UFC 185: Pettis vs. Dos Anjos Early Main Card Preview and Predictions

The UFC isn't offering fans much of an opportunity to digest its latest pay-per-view offering, UFC 184. The next big card, UFC 185, is just two weeks away. The full card is as follows:

Main Card

• Anthony Pettis vs. Rafael dos Anjos
• Carla Esparza vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
• Johny Hendricks vs. Matt Brown 
• Roy Nelson vs. Alistair Overeem 
• Chris Cariaso vs. Henry Cejudo

Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)

• Ross Pearson vs. Sam Stout 
• Elias Theodorou vs. Roger Narvaez 
• Daron Cruickshank vs. Beneil Dariush 
• Jared Rosholt vs. Josh Copeland 

Preliminary Card (Fight Pass)

• Sergio Pettis vs. Ryan Benoit 
• Jake Lindsey vs. Joseph Duffy 
• Larissa Pacheco vs. Germaine de Randamie

While UFC 184 was, essentially, the Ronda Rousey show, UFC 185 offers fans a stacked card, with compelling bouts all the way across the card. Not a single bout on this card is safe to skip, but the main card, which features two championship bouts and three bouts between compelling contenders, is one of the strongest offerings we've seen from the promotions in years.

Hey MMA fans! How about we break out the crystal ball and take a look at this card? 

Chris Cariaso vs. Henry Cejudo

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Division: Flyweight
Records: Chris Cariaso (17-6), Henry Cejudo (7-0)

The careers of Chris Cariaso and Henry Cejudo are moving in completely different directions. Cejudo, a hotshot prospect with an Olympic gold medal sitting on his mantel, could move directly into title contention with a win. Cariaso, a fighter who has long found success under the radar, was absolutely wrecked by Demetrious Johnson when he was suddenly thrust into the spotlight at UFC 178. He desperately needs a win to maintain any hint of relevance.

How the fight will pan out largely hinges on Cejudo. While the uber-prospect is absolutely scary in the cage, his wackiness outside of it is already a serious concern. Add to that his notorious inability to make 125 pounds, and the door is wide open for a Cariaso win.

That said, Cejudo likely owns the striking skills to contend with Cariaso standing, and he can most certainly handle him on the ground. As such, it's easy to give him the benefit of the doubt and pick him to win.

Prediction: Henry Cejudo by Decision

Roy Nelson vs. Alistair Overeem

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Division: Heavyweight
Records: Roy Nelson (21-10), Alistair Overeem (38-14, 1 NC)

Alistair Overeem and Roy Nelson have both shown how crazy the heavyweight division can be during their UFC careers. 

Overeem, a fighter who became the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, the Dream heavyweight champion and the K-1 2010 World Grand Prix champion, has consistently struggled to win in the UFC and has twice had certain victory slip through his fingers. Nelson, on the other hand, has been in a career tailspin since getting upset by Stipe Miocic at UFC 161 but has repeatedly forced his way into title contention since winning The Ultimate Fighter 10.

On paper, this should be a clear win for Overeem. Nelson, in spite of his propensity for scoring brutal knockouts, is not an especially high-level striker. Overeem should be able to use his vicious kicks and knees and wear Nelson down with little trouble. That said, there are most certainly no sure things with The Reem.

Prediction: Alistair Overeem by Decision

Johny Hendricks vs. Matt Brown

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Division: Welterweight
Records: Johny Hendricks (16-3), Matt Brown (21-12)

Johny Hendricks and Matt Brown have both found themselves at a career crossroads. 

Hendricks, after turning in an ugly, wheeze-filled performance against Robbie Lawler at UFC 181, needs to show that he is still the elite-level talent that once nearly beat Georges St-Pierre. Not only that, but he also needs to show that the difficult weight cuts that marred both of his fights with Lawler were anomalies and that he does not need to make the jump up to middleweight. 

Brown, who at one point struggled to maintain a .500 career record, found new life when he rattled off seven straight wins. That said, in his only match against an elite welterweight (Robbie Lawler at UFC on Fox 12), he fell quite short of victory. 

Hendricks and Brown both need wins here in order to maintain their place among the welterweight division's elite, and Bigg Rigg is in a stronger position to do so. While Brown's relentless pressure and strong cardio is overwhelming for most fighters, Hendricks' wrestling skills will allow him to dictate the pace of the fight and where it takes place. Add to that the fact that Hendricks will likely benefit from returning to three-round competition, and it's hard to imagine him not winning this one, regardless of how his weight cut goes.

Prediction: Hendricks, Round 2 Submission

Carla Esparza vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

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Division: Women's Strawweight
Records: Carla Esparza (11-2), Joanna Jedrzejczyk (8-0)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk has been impressive to this point in her career. She entered the UFC with an undefeated record, and by defeating Claudia Gadelha at UFC on Fox 13, she proved that she can hang with the best ladies in the business. 

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean she stands a chance in her fight against Carla Esparza.

Esparza already has plenty of high-level strikers on her resume, and you can't say the same about Jedrzejczyk when it comes to high-level wrestlers. MMA fans have seen European strikers come up short against wrestlers on many, many occasions, and there is little reason to believe that this fight will break that long-established mold. 

Look for Esparza to either win a cut-and-dry decision or finish Jedrzejczyk by submission.

Prediction: Esparza, Round 3 Submission

Anthony Pettis vs. Rafael Dos Anjos

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Division: Lightweight
Records: Anthony Pettis (18-2), Rafael dos Anjos (23-7)

The lightweight title fight between Anthony Pettis and Rafael dos Anjos is a true battle of contrasting styles. The champ is an absolute gunslinger, known for his absurd acrobatics and kick-focused striking. The challenger is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none who has remained a staple of the division by attacking each opponent smartly and methodically.

While it's easy to get drunk on Pettis' amazing talent, serious doubts remain regarding his staying power as champion. His high-risk, high-reward style may be effective but can easily go awry when it comes to judges' scorecards. For a tough out like Dos Anjos, who has only been finished twice in his 30-fight career (one of those times coming via freak injury), that could spell trouble.

Granted, it's hard to imagine a Pettis fight going to the scorecards. He is quite possibly the best finisher in the sport today, and the fact that he beat both Benson Henderson and Gilbert Melendez in about 10 minutes speaks to that. 

In all likelihood, the lightweight champ will retain his title. Just don't be all that surprised if the Brazilian makes him work really hard for it.

Prediction: Anthony Pettis by Round 4 TKO