Penick's Take
UFC 187 PREVIEW: Penick's main card breakdown and fight picks for "Johnson vs. Cormier" event
May 22, 2015 - 6:40:03 PM UFC 187 PREVIEW: Penick's main card breakdown and fight picks for "Johnson vs. Cormier" event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC 187 finally hits pay-per-view in Las Vegas on Saturday night, sans the originally scheduled headliner between Jon Jones and Anthony "Rumble" Johnson. In its place, Johnson still goes for that title, just not against the man who has held it for the last four years.

Despite that change, and the loss of top lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov, Saturday's pay-per-view remains strong. With two competitive and intriguing matchups in the top two fights, there's a ton still to like on this card. Main card breakdown time.

Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier (UFC Light Heavyweight Championship)

While this fight doesn't have the same level of intrigue in Johnson's power against Jones, it's still plenty intriguing in its own right. Johnson has had issues in the past with guys who could control him, put him on the ground, and do damage from there. Cormier is that exact type of competitor, and his strength at 205 lbs. is a very real factor into this matchup.

However, Johnson's takedown defense has improved by a significant margin from his tired out loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC 142, and he showed that off against Alexander Gustafsson and Phil Davis since returning to the UFC.

Now, while Cormier went a full five rounds with Jon Jones in January, Jones isn't the power puncher that Johnson is. That makes it quite likely that Cormier's chin will get tested to a level he's never experienced, and how he responds to that will be a big part of the story of this fight.

But that striking battle may not be all in this one. I expect Johnson to get in some significant offense through the first half of this fight, but how his gas tank holds up late could be a big question mark. If he fails to put Cormier away, he could wind up in trouble late, and Cormier's capable of doing significant damage in a very short amount of time. I actually think Johnson gets the job done on Saturday, but if he can't find the stoppage, he could be in for a rough final stretch.

PREDICTION: Johnson via TKO in the second round


Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC Middleweight Championship)

Weidman's injury issues may be somewhat of a concern into this one, but he's bringing extreme talent into this one regardless of what he's been battling over the last six month. Belfort's been out of the cage for a year and a half himself, which in retrospect is probably a good thing for him after needing to transition off of testosterone replacement therapy.

Belfort is capable of stopping this fight, that isn't even in question. It's up to Weidman to avoid Belfort's blitzing style on the feet, and to avoid getting in an unnecessary fire-fight. He's got a good striking game, but he doesn't need to test himself recklessly against someone like Belfort.

Weidman's got a real edge with his top position game. He has great instincts in his ground and pound, and he has excellent submission skills. He's very good at taking advantage of situations when they're presented, and if he can avoid the kill shot from Belfort, he's going to have some situations present themselves in this one. I think he winds up taking advantage.

PREDICTION: Weidman via submission in the third round


Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi (Lightweight)

Makdessi promises to provide an exciting fight for Cerrone here, as he'll try to out-strike "Cowboy" en route to an upset win. He's got heavy hands, and he's of course got the ability to put guys down, but from a talent standpoint he's lacking behind here.

Cerrone's become a much better striker over the last few years of his career, but he's still better on the ground, and has very good finishing skills when something opens up to him.

Makdessi's coming in to make a splash, so this is likely to be an exciting and violent fight while it lasts. Unfortunately for Makdessi, I think this fight is too much for him here.

PREDICTION: Cerrone via submission in the second round


Travis Browne vs. Andrei Arlovski (Heavyweight)

Arlovski's two fights since returning to the UFC don't really suggest that he's going to have much for Browne here. The former UFC Champ may have won those two fights, but the bout with Brendan Schaub was extremely dull, and his KO win over Bigfoot Silva came because Silva is a shell of the fighter he was even two years ago.

Browne is extremely dangerous, and one of the top guys on this heavyweight roster. His loss to Fabricio Werdum came in a pretty competitive fight, and outside of that, he's scored four first round knockout wins in his last five fights.

I just don't see Arlovski winning the striking battle here. Browne is faster, he's stronger, and he's more than likely going to walk out of this one with yet another finish. Arlovski's chin has held up fairly well as of late, but I see this bringing him back to his 2009-2011 stretch.

PREDICTION: Browne via TKO in the first round.


Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga (Flyweight)

Benavidez, along with John Dodson on the prelims, are the 1a and 1b contenders under Demetrious Johnson in this flyweight division.

Benavidez is one of the most well rounded fighters in the world, with fast hands and footwork, along with an excellent submission game and some good ground and pound instincts.

Moraga is a solid fighter at flyweight, and did get his own shot at the UFC Flyweight Championship, but I just don't see what he has for Benavidez here. He's not faster, and though he's got heavy hands I don't think he's fast enough to catch Benavidez often. He's got some ground skills, but not on the level of Benavidez or Johnson.

This one may be less competitive than perhaps it may seem; I think highly of Benavidez consistently, and I think he keeps making his push for a third fight with the Champ here.

PREDICTION: Benavidez via submission in the second round