UFC 197: Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2 Early Main Card Preview and Predictions
The MMA universe stopped in its tracks over UFC 196, but the UFC isn't slowing down one bit. On April 23, fans get treated to another big event featuring two title fights, this one headlined by the epic rematch that sees Daniel Cormier defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Jon Jones, who remains the lineal UFC champion.
The full UFC 197 main card is as follows:
- Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones
- Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo
- Anthony Pettis vs. Edson Barboza
- Robert Whittaker vs. Rafael Natal
- Yair Rodriguez vs. Andre Fili
That's a strong lineup of fights, and even though the card is more than a month away, now is still a great time to take an early look.
So what are the stakes entering UFC 197? Who is likely to come out on top on April 23? Find out right here!
Yair Rodriguez vs. Andre Fili
1 of 5
Division: Featherweight
Records: Yair Rodriguez (6-1), Andre Fili (15-3)
Yair Rodriguez has captured the imagination of fans. The Mexican stormed through The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America season 1 and, since then, has delivered two fun, exciting brawls. He could become a fan favorite after competing on a big stage like UFC 197, but the UFC is doing him no favors in terms of his opponent.
While Rodriguez should probably be given an easy out, he is instead set to face Andre Fili. Though Fili has an unassuming 3-2 UFC record, he is a solid, athletic, well-rounded fighter. While he hasn't faced a murderers' row at 145 pounds, he has shown improved wrestling to complement his established striking.
This is easily the toughest fight to pick on the main card, and it could go either way. The UFC is most likely rooting for Rodriguez, given its still-flimsy footing in Mexico, but Fili has the tools to edge him out.
Prediction: Andre Fili defeats Yair Rodriguez by unanimous decision.
Robert Whittaker vs. Rafael Natal
2 of 5
Division: Middleweight
Records: Robert Whittaker (15-4), Rafael Natal (21-6-1)
The UFC hates having interesting talent. It seems like nothing frustrates Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva more than a young fighter who stands out in the cage, so they dedicate a sizable chunk of their time to figuring out ways to undercut him.
Over the years, they've come up with a number of different ways to solve that problem. Sometimes, it's a backhanded compliment at a press conference. Sometimes, it's a blatant insult behind the fighter's back. More often than not, though, it's pointless matchmaking where two rising talents with contrasting styles get paired off for a fight so that neither man looks good.
That's what we have here in Robert Whittaker vs. Rafael Natal.
In the world of boxing, Whittaker would be viewed as a godsend. For fans, he's a tough slugger who is guaranteed to deliver excitement. For promoters, he can be packaged and pushed to an Australian market that just had 56,000 fans turn out for a combat sports event. Oh, and that's on top of the fact that he's a guy with legitimate championship-caliber skills.
In the UFC, though, he's in that category of fighters who carry the "not Erick Silva, Sage Northcutt or Paige VanZant" label. Therefore, the promoters generally ignore him, drawing his opposition basically out of a hat containing the names of everyone officially ranked between No. 6 and No. 15.
Whittaker will still win this fight. Natal is a solid, well-rounded veteran but lacks the wrestling skills to stifle the TUF winner's striking game. Unfortunately, Natal is still good enough to turn this into an ugly, boring, forgettable fight that will prevent Whittaker from really turning heads.
Prediction: Robert Whittaker defeats Rafael Natal by unanimous decision.
Anthony Pettis vs. Edson Barboza
3 of 5
Division: Lightweight
Records: Anthony Pettis (18-4), Edson Barboza (16-4)
The House of Pettis has fallen upon hard times of late.
Twelve months ago, "Showtime" was the UFC lightweight champion. Fans marveled at his absurd stopping power in the cage, and pundits wondered aloud whether he might be the greatest fighter in the history of the division. He was riding high and seemed ready to stay on top for years.
Then, he lost his title to Rafael dos Anjos in lopsided fashion. No big deal, though, right? He still has stoppage wins over Ben Henderson, Donald Cerrone and Gilbert Melendez on his resume. One or two wins and he's right back in the thick of things!
Then, he lost to Eddie Alvarez. The former Bellator champ used his veteran savvy to stifle Pettis' striking game well enough to eke out a split decision.
Now, Showtime is in a do-or-die position when it comes to his contendership status. Poised to face the inconsistent yet deadly Edson Barboza, he will either right his ship and cement his Top Five status once again, or he will lose and get trampled by the rising 155-pound talent.
Both outcomes are possible. While fans often discount Barboza, his pure striking skills cannot be understated, and his power is an equalizer against any and all opposition when he doesn't have to fear takedowns. Pettis, meanwhile, remains lethal both standing and on the ground, and he has a great deal of offensive acumen when he is afforded the space to work.
This fight could easily end by a single punch or kick. Pettis, however, has the superior tools for controlling where and when the action takes place. That will most likely be the difference.
Prediction: Anthony Pettis defeats Edson Barboza by unanimous decision.
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Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo
4 of 5
Division: Flyweight
Records: Demetrious Johnson (23-2-1), Henry Cejudo (10-0)
Few champions have cleared out their divisions in the way Demetrious Johnson has. He has knocked out enduring veterans, submitted top prospects and torn limbs off everyone in between. That has put the UFC in an awkward position where it has had to outright manufacture competition for him or fast-track rising stars into the title picture.
Enter Henry Cejudo.
With an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling, Cejudo entered MMA as a hot commodity and, to this point, has justified the hype attached to him. His wrestling skills, for the most part, have held up in the Octagon, and while he hasn't demonstrated any serious power or diversity in his striking attack, the fundamentals and timing seem to be there.
The problem, however, is that Cejudo is still a raw talent. With just 10 fights and less than three years of MMA experience to his name, he is poised to face one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.
Cejudo has a bright future ahead of him, but this will most likely go down as a dark chapter for him.
Prediction: Demetrious Johnson defeats Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision.
Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2
5 of 5
Division: Light Heavyweight
Records: Daniel Cormier (17-1), Jon Jones (21-1)
Anyone who has paid any level of attention to MMA over the last few years knows about Jon Jones' in-cage success and out-of-the-cage struggles.
When it's time for business, Bones is handily the best in the sport today. With a Fedor Emelianenko-like winning streak, defined by a dominant run as UFC light heavyweight champion, he is almost unanimously regarded as MMA's top pound-for-pound fighter. To top it all off, as one of the few fighters under age 30 in the light heavyweight division, he should be expected to maintain that spot for years.
Fittingly, Jones has proved to be his own archenemy. In 2012, he plead guilty to DUI charges after crashing his Bentley into a telephone pole. In 2014, he famously brawled with Daniel Cormier at a press conference. In 2015, news broke that a drug test was flagged for cocaine metabolites, which was followed by a hit-and-run incident that saw him get stripped of the UFC title and suspended indefinitely...until now.
It's unclear if Jones has matured and sorted out his personal life (signs currently point to "no"). What is clear, though, is that he has matured and sorted out his professional life.
Bigger, meaner and more dedicated than before, Jones seems poised to dominate the competition with even less effort. The first person to be victimized by this new-look Jones will be Cormier.
Prediction: Jon Jones defeats Daniel Cormier by TKO in Round 4.
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