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UFC 197 Predictions: Someone Picked Henry Cejudo To Knock Out ‘Mighty Mouse’

Jon Jones vs. Ovince St. Preux: Mike Drahota: Jon Jones is finally back, and he’s arguably in the best shape of his legendary MMA career. Time will tell if he can get past his out-of-cage struggles to regain his previously long-held UFC light heavyweight title belt, but he’s never really had much trouble winning fights

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Jon Jones vs. Ovince St. Preux:

Mike Drahota:

Jon Jones is finally back, and he’s arguably in the best shape of his legendary MMA career. Time will tell if he can get past his out-of-cage struggles to regain his previously long-held UFC light heavyweight title belt, but he’s never really had much trouble winning fights in the Octagon. He’s obviously not fighting arch rival champion Daniel Cormier, but late replacement St. Preux has some unorthodox striking and lethal knockout power, and Jones has had trouble with one other similarly sized opponent in Alexander Gustafsson. However, ‘OSP’ has also been handled thoroughly by touted grapplers Glover Teixeira and Ryan Bader. MMA math may not be the best deciding factor, but I still see Jones winning this by second-round submission.

Rory Kernaghan:

Jon Jones faces a dangerous fighter in Ovince Saint Preux, but in all honesty nothing new. With all due respect to OSP, I simply don’t feel he belongs in the octagon with Jones at this stage in his career. Truthfully, “Bones” is without doubt one of the greatest fighters of all time, even with all of the legal trouble going on in his personal life. The reach of Jones is a problem for any fighter, and I think he’ll be using it to fire nasty oblique kicks to keep his distance early on. I expect the former champion to utilize his nasty elbow attacks to wear down on St. Preux, eventually leading to a grizzly end. Again, no disrespect to OSP, but Jones is going to feed him some punishment. Jon Jones by TKO round three.

Mike Henken:

Jones has looked like an absolute monster in preparing for his return despite having to deal with a late opponent change just a few weeks prior to his fight. With that being said, I just don’t see many ways that St. Preux can challenge Jones. OSP is an elite level athlete with serious knockout power, but “Bones” is the best in the world, and possibly the best of all-time for a reason. I expect him to pick St. Preux apart on the feet before finishing the fight on the ground. Jones by third-round submission.

Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo:

Mike Drahota:

There’s little doubt that Cejudo provides a new and perhaps more challenging test as “Mighty Mouse” attempts to inch his way closer to Anderson Silva’s UFC title defense record, but for all of the hype that heaped upon Cejudo for his Olympic wrestling gold medal, he hasn’t shown me all that much in the Octagon. Yes, his striking is sufficient and his takedowns will always be a threat, but he’s still seeking his first UFC stoppage and is arguably facing the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Johnson has simply transcended 125 pounds in recent years, and has a variety of amazing finishes as he’s seemingly toyed with his opponents. Cejudo is very tough and may very well put up more of a fight than most, but I just don’t think he’s ready to take on a challenge like Johnson. “Mighty Mouse” by unanimous decision.

Rory Kernaghan:

Demetrious Johnson is another extremely dominant force, but is flying under the radar once again for his fight with Henry Cejudo. The former Olympian is a tremendous athlete, but does he have the MMA pedigree to take out such a superb fighter in ‘Mighty Mouse?’ Many would argue the contrary, but I find myself a little stuck on this pick. Cejudo is one of very few fighters who could potentially keep the pace of Johnson all five rounds, but the champion’s footwork and overall well rounded game is just so advanced and technical. I feel an upset coming in this fight, and I don’t often go with my gut, but I just sense that ‘Mighty Mouse’ is going to get caught with a big shot here. I know it’s against all the odds and the physics of this match up, but someone has to go for the underdog. Cejudo knocks out ‘Mighty Mouse’ in round one.

Mike Henken:

In my opinion, “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is one of the best fighters on the planet, although possibly not receiving the credit he deserves. The reigning flyweight boss seemingly does everything perfect, being able to strike from numerous stances as well as being able to transition effortlessly between takedowns and submission attempts. Despite being criticized for the ‘lack’ of competition he’s faced, “Mighty Mouse” has no easy task in Cejudo, an undefeated mixed martial artist and an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling. “The Messenger” has also improved his striking, but I don’t see it being enough to dethrone the king. Johnson by unanimous decision.

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UFC Fight Night 86 Predictions

Ben Rothwell vs. Junior dos Santos: Mike Drahota: It seems that it’s becoming increasingly clear that the UFC will do what they can to stop Ben Rothwell from getting a heavyweight title shot, as they’ve matched him up against another former champion despite four straight finishes over names like Josh Barnett and Alistair Overeem. While

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Ben Rothwell vs. Junior dos Santos:

Mike Drahota:

It seems that it’s becoming increasingly clear that the UFC will do what they can to stop Ben Rothwell from getting a heavyweight title shot, as they’ve matched him up against another former champion despite four straight finishes over names like Josh Barnett and Alistair Overeem. While dos Santos is past his prime days as one of the most powerful strikers in the UFC, I still think he has enough left in the gas tank to pull off the upset n Croatia, however. For all his recent success, Rothwell can be a bit slow and plodding standing, and he has been knocked out four times. That could play right into the boxing-centric strategy of ‘Cigano’ My pick is dos Santos via R1 knockout.

Rory Kernaghan:

Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos looked flat in his latest bout with Alistair Overeem, whereas his UFC Zagreb opponent Ben Rothwell has looked a renewed man in his most recent outings. Where this fight is won is on the ground for Rothwell, and on the feet for ‘Cigano.’ Although ‘Big Ben’ has some jaw crunching power in his strikes, I just don’t see him landing on a technical boxer like dos Santos, even on his worst day. Will Rothwell go in for the takedown and look to dominate on the ground? He really should, but I’m not sure he’ll get the chance. This is purely a gut pick, but I’m going with JDS by first round KO.

Mike Henken:

Former champ dos Santos has obviously endured a tremendous amount of damage throughout his career, and is coming off of a brutal TKO loss. Rothwell, on the other hand, has been riding a hot streak as of late, scoring four consecutive victories all by way of stoppage. He’s shown solid power, as well as an elite level submission game. At the end of the day, with all things considered, I still rank ‘JDS’ amongst the best heavyweights in the world. Dos Santos by third round TKO.

Derrick Lewis vs. Gabriel Gonzaga:

Mike Drahota:

The co-main event for the UFC’s Croatian debut has the potential for some exciting action, and there’s little doubt that it will end quite some time before the final bell sounds. Lewis has won five of his seven fights in the Octagon by knockout, but he has been susceptible to knockouts himself (especially against high-level competition) as exhibited in his losses to Matt Mitrione and Shawn Jordan. Gonzaga, on the other hand, is a storied veteran who is in need of a win after losing three of his last four. Lewis came in incredibly heated at today’s weigh-ins, so we’ll see if that helps or hinders him. Still, my pick is Lewis via R1 TKO.

Rory Kernaghan:

Derrick Lewis is a hot prospect in the UFC heavyweight division, an interesting character with some seriously scary power too. Gabriel Gonzaga has been there and done it with the best of the 265-pounders, but has also shown to be when taking punches in the knockout-heavy division. Gonzaga could conceivably get a submission win if he can get it to the mat, but I don’t see him doing so without eating a few shots first. I’m predicting a second round TKO for the ‘Black Beast’ Derrick Lewis.

Mike Henken:

Gonzaga is a veteran of the fight game with a well-rounded skillset, but I feel as if he’s nearing the tail end of his career after losing three out of his last four bouts. Lewis, however, has won two straight and has shown deadly knockout power, power I suspect will be seeing in this bout. I expect the “Black Beast” to get it done early. Lewis by first round TKO.

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UFC Fight Night 85 Predictions

Mark Hunt vs. Frank Mir: Mike Drahota: There may not be much more than the potential of an all-out slugfest featuring Hunt against a former champ in his native Australia, but this fight should at least deliver that. Obviously the edge goes to Hunt if he can keep the fight standing despite Mir’s recent improvements

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Mark Hunt vs. Frank Mir:

Mike Drahota:

There may not be much more than the potential of an all-out slugfest featuring Hunt against a former champ in his native Australia, but this fight should at least deliver that. Obviously the edge goes to Hunt if he can keep the fight standing despite Mir’s recent improvements in that area, and ‘The Super Samoan’ has certainly looked in great shape recently. But his weakness has always been submissions, and there may be no more of a diverse and dangerous finisher on the mat than Mir. If the two-time former champ can weather the storm to tire Hunt out even a bit, he should open up the doors for a submission. Mir via round two submission.

Rory Kernaghan:

Frank Mir and Mark Hunt are two of the most well-traveled heavyweights who are still actively fighting. In terms of mixed martial arts, Mir is the more accomplished, and certainly has a huge advantage on the mat, but he faces in ‘The Super Samoan’ a K-1 champion with seriously meaty hands. The issue that stands out to me in this fight is that Mir has a tendency to test his stand-up in the Octagon, even against clearly more dangerous fighters, and it can prove costly for the former heavyweight champion. Of course we know Mir has some serious knockout power, but he’d be foolish to keep this standing against a one-punch finisher like Hunt. Although his durability has improved recently, I just don’t see Mir withstanding the punishing blows of Hunt for even one round. It pains me to say it, but I see a brutal knockout win for Hunt in the first round.

Mike Henken:

Both men have looked somewhat solid as of late with Hunt finishing Antonio Silva in his last bout and Mir winning two of his last three, albeit most recently dropping a decision to Andrei Arlovski. In my opinion, “The Super Samoan” holds the clear striking advantage here in terms of power and experience, while Mir most definitely holds the grappling advantage. I feel as if Mir’s striking has improved enough to avoid Hunt’s big shots, and drag this fight to the mat where I ultimately see him finishing the bout. Mir by third-round submission.

Hector Lombard vs. Neil Magny:

Mike Drahota:

This match-up I kind of a strange bout for Lombard, but it nonetheless could be a dangerous one for the aging former champion who is coming off suspension. Magny has looked like one of the best up-and-coming prospects in the stacked welterweight division, with his only loss in his last nine coming on the ground to Demian Maia, hardly a mistake he can be faulted for. Magny will have the far superior reach and technical striking edge on the power-punching Lombard, and with Magny’s weakness submissions, it would be in the Cuban Olympic judoka’s best interest to get this to the ground. But I don’t see it playing out there, as I believe Magny will use his range to pick Lombard apart on the outside to win the upset. I’m picking Magny by decision.

Rory Kernaghan:

Lombard meets Magny in a co-main event that will interest those keen on sports betting. The heavy-handed former Bellator champion ‘Lightning’ (I know, but I refuse to acknowledge ‘Showeather’ as a nickname) is in fact the betting underdog. Magny has the reach for sure, but outside the physical advantages, where can he win this fight? Talking of physicality, expect to see a much smaller Lombard if he was in fact abusing steroids, which could also factor in to a lackluster performance if ring rust comes into play too much. Hector has proven to be frustrating for his fans in the Octagon at times, and Magny really has the footwork to negate the smaller man’s abilities to get planted and land bombs. The possibility of a KO is there for ‘Lightning,’ but I don’t see him outlasting the athletic Magny. I’m taking Magny by unanimous decision.

Mike Henken:

Despite recently serving out a suspension, Lombard has looked like a rejuvenated man at 170 pounds, possessing high-level grappling skills along with brute strength. Magny is a very well rounded contender, winning his last two bouts. While he does have potential to make some noise in the division, I expect to see Magny fall to a hungry and motivated Lombard. Lombard by round two TKO.

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UFC 196 Predictions

Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz: Mike Drahota: I think this short notice match-up is actually better than the original McGregor vs. dos Anjos lightweight title bout due to Diaz’ sheer overall popularity, and the feverish media buildup of the last two weeks would support that theory. Diaz has played the role of the enigmatic slugger

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Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz:

Mike Drahota:

I think this short notice match-up is actually better than the original McGregor vs. dos Anjos lightweight title bout due to Diaz’ sheer overall popularity, and the feverish media buildup of the last two weeks would support that theory. Diaz has played the role of the enigmatic slugger to perfection, yet I’m just not sure that he is in the kind of fight-ready shape that it may require to topple McGregor.

‘The Notorious’ is looking huge and energized at 168 pounds, which means his already massive knockout power could be amplified. And while Diaz has never been finished by punches, he did appear a tad bit less conditioned than the elite shape that he showed when defeating Michael Johnson. There’s no question that Diaz’ length and reach advantage could be an issue for McGregor after moving up two weight classes, and the Stockton native will also have the decided edge if it hits the ground, but I just think ‘The Notorious’ is a steamroller right now. McGregor via round two TKO.

Rory Kernaghan:

I’ve swayed back and forth on my pick for the UFC 196 main event, as both McGregor and Diaz have all the tools required to get the job done. As far as styles are concerned, Diaz needs this fight on the mat, and McGregor needs a knockout. The difficulty for Diaz is that McGregor is so hard to prepare for as he just comes out with new moves in every fight. I think the big hit for the Stockton bad boy is the short notice, and I also feel his recent interviews have shown him to be both unfocused and under the strain of the rivalry. I’m winging this one because Diaz stung me against Michael Johnson and Donald Cerrone, but I’m picking McGregor for the round one TKO.

Mike Henken:

In my opinion, Diaz does indeed present some interesting challenges to the Irishman from a stylistic standpoint. The Stockton native should be the bigger, longer man, and he undoubtedly possesses the grappling advantage if the fight ends up on the ground. With that being said, McGregor has looked massive leading up to the bout, and I believe that his pure power and superior technical striking should give him the nod here. McGregor by first round knockout.

Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate:

Mike Drahota:

Holm’s first defense should be a wholly different affair than the bout she won the title in because Tate should stick to a more effective gameplan than Ronda Rousey’s attempt to out-strike a decorated world champion boxer. After four straight hard-fought victories, no one wants to be champion more than Tate, and she can and will make this a gritty, bloody war while absorbing a ton of damage to win. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Holm score a second round TKO as the far superior striker, but I just believe ‘Cupcake’ will be able to make this a gritty fight with her takedowns and pull out the grueling upset. Miesha Tate by split decision.

Rory Kernaghan:

Miesha Tate has time and time again come up with blue balls in her big fights, and mostly against Ronda Rousey. In my opinion Holm is an even more dangerous fight for ‘Cupcake’ than her two against ‘Rowdy,’ and I don’t see this going too well for her. The smart bet is on a big Holm win, but the big money is picking the round and method. I think Holm’s footwork and offensive power with the head kicks and straight punches is where the fight is won. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ for the second round knockout.

Mike Henken:

Tate presents a unique skillset in this bout, as she’s likely the best pure wrestler to have ever faced off with the champion Holm. “Cupcake” has also shown improved power in her hands as of late, and has always possessed a tough, gritty style that keeps her in fights until the bitter end. That being said, “The Preacher’s Daughter” is a former 19-time boxing world champion, and I feel like this bout won’t even be a contest if contested on the feet. Holm is just simply that good. I also believe that the champion should be able to use her length, footwork, and movement, to keep the fight standing. If she can, I don’t see it lasting too long. Holm by second round knockout.

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UFC London Predictions

Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping: Mike Drahota: There’s no doubt that Silva certainly deserves a spot among the fight game’s greats for his record-setting title reign and unparalleled knockout prowess in the Octagon. However, weighing in his recent drug test failures and suspensions, his injury, and th fact that he doesn’t have an official win

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Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping:

Mike Drahota:

There’s no doubt that Silva certainly deserves a spot among the fight game’s greats for his record-setting title reign and unparalleled knockout prowess in the Octagon. However, weighing in his recent drug test failures and suspensions, his injury, and th fact that he doesn’t have an official win since 2012, I was actually leaning towards Bisping. That changed when the two were face-to-face, as Silva undoubtedly got the better of the loudmouth ‘Count,’ who seemingly reverted back to his more brash heel ways for this bout. While the Cypriot has looked very serviceable during his recent two-fight win streak, Silva seems motivated and angry like he was against Chael Sonnen, and that should spell trouble for Bisping. Silva via round two TKO.

Rory Kernaghan:

I can’t say it was difficult picking this fight at all. Outside his high pace and cardio-based gameplan, there’s unfortunately not much more I can say Michael Bisping offers Anderson Silva. The former middleweight champion has the footwork, the striking power and speed advantage, the height and reach advantage, and the Jiu-jitsu advantage. It would be foolish to think this fight would go any other way except ‘The Spider’s’ in such a pairing, Anderson Silva by knockout round one.

Mike Henken:

I completely understand that “The Spider” is not the same version of himself that once ruled the middleweight division for nearly seven years. Winless since 2012, Silva suffered a gruesome broken leg back in 2013, and is now returning after a yearlong layoff after testing positive for steroids in a fight that he didn’t look amazing in anyway. However, I just have a feeling in my gut that we may see some glimpses of vintage Silva and his elite level Muay Thai on display in London. Bisping has looked good on his recent two-fight win streak, and has always possessed solid footwork, crisp combos, and strong cardio. At the end of the day, however, I see the man many consider the greatest of all-time getting it done early. Silva by second round TKO.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Thales Leites:

Mike Drahota:

The middleweight co-main event may not have anywhere near the amount of attention the main event is generating, but it’s nonetheless a pivotal affair for both ranked fighters. Mousasi should look to keep this one standing and use his laser-precise jab to pick Leites apart on the feet, but if the Brazilian learned anything from his split decision loss to Bisping, he’ll look to drag this fight to the ground and utilize his world champion-level BJJ skills. I feel like he’ll be able to at some point, and while it may not lead to a stoppage, I still feel Leites gets the win. I’m taking Leites by unanimous decision.

Rory Kernaghan:

Gegard Mousasi and Thales Leites is a great match for the grappling fans, but one I feel will play out on the feet. With the Brazilian looking to showcase his striking a lot more in his latest fights, I feel he’ll look to capitalize on the openings that Mousasi has shown in his recent outings ‘The Dreamcatcher’ has experienced mixed results since joining the UFC, but this could well motivate him to pull a performance out of the bag here. It’s a tough one but I’m going to pick Leites by decision.

Mike Henken:

This is an interesting clash between two dangerous fighters who are both coming off of losses. Mousasi hasn’t lived up to his hype in the UFC in my opinion, but I still feel as if he has a lot of a potential to do so. An experienced kickboxer, “The Dreamcatcher” has a wide array of striking attacks in his arsenal to go along with a slick and sneaky submission game. Leites, on the other hand, is a strong Brazilian Jiu-jitsu artist with serious power in his hands. I don’t see “The Dreamcatcher” getting submitted here, and if he can avoid the big shots standing, it’s his fight to lose. Expect Mousasi to pick apart Leites on the outside to earn a decision victory.

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UFC Fight Night 83 Predictions

Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Oliveira: Mike Drahota: The move up to welterweight was kind of an obvious decision for Cerrone after his brutal one-sided loss to Rafael dos Anjos, but I’m not so sure that the murderer’s row of top contenders at 170 will make it any easier on him. However, here he gets another

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Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Oliveira:

Mike Drahota:

The move up to welterweight was kind of an obvious decision for Cerrone after his brutal one-sided loss to Rafael dos Anjos, but I’m not so sure that the murderer’s row of top contenders at 170 will make it any easier on him. However, here he gets another usual lightweight in late replacement ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira, so this fight should be a solid bounce-back spot for him. Oliveira has strong punching power, pressure, and submissions in addition to some unorthodox takedowns, and he also exhibits Cerrone’s anyone-at-anytime mentality. However, he lacks the world-class experience of his American “Cowboy” counterpart, meaning I have to go with Cerrone by round two TKO here.

Rory Kernaghan:

Cowboy vs. Cowboy is the fight that will see Cerrone fight for the first time since being dominated by dos Anjos for the second time. The Jackson’s MMA contender is essentially one half of a big squash match this weekend against Oliveira, but with Tim Means failing a drug test there clearly weren’t many other options. Where this fight takes place is really up to Cerrone, as I feel he has the drop on Oliveira in the technical striking and submission game. Of course Oliveira has some nice knockout power, but with Cerrone looking to rebound and potentially even more motivated than before, I can’t see this being a major factor in the big picture. I’m picking Cerrone to put on an angry performance, and score a classic head kick finish in round two.

Mike Henken:

While “Cowboy” Cerrone may be undersized compared to the welterweight elite, he’ll be taking on a fellow usual lightweight in this bout in Oliveira despite the fight taking place at 170 pounds. Oliveira is 3-1 in the UFC thus far, but he’s undoubtedly facing off with his toughest test to date in Cerrone. Cerrone is coming off of a brutal 66-second loss to lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, but has won eight of his last night. At the end of the day I simply feel as if he is the far superior fighter, and it will show. Cerrone by third round submission.

Derek Brunson vs. Roan Carneiro:

Mike Drahota:

I feel this bout is a bit of an under-the-radar co-main event for a FOX Sports 1 card, as both Brunson and Carneiro have quietly put together some solid win streaks in one of the UFC’s most dangerous divisions. Brunson has looked like a man possessed since his last defeat, a come-from-behind TKO loss to top-ranked Yoel Romero in January 2014. Carneiro is no doubt a dangerous force on the ground, but as a former welterweight, I think Brunson will be too big, strong, and aggressive a challenge to manhandle on the ground. Keeping it standing, I predict Brunson finishes it by second round TKO.

Rory Kernaghan:

Roan Carneiro and Derek Brunson represent two fighters with a ton of potential. In the co-main event slot of the evening, each man has a chance to make his name known, and at a crucial time with the middleweight rankings wide open for the taking. The Jackson’s MMA-trained Brunson is the power striker and Carneiro is just a monster grappler. After seeing the way ‘Jucao’ sent Mark Munoz in to retirement and how Brunson has been smashing jaws left and right, this really is a gut call. I think it’ll be tough to get the muscular and well rounded Brunson to the mat, and for that reason I think we’ll see another first round knockout for Brunson.

Mike Henken:

Brunson has been a force to be reckoned with as of late, winning three consecutive bouts with two coming by way of stoppage. His opponent Carneiro, is no easy task, however, as he’s a third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with 10 submission wins on his resume. Also a winner of six straight, the Brazilian has been rolling, and I expect him to take this fight to the mat before finishing it. Carneiro by second round submission.

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