UFC 193 was quite an event, huh? Ronda Rousey dropping the title to Holly Holm via emphatic knockout which was quite crazy. Well, buckle in fight fans, because that was just the pre cursor to what is going this weekend.
Enter UFC 194, one of the most thoroughly stacked cards in recent years and home to one of the most highly anticipated fights in UFC history: the featherweight title unification match between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor. The full card and my main card predictions are as follows:
Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson
Welterweight, Maia (21-6), Nelson (14-1-1)
Maia and Nelson are two of the greatest submission artists in the sport today, with a total of 20 submissions in 35 combined wins which should make for an exciting tactical battle should it hit the ground. I'm thinking it probably will and experience will pay dividends in this fight with Maia wining on decision
Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens
Featherweight, Holloway (14-3), Stephens (24-11)
Since dropping a unanimous decision to McGregor back in 2013, Holloway has been a perfect 7-0, his most impressive win coming over Cub Swanson with a guillotine choke. Picking a winner is tough due to Stephens immense punching power. However, Stephens is coming off two losses in his last three bouts so i'm going with Holloway on decision.
Ronaldo Souza vs. Yoel Romero
Middleweight, Souza (22-3, 1 NC), Romero (10-1)
Both men fighting here could easily be slotted into a title fight today. Souza has been on a tear since losing to his division's top contender. Long known for his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Souza has rounded out his overall game by adding heavy punches alongside some improved wrestling, making him an absolute dynamic threat. Romero's wrestling resume is as good as anyone's in the UFC, the former two-time olympian who took home silver in 2000 has titanium fists and could end any opponent in a blink. That said Souza is overall the better mixed martial artist and should pick up a win here to have shot at facing Weidman for the title should he retain. Souza by unanimous decision.
Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold
Middleweight, Weidman (13-0), Rockhold (14-2)
This is my smokey for the card, Luke Rockhold is going to be Weidman's toughest title defence. Every aspect of his game can be describe as "opportunistic", and that can lead to organ-destroying body kicks of absurd submissions. His rear naked choke submission of Lyoto Machida in his last fight was incredible and topple that with his submission of Bisping the fight before, Rockhold has the pedigree to go to ground with Weidman who is an all-american wrestler. Weidman for me has fought three Brazilian legends who are out of their prime, Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort and Machida, and now he is facing a prime Luke Rockhold, and I think Rockhold will stop the fight with one of those devastating kicks.
Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor
Featherweight, Aldo (25-1), McGregor (18-2)
Aldo is one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters in the game today and, arguably, ranks among the greatest of all time. His devastating striking game, built around a timely jab and a devastating leg kick, is inherently low-risk, high-reward, but his sheer power and ferocity leaves opponents wearing punches even when his output is low. McGregor, like Machida before him, is a unique fighter who has challenged fans' and pundits' preconceived notions of what techniques work in the octagon. A long fighter who fights even longer, Conor's left hand is a lethal weapon that has left almost all comers in a heap. However, back in at UFC 189 when McGregor defeated Chad Mendes to win the interim title, his wrestling defense was exposed and that won't work against Aldo. If Mendes had a full training camp for that fight, the result probably would of been a lot different. Being cocky and taking hits in order to give them isn't a formula for a lengthy career and definitely not a formula to beat Aldo. Look for Aldo to retain his title by unanimous decision
Main Card (PPV)
Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor
Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold
Ronaldo Souza vs. Yoel Romero
Damian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson
Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports)
Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz
Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson
Warlley Alves vs. Colby Covington
Leonardo Santos vs. Kevin Lee
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Joe Proctor vs. Magomed Mustafaev
John Makdessi vs. Yancy Medeiros
Court McGee vs. Marcio Alexandre Jr.