UFC 187: 7 Reasons to Watch Johnson vs. Cormier Fight Card
This Saturday will mark the UFC's third installment of a two-month, eight-event spring calendar.
It will culminate with a light heavyweight showdown between top contenders Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Daniel "DC" Cormier, which in turn will crown the first new divisional champion since 2011.
Such a historic event takes precedence over many things on this card, but UFC 187 offers much more than a highly touted collision between a knockout artist and Olympic wrestler.
From a long-awaited middleweight showdown between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort to a tantalizing heavyweight matchup between Travis Browne and Andrei Arlovski, this weekend's card is truly stacked.
So much so that a few of the preliminary bouts have trickled over onto this list.
Here are seven reasons to tune in Saturday and witness some of the best fights of 2015.
Prime Time
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Fans need to take notice any time Uriah Hall steps inside the cage.
Because with elite striking potential and dangerous finishing ability, Prime Time is always one fight away from putting it all together.
His promotional rise has been slow to say the least, but recent mental adjustments could give Hall the push he needs to make a worthwhile title run.
The former TUF standout has yet to write his legacy in this sport, but you better believe Saturday's matchup with Rafael Natal will be another exciting chapter.
The Return of the Magician
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John Dodson may be the flyweight division's best bet to dethrone perennial kingpin Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson.
Now while Dodson failed once before, losing to the champ back in 2013 at UFC on Fox 6, his always evolving skill set suggests he could make reasonable adjustments to win the title.
The only problem is that Dodson needs to stay healthy to accomplish such a feat, as Saturday will mark the first time he steps inside of the Octagon in 11 months.
He'll aim to knock off Zach Makovsky, push his win streak to three and once again earn the right to challenge Johnson.
Flyweight Fixings
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Perennial flyweight contenders Joseph Benavidez and John Moraga are fixing to deliver at UFC 187.
As two of the division's most polished fighters, Benavidez and Moraga offer high-octane offense with an unflappable knowledge of fighting.
Their skill sets lend a hand in making this matchup a volatile and exciting meeting capable of winning Fight of the Night honors.
Not to mention both former title challengers are prying for their third straight victory within a top-heavy weight class.
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The Hawaiian Hercules
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Whether or not this new nickname sticks, knockout specialist Travis Browne should continue his journey towards a UFC heavyweight title shot.
With arguably the best all-around striking the heavyweight division has ever seen, the towering finisher is capable of throwing anything from a front-heel kick to a spinning back fist.
He has utilized these skill sets and his imposing reach to dissect heavyweights of all shapes and sizes, especially since joining forces with Ronda Rousey's head trainer Edmond Tarverdyan.
Browne will look to extend his UFC record to an impressive 9-2-1 with a victory over a resurgent Andrei Arlovski this Saturday, making him an odds-on favorite to fight for No. 1 contender rights later this year.
The Cowboy's Title Claim
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John Makdessi is not Khabib Nurmagomedov by any stretch of the imagination, but it really doesn't matter in the case of Donald Cerrone's championship hopes.
Because at the end of the day, Cerrone's overwhelming success and fan favoritism over the past few years will propel him to his first UFC title shot no matter who he defeats next.
Now while Makdessi is not going to roll over and die at the sight of The Cowboy, his in-cage adaptation and overall skill set are not even in the same zip code as Cerrone.
Barring an unbelievable upset from The Bull, a victory for Cerrone this weekend will cap off one of the best eight-fight win streaks you'll ever see.
Jon Jones' Successor
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It's been roughly four years and two months since Jon Jones defeated Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128 to capture the UFC light heavyweight championship and become the youngest titleholder ever.
That's the last time a new champion has been crowned at 205 pounds, which is the longest drought in division history.
Now while UFC 187's main event between Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Daniel Cormier serves as a great matchup to determine the new light heavyweight king, it's a sad sight to see the belt change hands any other way than inside of the Octagon.
There's no denying that the absence of Jones will cast a dark cloud over Saturday's top billing, but a showdown between two of the sport's most dedicated athletes should certainly brighten the atmosphere.
Middleweight Validation
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Saturday's co-main event with offer validation one way or the other.
As current UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman defends his title for a third straight time opposite MMA legend Vitor Belfort, the Octagon action will be a tell-all story.
Either Weidman defeats Belfort and proves his worth as a true pound-for-pound king capable of shedding the unfavorable aura that has followed him since his "lucky" wins over Anderson Silva, or Belfort defeats Weidman and validates his career after tumultuous conflict with athletic commissions, testosterone testing and overall public outcry.
Needless to say, history will be written at UFC 187 in what can easily be considered one of the most important fight in the division history.
For more UFC news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell
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