Rousey vs. Zingano: A Complete Guide to UFC 184
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday when UFC 184 hits Los Angeles.
Dominant world champion Ronda Rousey is headlining against top contender Cat Zingano. The matchup will be Rousey's toughest test to date. The co-main event will be a women's bantamweight clash when Raquel Pennington welcomes Holly Holm to the UFC.
In addition, Josh Koscheck returns in a matchup of powerful wrestlers against Jake Ellenberger.
The event gets underway on UFC Fight Pass before moving to Fox Sports 1 for the remainder of the prelims. The 11-fight event should deliver several exciting fights and performances this weekend.
This is your guide to all of the action. We take a look at each fight on the card, tell you where can watch it and give you a prediction as well.
Let's get to the lineup set for UFC 184.
Masio Fullen vs. Alexander Torres
1 of 11
Division: Featherweight
Records: Masio Fullen (9-4), Alexander Torres (2-1)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass
The opening bout on the card features two cast members of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America in their official Octagon debuts.
Both fighters lost in the first round of the show by stoppage. On their official professional records they are also both coming off back-to-back victories. This is an even matchup on paper.
Torres has a more substantial wrestling background and has good power in his hands. Fullen has been knocked out before in his professional career and was knocked out on TUF. His chin is not the best, and that's why Torres has the edge.
Prediction: Torres defeats Fullen by TKO in the first round.
James Krause vs. Valmir Lazaro
2 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Records: James Krause (21-6), Valmir Lazaro (12-3)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass
Lazaro earned his way into the UFC by winning 11 straight fights but failed to claim victory in his UFC debut. James Vick bested him on the scorecards last August.
Krause has exchanged wins and losses in his four UFC contests, last losing to Jorge Masvidal in September. Krause has a lot of potential and some solid skills, and this matchup should allow him to shine. In all four of his previous UFC contests he has taken on quality veterans.
Lazaro is not on that level.
Lazaro has quality striking and power. Nine of his 12 wins are by KO/TKO. Krause will have to be wary of that, but Krause's length should play a major role in this fight. Expect Krause to look like the top-line prospect he is with a dominant performance.
Prediction: Krause defeats Lazaro by TKO in the first round.
Derrick Lewis vs. Ruan Potts
3 of 11
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Derrick Lewis (11-3, 1 NC), Ruan Potts (8-3)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Potts is 0-2 in the UFC with two KO/TKO losses. You can add a third loss after Saturday.
This is a terrible matchup for Potts, and it is the UFC's way of putting Lewis in the best position to get another strong knockout to revitalize his UFC tenure. Lewis burst onto the scene with back-to-back vicious knockouts before suffering a loss to Matt Mitrione in September.
Lewis is a quality athlete with scary power. His string of first-round finishes will continue Saturday.
Potts doesn't have the athleticism or granite chin to survive past three minutes.
Prediction: Lewis defeats Potts by KO in the first round.
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Dhiego Lima vs. Tim Means
4 of 11
Division: Welterweight
Records: Dhiego Lima (11-2), Tim Means (22-6-1)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
This is an underrated fight, and you will want to tune in to watch it. This should be a three-round battle between two gritty fighters.
Means is 4-1 since returning to the welterweight division and is 2-1 since returning to the UFC. Lima got back in the win column against Jorge de Oliveira after failing to win his season of The Ultimate Fighter.
When you talk about a fight being gritty, it is difficult to pick against Means. This is his type of fight. The uglier it gets, the more it should favor the American. Lima has a lot of raw ability, and that makes him a dangerous opponent; however, it will be difficult to showcase those abilities with Means putting on the consistent pressure.
Both fighters will have their moments, and it will go to the cards in a closely contested fight. Means will get the nod with his pressure and aggression in this Fight of the Night contender.
Prediction: Means defeats Lima by unanimous decision.
Roman Salazar vs. Norifumi Yamamoto
5 of 11
Division: Bantamweight
Records: Roman Salazar (9-3), Norifumi Yamamoto (18-6, 1 NC)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
The return of Kid Yamamoto is upon us. It has been three years since we have seen him perform, and the Japanese legend is 0-3 in the UFC. The former top-ranked bantamweight was a shell of his former self, and now he is well past his athletic prime.
Can he return in grand fashion?
The UFC has given him a good chance at that.
Yamamoto should have a few advantages over Salazar, but if he is not prepared after several years away, we could be in for a sizable upset this weekend. Salazar is well-rounded enough to take a decision.
Yamamoto's time away should pay off with a good showing. He will hurt Salazar on the feet and capitalize with a submission early in the fight. He has always had exceptional power at 135 pounds, and this will be a good matchup to show it off.
Prediction: Yamamoto defeats Salazar via submission in the first round.
Mark Munoz vs. Roan Carneiro
6 of 11
Division: Middleweight
Records: Mark Munoz (13-5), Roan Carneiro (19-9)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Carneiro makes his UFC return after nearly six-and-a-half years away from the bright lights. He has been doing well on the regional scene, going 7-1 since his Octagon exit. He gets no easy return, though, as he takes on Mark Munoz.
Munoz is on a two-fight skid. Elite middleweights Gegard Mousasi and Lyoto Machida outclassed him, but he looked outstanding against Top 15-ranked Tim Boetsch when they met in 2013. Munoz, currently ranked No. 13 in the division, is no longer an elite middleweight but is close to that grouping.
That is bad news for Carneiro. Munoz is going to control this fight with his wrestling. It is possible one of his massive power punches sneaks through and ends this fight, but it is more likely that Munoz grinds out a dominant decision across all scorecards.
Don't expect a competitive bout in Fox Sports 1's featured prelim.
Prediction: Munoz defeats Carneiro by unanimous decision.
Tony Ferguson vs. Gleison Tibau
7 of 11
Division: Lightweight
Records: Tony Ferguson (18-3), Gleison Tibau (33-10)
See it on: PPV
The PPV portion of the fight card kicks off with a lightweight scrap that could easily be between Top 15-ranked fighters. The only reason neither is currently ranked is because the lightweight division is stacked with talent.
Ferguson is riding a four-fight win streak. Tibau is one of the most successful lightweights in UFC history and has a three-fight streak of his own.
Ferguson's skill set presents a matchup that continually gives Tibau lots of difficulties. Ferguson is a well-rounded fighter with excellent striking and good length. Tibau will have trouble finding success with his offense and may turn into a one-dimensional grappler.
That sets up Ferguson up for a quality win, which should put him in the Top 15.
Ferguson has the power to stop Tibau, but the Brazilian is crafty enough to force Ferguson to go the full 15 minutes. Ferguson will take it 30-27 on each scorecard, but it will be a test to get it there. It's just a bad stylistic matchup for Tibau.
Prediction: Ferguson defeats Tibau by unanimous decision.
Alan Jouban vs. Richard Walsh
8 of 11
Division: Welterweight
Records: Alan Jouban (10-3), Richard Walsh (8-3)
See it on: PPV
Jouban met rising prospect Warlley Alves in his last UFC bout and came up short, but he returns with a favorable matchup against Walsh.
Walsh was a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia and made it to the semifinals before being defeated. He then beat fellow cast member Chris Indich on the finale. His most recent bout was a split-decision loss to Kiichi Kunimoto last September.
Jouban is simply a much more dynamic fighter. This is his fight to lose.
This is a solid showcase bout for Jouban. He will touch up Walsh before finishing the fight early. This won't get out of the first round, and Jouban will get back in the win column emphatically.
Prediction: Jouban defeats Walsh by TKO in the first round.
Jake Ellenberger vs. Josh Koscheck
9 of 11
Division: Welterweight
Records: Jake Ellenberger (29-9), Josh Koscheck (19-8)
See it on: PPV
This is the "put up or shut up" fight of the card. Ellenberger and Koscheck are both on three-fight losing skids, and the two wrestlers need a victory to re-establish their spots in the division.
They are both athletic, explosive wrestlers with huge power. The losses on their streaks have all been to top-tier welterweights.
Koscheck has been away since November 2013, and that hiatus may be beneficial. He has had time to regroup, heal and fix some of the holes in his game. Nevertheless, it won't be enough against Ellenberger.
Ellenberger's activity will be a positive for this fight. He will be the more prepared athlete. And his striking improvements will be the difference as he gives Koscheck a third straight knockout loss. Time will tell if this is Koscheck's final fight, but three straight knockout defeats do not inspire confidence.
Prediction: Ellenberger defeats Koscheck by KO in the second round.
Raquel Pennington vs. Holly Holm
10 of 11
Division: Women's bantamweight
Records: Raquel Pennington (5-5), Holly Holm (7-0)
See it on: PPV
"Rocky" Pennington's record is a bit misleading, but she is without question the underdog in this fight. Holm checks in at minus-900 on Odds Shark. Those odds are a bit steep considering there are so many unknowns with Holm.
The issue in this bout is how Pennington fights. She is a brawler, and Holm is a calculated former boxing world champion. Holm has a decided edge on the feet and will not be in any danger of Pennington's striking. Rocky has to turn this into a grappling bout.
Holm has been training in MMA for several years, but we do not know how good her defensive wrestling is. It would be a big plus to her viability as a contender if she can show it off Saturday.
Without having a single UFC fight, Holm is listed as the No. 13-ranked contender. She moved past Pennington this past Monday even though nothing had changed, and Pennington has a recent UFC victory to her credit.
Holm will finish Pennington in the first round. Pennington's propensity to brawl will get her in trouble in a major way.
Prediction: Holm defeats Pennington by TKO in the first round.
Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano
11 of 11
Division: Women's bantamweight
Records: Ronda Rousey (10-0), Cat Zingano (9-0)
See it on: PPV
The champion and the No. 1-ranked contender finally meet in a clash of undefeated fighters. This is without question Rousey's toughest fight to date.
She has never had to face a fighter like Zingano. "Alpha" Cat has great athleticism, fantastic jiu-jitsu, powerful striking and exceptional strength. Rousey cannot put herself in some of the bad situations that she has in the past, knowing she was far superior to her opponent.
The champion is supremely confident, and she prepares for the best possible opponent to step inside the cage. She was adamant on the UFC 184 Countdown show that she has prepared for the best Zingano, and there is nothing she can do on Saturday to claim gold:
"I don't walk into fights thinking about what my opponent lacks. I walk into every match thinking that I'm fighting a perfect person. I'm fighting the best version of Cat Zingano that ever happened, and I'm gonna assume that she does everything perfectly and I'm still gonna make it wrong. I'm gonna train so hard and be so well prepared that perfect for her still isn't good enough.
"
Rousey is still the class of this division, and she will return to a first-round finish. It will just be a more tactical performance as opposed to some of her past bouts where she blitzed her opponents. She will be more reserved early in the round against Zingano.
Still, Rousey is the best in the world. Her judo will put Zingano on her back, and Rousey will lock up another armbar. Rousey won't give Zingano a chance to get things going and will finish her before she can become a threat.
Prediction: Rousey defeats Zingano via submission in the first round.
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