UFC 210 is here to push the limping beast that is the UFC forward ever so slightly until we hear something, anything, about the state of McGregor vs. Mayweather. It seems like that’s the only fight that really matters right now, and any attempt at gaining momentum for the promotion consistently gets stuck behind a contract negotiation, a medical issue or someone sitting out to wait for a title shot.
On paper, UFC 210 is a pretty good card. It’s not great, but it’s pretty good. It would probably mean more if the light heavyweight belt was defended in the last 18 months. It would also help the co-main if we had any clear idea of what was going on with the middleweight belt. We still have no idea when GSP and Bisping are fighting, so Weidman and Mousasi are fighting for what? Maybe a chance to sit and wait or clear out even more of the murderer’s row at 185 for Bisping? All of this, while Bisping takes on a much smaller man in his second title defense. His first title defense against Hendo was gifted to him… I digress.
So let’s take a look at what’s going on this weekend. It should still deliver on the action, but the stakes are hard to define.
Light heavyweight title fight: Daniel Cormier vs. Rumble Johnson
These two first fought for Jon Jones’ vacant LHW title in May of 2015 at UFC 187, and despite an early flurry (as expected) from Johnson, it was pretty much all Cormier, and DC knows this. The general strategy to beat Rumble, who is arguably the scariest fighter in the history of the sport, is to simply survive the first 5-7 minutes of the fight. If you can do that, you can break Johnson down and do what you want to him, relatively speaking.
When it comes down to it, Cormier is the perfect opponent for Johnson. He’s got a solid chin and embraces the grind unlike anyone beyond Jon Jones. In fact, the only other person who could probably beat Johnson right now is Bones.
That said, one shot from Rumble is all it takes. He’s on a three-fight win streak over Ryan Bader, Jimi Manuwa and Glover Teixeira — all top 7 light heavyweights — and he destroyed them in a combined two minutes and seven seconds.
Let’s watch their first fight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-NUa-GtTv0
Will it be a repeat of that systematic destruction, or will Johnson catch Cormier, who seems way too confident this time around, saying he’ll “always beat Rumble.”
Middleweight fight Chris Weidman vs. Gegard Mousasi
After going undefeated through his career and shattering not only title reign of Anderson Silva but Silva’s leg in the process, Weidman has gone on a bit of a slide. Going undefeated in MMA is not what it is in boxing, so it’s silly to write off Weidman now. He’s only 32-years-old, he looks like he’s healthy, and losing like he did against Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero can teach a guy some lessons. Mousasi is a monster, however.
Mousasi was an MMA hipster favorite for years before he joined the UFC. He was the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, the Dream middleweight and light heavyweight champion, and he has one of the best highlights from yesteryear when he knocked out Jacare Souza, who many be considered the top contender next to Yoel Romero (Jacare destroyed Mousasi in the rematch).
Check it out: I’ve got it cued up for ya and everything.
The big question is if Mousasi’s defensive wrestling has improved enough to stop Weidman’s stellar takedowns. The answer — probably not. Mousasi has taken on a new, cocky persona in an effort to finally get paid what a top contender is worth, and now he’s saying Weidman has nothing for him. I used to be a Weidman hater, especially in the Anderson days, but seeing him lose three in a row doesn’t add up. This is still a hell of a fight. It’s a toss up, but Mousasi and Weidman have lost their aura of invincibility.
Mousasi really is one of the greats, though.
Lightweight fight Will Brooks vs. Charles Oliveira
This is Will Brooks’ third UFC fight since leaving Bellator as its lightweight champion. He beat Ross Pearson, then was knocked out by Alex Oliveira at UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson. Now, he fights another Oliveira (no relation). Beyond the fun fact of back to back Oliveira fights, this is Charles Oliveira moving up to lightweight after failing to make featherweight multiple times. Both guys are dangerous, but Ill Will has all the tools to nullify Oliveira. It’s a wrestler vs. striker/BJJ guy matchup. If Brooks wins, he gets closer to making a splash in the lightweight division logjammed by McGregor/Khabib/Ferguson and on and on. Notice a theme here? Every division is either held up, has been held up, or is engraving a shrugging emoji on the belt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i8fBVKeh6s
Fights likely worth your time
—Myles Jury vs. Mike De La Torre to close out the FS1 card.
—Katlyn Chookagian vs. Irene Aldana on the Fight Pass prelims
—Gregor Gillespie vs. Andrew Holbrook (Gillespie is undefeated and one bloody win away from gaining the nickname Ser Gregor).
