5 Reasons to Watch UFC 178
Get ready, fans—UFC 178 is coming at you like a ton of bricks. The event, which marks the return to pay-per-view for the company, boasts a UFC title fight and some other awesome bouts.
Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso headlines the card, but the bigger stories may lie on the lower main card bouts. Names like Conor McGregor, Cat Zingano and Donald Cerrone will perform on this show.
With that, we come with our normal installment of "Reasons to Watch." As if you need them, here are five reasons you should watch UFC 178 this Saturday on PPV.
Mighty Good
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You may like him or not. The fact is, you have to respect the skills of Demetrious Johnson.
The fact that Johnson is not a bigger draw than he is does not surprise me. He doesn't appeal to the average "Just Bleed" fan, but he is a technical marvel.
He is quick, athletic and explosive. All of that, and the man is just 125 pounds when he tips the scales.
Every time he performs, it's a treat. Sure, he's not going to send a Mark Hunt-like deathblow at his opponent's dome, but he will give you a performance you are sure to remember.
So no matter who he's facing, whether it's the second-best flyweight or Chris Cariaso, you should pay attention. You may see some things the average brawler isn't able to provide.
Long-Awaited Debut
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It seems like fans have been waiting for Eddie Alvarez to arrive to the UFC for a while. He was legally stuck up in Bellator, depriving us of what could have been multiple fights with the company already.
Now he's here.
Alvarez will be jumping in the deep end immediately, which should make for a near-lock on Fight of the Night. That's because he faces fellow exciting lightweight Donald Cerrone, who will definitely test Alvarez throughout the fight.
If you miss this fight, you'll miss what will certainly be a classic. So order the PPV, pop some corn, crack a brewski and enjoy a violent masterpiece.
A Notorious Return to Action
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There's no doubt about it. Conor McGregor is a certified star.
The mouthy Irishman has taken the UFC by storm and become an overnight sensation due to his sharp tongue, charisma and fun fights. It's a style that has made him a top potential draw not unlike Chael Sonnen.
At UFC 178, he gets the biggest step up to date in the form of Dustin Poirier. The fight will have animosity and intense moments, which fans can draw themselves to and get behind.
That's the reason why McGregor was headlining a UFC card in just his third UFC outing. He can fight, sell the fight and bring big action.
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Cat Back to Contention
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It has seemed like an eternity, but Cat Zingano is back. The former top contender who lost her shot at Ronda Rousey due to injuries and personal issues has a chance to reclaim that shot when she fights Amanda Nunes.
Zingano is a black belt jiu-jitsu player with gnarly ground-and-pound and precise submissions. It's a game that has led her to an impressive unbeaten record against some of the best women 135 pounds has to offer.
She is potentially the biggest style clash for Ronda Rousey that the UFC currently has. She is a force on the ground and a physical brute.
Nunes will be no pushover, but an impressive performance could snag Zingano the next immediate shot. It's a fight that the UFC could certainly sell too.
The Rest of the Card Is Stacked
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Tim Kennedy. Dominick Cruz. John Howard. Patrick Cote. Yoel Romero.
These are just a few of the names that have not been mentioned yet, and all of them are on the UFC 178 card. So yeah, this card is super deep.
Not only is the main card full of stars, but the lead-in prelims are stacked. Dominick Cruz fights Takeya Mizugaki in his long-awaited return. Patrick Cote takes on Stephen Thompson in what can only be described as a potential barnburner, and John Howard takes on the "hairrow" that is Brian Ebersole.
Needless to say, UFC 178 is packed full of talent.
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