UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More
UFC 187 is proof that consolation prizes get a bad rap.
Initially, fans were to be treated with the latest title defense from Jon Jones. Instead, Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier will determine who sits atop the light heavyweight pecking order in a "Bones"-less light heavyweight division.
That isn't the only strap up for grabs, though. After 10 months out of the cage, Chris Weidman returns to defend his middleweight title against Vitor Belfort in the co-main event.
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With a double billing that features championship bouts in two of the UFC's most marquee divisions, this isn't a card to miss. Here's a look at the complete slate with all the information you'll need to take in the action and the top storylines to watch.
| Matchup | Weight Class | Prediction |
| Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson | Light Heavyweight (for title) | Cormier via TKO |
| Chris Weidman (c) vs. Vitor Belfort | Middleweight (for title) | Belfort via TKO |
| Donald Cerrone vs. John Makdessi | Lightweight | Cerrone via Decision |
| Travis Browne vs. Andrei Arlovski | Heavyweight | Browne via TKO |
| Joseph Benavidez vs. John Moraga | Flyweight | Benavidez via Decision |
| Matchup | Weight Class | Prediction |
| John Dodson vs. Zach Makovsky | Flyweight | Dodson via TKO |
| Dong Hyun Kim vs. Josh Burkman | Welterweight | Burkman via TKO |
| Uriah Hall vs. Rafael Natal | Middleweight | Hall via TKO |
| Rose Namajunas vs. Nina Ansaroff | Women's Strawweight | Namjunas via Decision |
| Matchup | Weight Class | Prediction |
| Mike Pyle vs. Colby Covington | Welterweight | Covington via Decision |
| Islam Makhachev vs. Leo Kuntz | Lightweight | Makhachev via Submission |
| Justin Scoggins vs. Josh Sampo | Flyweight | Scoggins via Decision |
Which Flyweight Will Stand Out?
Fresh off Demetrious Johnson's dominant UFC 186 performance, two big flyweight fights are set to go down Saturday. No. 1 ranked flyweight John Dodson will square off against No. 9 Zach Makovsky, while No. 2 Joseph Benavidez will take on No. 5 John Moraga.
For those keeping track at home that's four fighters in the top 10 of the division.
Mighy Mouse holds a win over everyone involved with the exception of Makovsky, but the fighter who puts on the most impressive performance of the quartet would have to be under consideration for a title shot.
Dodson—who will look to earn the win over Makovsky—has already begun talking about Johnson, which could contribute toward a rematch between the two.
“I'm the savior of the division because Demetrious Johnson is so boring,” Dodson said, per Scott Harris of Bleacher Report “People want someone they love and they can cheer for. DJ is not that person. They say they like him. They say, 'Oh, good job.' Then they interview him, and it's boring."
If Dodson can be as entertaining as he claims, it will likely be him on the marquee beside Johnson. If Makovsky upends him and Benavidez shines, then the Team Alpha Male fighter might just get a trilogy shot.
Can Vitor Belfort Halt Chris Weidman's Title Reign?
This prediction isn't for the faint of heart. Vitor Belfort's power could give Chris Weidman problems.
The challenger is a long shot. Odds Shark has him pegged as a 7-2 underdog against the champion. Given Weidman's wins over Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida, those odds are warranted.
The problem is that Belfort is a different challenge. Where Silva and Machida are counterstrikers who waited on Weidman to be the aggressor, Belfort is an aggressive striker who is going to look to take the fight to Weidman from the opening bell.
Of course, that approach also comes at a price. As Reed Kuhn of Fightnomics points out, the Brazilian is not only the most likely to score a knockdown at UFC 187; he's also the most likely to get knocked down:
Weidman is the best 185-pound fighter in the world. His striking has come a long way to nearly match the impeccable ground game that he has used to impose his will before. However, in a fight that could become an all-out brawl, Belfort's power is hard to ignore.
A shocking stoppage win for the challenger could be the setup to an epic rematch down the road.
Who Will Be the New Face of 2015?
A new era of the light heavyweight division will begin at UFC 187. The only question that remains is who will lead the way without Jon Jones there to terrorize the rest of the division.
With Daniel Cormier coming off a much-hyped loss to the former champion and Anthony "Rumble" Johnson shocking all of Sweden with his knockout win over Alexander Gustafsson, the UFC couldn't have done a better job of picking the hottest fighters in the division.
However, what this comes down to is one simple question. Is Johnson's power alone enough to put the belt around his waist?
Astonishing knockout wins over Gustafsson and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira say "yes"; however, neither of those men is as great at closing the distance and smothering opponents as well as DC. With his Olympic wrestling background and ability to ragdoll men even larger than him, Cormier's clinch game is well-known.
Just as well-known are his heart and cardio. Despite clearly losing the bout to Jones, the challenger still picked the champion off the ground and scored an emphatic takedown in the fifth and final frame. The same display of cardio and heart can't be found on Johnson's resume.
With Cormier able to close the distance early and wear on Johnson, expect him to slowly take over as the fight progresses and pick up a decision win.
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