UFC 187 Cormier vs. Johnson: Picks, Prognostications, & Odds

May 23, 2015
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas, Nevada

The fall of Jon Jones continues on Saturday night when the now vacant UFC Light Heavyweight title will find a new home with “DC” or “Rumble.” And yet the title scene doesn’t end there as UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman returns from his 17th consecutive injury which has postponed said title fight multiple times. Vitor failed a drug test (which is a whole other story involving being a cheating delusional sociopath) and Weidman hurt his wrist, shoulder, toe, cracked his skull, had split ends, and was feeling just a bit fussy until now. Look down the card and you will also see a bevy of bouts with intriguing and important match ups. Folks, UFC 187 is an event to be reckoned with and MMAFO is all over it!

Main Card on PPV:
Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Anthony Johnson (19-4) -120 vs. Daniel Cormier (15-1) -110

So we all know the story here. Jon Jones does a hit-and-run on a pregnant woman and is now on the UFC’s bench trying to find some humility, personal responsibility, and most likely… Jesus. Now things get good as we have a new Champion at 205 for the 1st time in over 4 years! Great googly moogly.

“Rumble” may be the slight underdog coming into this bout but he has one hitter quitter power, stays out of opponents range well, and is nearly impossible to take down. Johnson is coming off the biggest win of his career over Alexander Gustafsson but it should be noted that said Swede and Josh Koscheck are the only 2 foes Tony has ever faced who were in the Top 10 at the time! Let that sink in a moment. 

“DC” is coming off his 1st career loss to “Bones” and looking to rebound mentally after after his lone defeat at the highest level. “Emelianegro”  is a wrestling monster but he also does nasty work in the clinch while pushing the pace and looking to break opponents. 

Most likely, “The Black Emperor” will struggle with the takedown early and at a time when “Rumble” is most dangerous. The short armed AKA fighter needs to get in close which will be a tall task as he wades through the power of Johnson. Surviving the early counter striking of Anthony, Daniel picks his moments to rock the clinch game, where Johnson struggles, and slowly builds steam as the Blackzilian wanes. It is at this time, in the 4th round, that “DC” kicks into another gear and finally grounds Tony for the fight ending onslaught.

That, or Cormier gets chin checked early and can’t find the energy late.

Anywho, unless Jon Jones comes running in at the last second to steal the belt like it was a wad of cash left at a crime scene, we’ll get a new Champ.
WINNER-Daniel Cormier by Rd.4 TKO

VITOR BELFORT POST TRT

UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman (12-0) -500 vs. Vitor Belfort (24-10) +350

2015 and this fight is already happening? Where did the time go? This is just a debacle MMAFO feels sick just writing about. We shall not mince words. 

Vitor Belfort is a cheater and does not deserve a title shot.

Back in the mid-2000’s, Belfort looked like a shot fighter going 2-5 until after his loss to Dan Henderson in ’06 in which he tested positive for steroids. Next Vitor won 4 in the minor leagues before returning to the UFC in ’09 looking mystifyingly jacked up. It eventually came to light that Belfort (and many others) were using TRT to elevate their game. It was not illegal at the time (to a certain extent) but Vitor, God knows when you are lying. Now the TRT embarrassment is gone and officially illegal as Belfort’s body mass has mysteriously shrunken down in unison with the ban. Huh? Look, a spade is a spade and Vitor Belfort is a sociopath who hides behind his belief in God while spouting moronic cliches. 

None of us know how post TRT Belfort is going to look, but if you find that short window in his professional career where Vitor wasn’t cheating to the gills (ahem), he wasn’t that good. This is Weidman’s time as he takes retribution for all the men who lost to a lifelong cheater and for himself as he personally dislikes Belfort and wants to prove a point. Even a juiced out of his mind Vitor, couldn’t defeat Chris Weidman.
WINNER-Chris Weidman by Rd.3 TKO

Donald Cerrone (27-6) -600 vs. John Makdessi (13-3) +400

Makdessi is filling in for the shit talking and oft injured Khabib Nurmagomedov which takes a lot of the fun away from this fight. Still, the “Cowboy” is closer to a title shot in the UFC than ever and on a 7 fight winning streak while the “Bull” tries to start a winning streak and get what would be the biggest scalp of his career.

John is a striker with power in his hands who trains out of Tristar. A KO punch, which is possible considering his natural power, is his only weapon here.

The “Cowboy” is a better athlete, technician, has more ways to finish a fight, is faster, actually possesses a ground game, and yadda, yadda, yadda. You get it. This is Cerrone’s fight to lose and really its just a matter of how he intends to do it. Thanks for coming though John.
WINNER-Donald Cerrone by Decision


Travis Browne (17-2-1) -450 vs. Andrei Arlovski (23-10) +325

Two Heavyweights who used to train together and still call each other “friend” collide in a bout with title implications as well.

“Hapa” has been improving each fight out only stumbling recently against Interim Champion Fabricio Werdum. Browne is a 6’7” monster who has learned to counter-punch under the guidance of Edmond Tarverdyan which adds to his kicking assault and those destructive elbows that demolish fools.

The “Pitbull” has had a career resurgence at age 36 winning 4 in a row and quietly climbing the rankings. The problem here, is that everything Arlovski does well, Travis does better and with more power. The halcyon days of Andrei were around 2005 and time is about to catch up to the old man.

As long as Travis doesn’t show too much love for Arlovski, he should be able to counter into Andrei’s questionable jaw and seal the deal. 
WINNER-Travis Browne by Rd.1 KO

Joseph Benavidez (21-4) -600 vs. John Moraga (16-3) +400

“Jobama” can beat anyone in the division not named Demetrious Johnson. The “Joejitsu” practitioner can do everything well and unless Moraga can sneak in a submission, “Joe B-Wan Kenobi” shall rule the day.
WINNER-Joseph Benavidez by Decision

Prelims on FOX Sports 1:
John Dodson (16-6) -500 vs. Zack Makovsky (19-5) +350

Now here, we have a competitive Flyweight fight. The power, speed, and annoyance that is Dodson is brought against Zack and his stellar mix wrestling style.

A knee injury sidelined the notorious Dodson but that won’t hinder the power in his lil’ left hand. The “Magician” is a Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter who may be the fastest man in all of MMA who comes in like a muncheechee jacked up on Mountain Dew.

Makovsky brings a more measured approach to his game mixing in his wrestling with timed striking. “Fun Size” must ground Dodson.

This isn’t as cut and dry as oddsmakers and pundits would have you believe. John isn’t know for high volume output and if he is just looking for the left hand bomb, that could allow Zack to run up the scorecards while Dodson gets desperate. Hopefully that happens but more likely Dodson sprawls off a few takedown attempts and clocks Makovsky, who like everyone else, is surprised by the power.
WINNER-John Dodson by Rd.3 TKO


Dong Hyun Kim (19-3-1) -270 vs. Josh Burkman (27-11) +210

Oh, we’re still doing the Josh Burkman thing huh? Ya know, pretending he's relevant.

The “Donger” has struggled when facing top tier talent (Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia, Carlos Condit) but top tier Burkman is not. The “Stun Gun” should not let himself get out of control like he did in his last outing, and it should be smooth sailing.
WINNER-Dong Hyun Kim by Decision


Uriah Hall (10-4) -400 vs. Rafael Natal (19-6-1) +300

Hall is the pretty pick in this bout but let’s not totally write off Natal. Uriah is a powerful striker with snappy kicks, but he looked lost on the ground against  Kelvin Gastelum and doesn’t have the aggressive streak needed for a kickboxer. If Rafael can get his grappling going, he could make it a rough night for Hall. Still, we side with Uriah on ability and that fact that Natal is slower than molasses.
WINNER-Uriah Hall by Rd.2 TKO

Rose Namajunas (2-2) -280 vs. Nina Ansaroff (6-4) +220

“Thug” Rose is finally back after a humbling effort against Carla Esparza. Namajunas is a wild one in the cage who will try anything sometimes to her detriment. She is a lethally quick striker with long kicks and a sneaky ground game.

Nina is a striker with the power Rose does not have and trains with ATT. Ansaroff should use Rose’s porous takedown defense against her, but she won’t. Thus, Namajunas out works her for the judges nod.
WINNER-Rose Namajunas by Decision


Prelims on UFC Fight Pass:
Mike Pyle (26-10-1) +230 vs. Colby Covington (7-0) -300

So do you take the old man warrior or the up and comer prospect? 

"Quicksand" is the staunch veteran who can do everything, but has been stopped in dramatic fashion in his last 2 losses as pundits comment on his possibly degrading chin. 

Colby is basically a wrestler but a damn good one. 

It would not be surprising if Pyle got hurt in this one and still managed to pull out a last second sub but the percentages lean toward the much younger fighter to take Mike down consistently and rough him up.
WINNER-Colby Covington by Decision

Islam Makhachev (11-0) -360 vs. Leo Kuntz (17-1-1) +270

Here we have two solid prospects making their Zuffa debuts together. Islam is the now former M-1 Champion who is still undefeated and longtime training partner to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Makhachev has great takedowns and solid southpaw striking.

Kunt is an ATT fighter who loves a good scrap but consistently leaves himself open for takedowns which is where he will lose the fight. Expect it to be a good one though and two guys to follow.
WINNER-Islam Makhachev by Decision

Josh Sampo (11-4) +300 vs. Justin Scoggins (9-2) -400

* These two young bucks almost fought at the weigh-ins for some unknown reason and this was already set to be a fun fight.

Scoggins is far more well rounded but does have a history of continually placing himself in bad situations and just trying to fight out. Its not very smart but Justin is young and has the potential to become a Flyweight contender in time. 
WINNER-Justin Scoggins by Decision

UFC 187 Start Times
Main Card on Pay-Per-View: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Prelims on FOX Sports 1: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass: 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT