined the Team USA freestyle wrestling team and was on the 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams, and there is no doubt that he is one of the most gifted mat technicians in the sport today.

Jon Anik of Fox Sports 1 revealed Jones’ thoughts on Cormier’s perceived wrestling advantage:

The trash talking has heated up overall, as Jones told Fox Sports 1’s America’s Pregame (h/t MMAJunkie.com) that he’d be ready to fight at the weigh-ins if necessary. Cormier immediately responded to those comments:

I think you have to (keep your emotions in check). What’s the point of fighting on Friday when we’ve got to wait 24 hours to fight on Saturday? Right now, it’s about staying the course and being professional. It will be good to see him in that state.

As Jon says, we take it how it goes. It’s a matter of, “How are we going to do this?” I would prefer to wait until Saturday, but if we had to fight on Friday, it would be OK, I guess.

While Cormier has the edge, Jones is no slouch. Not only did he also win a high school state championship, but he also was able to win a NJCAA Championship in 2006, just as Cormier did.

Jones may not have the extensive college and Olympic wrestling training that Cormier does, but the champion does have more Brazilian jiu-jitsu training and a serious advantage in experience inside the UFC Octagon.

With Cormier’s move from heavyweight to light heavyweight, he has a serious amount of power in his punches and is the kind of challenger who would give Jones trouble. It will be a great main event and fans should be ready to see a new champion crowned.

Predicted Winner: Cormier via fourth-round technical knockout.

Stats via UFC.com.

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Jon Jones: Why Daniel Cormier Represents Bones’ Biggest Challenge

Like many MMA fans, I’d love to see Jon Jones fight Alexander Gustafsson again, but the bout with Daniel Cormier Saturday in Las Vegas at UFC 182 is Bones’ defining fight. We may never see a more genuinely hate-charged buildup for a bout.
I’ve seen ple…

I’ve seen plenty of fights in boxing and MMA where the hype was about as real as a unicorn. Call me gullible, but I’m a believer in the bad blood between Bones and DC. Apparently, I’m not alone—Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter and Jonathan Snowden are apparently all in as well.

The atmosphere the two fighter’s volatile relationship has set up is great for the sport, but it adds a potentially harmful element for Jones. Can he fight mad?

Stakes Are High

Obviously, Jones is defending his title, but the stakes are higher than the belt. Jones already owns the record for most title defenses of the light heavyweight crown. He’s just three wins short of tying Anderson Silva’s overall mark.

If he wins Saturday, it might be a while before another legitimate threat arises. If Gustafsson gets past Anthony “Rumble” Johnson later this month, then a rematch with him seems like the next fight. With a second look, it seems as if Jones could make a rematch with Gustafsson look a little easier than the first bout.

Bones could be on his way to becoming the greatest fighter of all time.

Aside from records and titles, Jones’ pride is on the line. He and Cormier can’t stand each other, and that obviously brings about a tension. Jones put it best in this interview with UFC.com’s Matt Parrino when he said, “no one wants to lose to someone you don’t like.”

Because of that dynamic, Jones will be under even more pressure than usual.

Cormier‘s Wrestling

Jones has faced guys like Chael Sonnen and Rashad Evans. Both are tremendous wrestlers, yet neither of them are on Cormier‘s level in that regard.

When it comes to technique and brute strength, you would be hard-pressed to find any fighter—regardless of weight class—with a better wrestling base than Cormier.

He knows who he is, and he’ll bring that into the Octagon as his ace in the hole. Jones has shown the tendency to try and beat opponents at their own game. If he does that against Cormier, he’ll be playing in the lion’s den.

Cormier‘s Fighting I.Q.

Usually, Jones is the smartest man in the cage. That might not be the case when he faces Cormier. DC is a thinking man’s fighter, and he’s able to process information and incorporate it quickly in a fight.

Cormier has been so dominant that he hasn’t had to adapt much in the cage, but his game plans have been impeccable against the likes of Roy Nelson, Dan Henderson and others. Cormier used movement and kicks to keep Nelson off balance before going in for the kill.

Against Henderson, Cormier‘s takedown techniques and speed advantage made the future Hall of Famer and Greco-Roman wrestler look like an amateur.

Finding a way to beat Jones will be Cormier‘s biggest assignment, but the same can also be said for Jones. The winner of this bout be determined by the fighter who wins the chess match and not just the scrap.

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

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