It’s hard to believe that just 20 years ago, this little thing that we like to call UFC was starting out with an event called UFC 1 that featured Royce Gracie plowing through Art Jimmerson, Ken Shamrock and Gerard Gordeau with spectacular submissions. I wouldn’t even have a clue what the UFC was until Tank Abbott kicked the snot out of Jon Favreau in the octagon on a terrible episode of Friends, but here we are all of these years later enjoying each pay-per-view event and every last drop of blood.
Saturday, November 16 in Las Vegas, the UFC celebrates the 20 years that many critics and politicians swore it would never have with UFC 167 and a main event that we hope will be on par with the rest of this year’s big titles fights. UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre will defend his belt against the No. 1 contender, Johny Hendricks, at the top of a card packed with fights that should not disappoint us.
As always, I demand that you check out our friend Lobster Mobster’s fight primer here, and make your predictions along with us in the comments as the fights happen tomorrow night, starting at 6:30 PM ET with the online preliminaries, 8 PM ET for the Fox Sports 1 preliminaries and then 10 PM ET on PPV for the main card.
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Prediction: Cody Donovan (above) has lost his last two fights via first round KOs, so I don’t know why I’m doing this but I’m picking him to turn it around on the UFC’s big night. Of course that probably means he’ll just be knocked out in the second round.
Prediction: This is Campuzano’s second chance in the UFC after he went 0-2 the first time around. Now he’s back after winning his last five fights, and of course he’s fighting the undefeated Pettis, who is making his UFC debut. I feel like I’m already 0-2, but I’m taking Campuzano.
Prediction: Lapsley’s nickname is “The Recipe.” I just can’t take that seriously. Also, he’s making his UFC debut and we all know my stance on picking guys in their debuts.
Prediction: Figueroa by KO for my bold prediction of the preliminary fights.
Prediction: Ebersole is 11-1 in his last 12 fights, but do you know who is the only man to defeat Johny Hendricks? Rick Story. That earns him my favor.
Prediction: I like Leites coming off his big win in his return to the UFC in August, so he’ll start a streak at UFC 167.
Prediction: Both guys lost to Rafael dos Anjos in their last fights, so I’ll take Cerrone as the fighter with fresher feet.
Prediction: Both guys are coming off impressive wins, so I’ll give the nod to experience here with Elliott.
Prediction: I would love it if Koscheck won for the sake of old times, but this is a common sense pick for Woodley.
Prediction: It will be very interesting to see if MacDonald can get away with his “game of chess” tactics against Lawler, but I think he will frustrate the hell out of him and set up his title shot… if he wants it.
Prediction: After losing back-to-back fights to Jon Jones and Antônio Rogério Nogueira, we all started thinking that Evans was out of gas, but then he bounced back with a win against Dan Henderson and proved us wrong. A win over Sonnen puts Evan back on the fringe of the title discussion, and I think that’s what we’ll be talking about on Monday.
Prediction: My heart says Hendricks. My gut says Hendricks, too. But my brain says WINNER, AND STILL UFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION! GEORGES RUUUUUUUUSH ST-PIERRE!
