UFC 210: Daniel Cormier vs. Rumble Johnson 2 Early Preview and Predictions

Each and every pay-per-view of the UFC's WME-IMG era have been a disaster in its own right. Will UFC 210 on April 8 be able to buck that trend? 

Looking over the card as it stands today...probably not:

• Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson
• Chris Weidman vs. Gegard Mousasi
• Patrick Cummins vs. Jan Blachowicz
• Katlyn Chookagian vs. Irene Aldana
• Shane Burgos vs. Charles Rosa
• Will Brooks vs. Charles Oliveira
• Kamaru Usman vs. Sean Strickland
• Thiago Alves vs. Patrick Cote
• Josh Emmett vs. Des Green
• Gregor Gillespie vs. Andrew Holbrook

The bout order is yet to be determined, and it is likely that another fight or two are added to the card.

While the event is more than a month away, it's worth taking a look over the menu and discussing the matchups fans have to look forward to.

The Undercard

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Thiago Alves will look to get back on track at UFC 210.

Katlyn Chookagian vs. Irene Aldana

Irene Aldana posted a disappointing performance in her UFC debut, and she's not getting any help in her second fight. Set to face a formidable Katlyn Chookagian, another loss may send her back to the regional circuit before ever having the opportunity to plant roots in the UFC.

Will Brooks vs. Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira and Will Brooks are supreme talents. Oliveira was an elite featherweight whose career was derailed by poorly timed losses and tough weight cuts. Brooks is a championship-caliber lightweight who has struggled to get the ball rolling in the UFC. Unfortunately, both are coming off losses and desperately need to get their feet back underneath them.

Thiago Alves vs. Patrick Cote

Thiago Alves' career as a lightweight was two years in the making and lasted exactly zero fights. Now he returns to the welterweight division to face fellow once-upon-a-time contender Patrick Cote. Both are coming off losses and both lack name value, which means this could very well be a "loser goes to Bellator" kind of fight. It's also a fight between a former middleweight title contender and a medium-sized welterweight, so size will likely be a huge factor.

Kamaru Usman vs. Sean Strickland

The UFC has two solid up-and-coming welterweights on their hands in Kamaru Usman and Sean Strickland. So naturally, it is having them face off to make sure one of them can't ask for a pay raise! Usman has looked stronger in the UFC to this point but has generally faced softer competition, making this one tough to call.

Josh Emmett vs. Des Green

Former Bellator contender Des Green is—surprisingly—a UFC fighter now! Unfortunately, he has a bit of a tough draw in his debut in Josh Emmett. While nothing close to a worldbeater at this point, Emmett has looked solid en route to his 11-0 record under the tutelage of Team Alpha Male. He should be able to handle The Predator in forgettable-yet-thorough fashion.

Shane Burgos vs. Charles Rosa

Shane Burgos was a stud on the regional circuit but had a so-so win in his UFC debut. He'll need to beat 2-2 Charles Rosa in impressive fashion to regain the momentum he had when he first signed.

Gregor Gillespie vs. Andrew Holbrook

Ugh, what a ho-hum fight. Gregor Gillespie scored a decision win in his UFC debut. Andrew Holbrook is 2-1 in the UFC, with both of his wins coming by split decision. One fighter will win (probably Holbrook), one fighter will lose (probably Gillespie) and fans likely won't remember ever seeing it by the end.

Patrick Cummins vs. Jan Blachowicz

Associated Press

Patrick Cummins raised eyebrows with his candidness.

Division: Light Heavyweight
Records: Jan Blachowicz (19-6), Patrick Cummins (8-4)

In a different world—a better world—Patrick Cummins is a high-end MMA talent. 

Athletic and steeled by a decade of elite-level wrestling, the owner of one of MMA's strangest nicknames has the raw skills to compete with nearly anyone in the division. In a different world, Durkin would be a major force.

In this world? Cummins, a ranked fighter in one of the UFC's top-selling divisions, is homeless. Needless to say, that's not an ideal situation for someone preparing to compete in a professional cagefight, and unfortunately that's quite the hurdle to overcome as he heads into this fight with Polish finisher Jan Blachowicz.

While Blachowicz is far from unstoppable, his solid striking and opportunistic ground game make him somebody that can't be taken lightly. Cummins will need to bring his A-game to UFC 210 in order to win, and unfortunately it doesn't seem like he has the means to do so.

Prediction: Jan Blachowicz def. Patrick Cummins by Unanimous Decision

Chris Weidman vs. Gegard Mousasi

Al Bello/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

The UFC is doing Chris Weidman no favors after taking two tough losses.

Division: Middleweight
Records: Chris Weidman (13-2), Gegard Mousasi (41-6-2) 

Chris Weidman's career has officially hit the skids. 

Despite being one of the biggest, strongest, most well-rounded fighters at 185 pounds, the former middleweight champ is coming off back-to-back knockout losses. These weren't just any knockout losses, either, as he took a prolonged beating from Luke Rockhold and then absorbed a savage flying knee from Yoel Romero.

Logically, an elite-level fighter with plenty of years ahead of him shouldn't be put in a position where he could absorb a potentially irreparable third loss in a row. Unfortunately, Weidman finds himself facing a surging Gegard Mousasi.

Long a darling of the international circuit, Mousasi joined the UFC following the absorption of Strikeforce in 2011. After two up-and-down years in the Octagon, he hit his stride and has broken off four straight dominant wins. His established skills were on par with nearly anyone in the division, but a change in his mindset may have pushed him to the next level.

That's bad news for Weidman, and it could mark the end of his days as an elite-level middleweight. While the American remains the safer bet of the two, this is an absurdly high-risk, low-reward fight for him.

Prediction: Chris Weidman def. Gegard Mousasi by Split Decision

Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson 2

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Cormier submitted Johnson when they faced off in 2015.

Division: Light Heavyweight
Records: Daniel Cormier (18-1), Anthony Johnson (22-5)

This writer previewed Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson once before, and the details remain the same. 

Cormier is one of the best grapplers in the sport today, with a USA Wrestling-honed attack that has been perfectly adapted to MMA. Johnson, meanwhile, packs what might be the most powerful punch in the sport, which has seen him post some of the most gruesome stoppages in recent MMA history. The X-factors and intangibles largely favor Cormier, but Johnson's pure punching power can end a fight in a blink.

The most likely outcome remains something along the lines of their first fight, with Cormier enduring Johnson's blitzes, wearing him down and finishing him late. An early knockout win for Johnson, however, is also a very real possibility.

Prediction: Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson by Submission in Round 4