UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia Early Main Card Preview and Predictions

UFC 189 is over and done with, but the promotion is just getting started with a five-week stretch packed with seven events. Snuggled in there is UFC 190 on August 1. The full card is as follows:

Main Card (PPV)

• Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia 
• Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 
• Glaico Franca vs. Fernando Bruno
• Dileno Lopes vs. Reginaldo Vieira
• Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 
• Antonio Silva vs. Soa Palelei 
• Claudia Gadelha vs. Jessica Aguilar 

Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)

• Demian Maia vs. Neil Magny 
• Rafael Cavalcante vs. Patrick Cummins 
• Warlley Alves vs. Nordine Taleb 
• Iuri Alcantara vs. Leandro Issa 

Preliminary Card (Fight Pass)

• Vitor Miranda vs. Clint Hester 
• Hugo Viana vs. Guido Cannetti

With an extended main card, fans get to look forward to seven fights on pay-per-view. The preliminary card is very strong as well, with numerous established veterans and compelling prospects set to appear.

There is plenty to look forward to, so why not take a look forward to the UFC 190 main card? Read on, fight fans!

Claudia Gadelha vs. Jessica Aguilar

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Division: Women's Strawweight
Records: Claudia Gadelha (12-1), Jessica Aguilar (19-4)

In a likely title eliminator, Claudia Gadelha takes on Jessica Aguilar. This is easily the top pound-for-pound fight on the card outside of the main event. Gadelha and Aguilar have both been regarded as top-five strawweights for years, and they have well-refined skill sets that make them legitimate challenges for the champ.

Gadelha, a rounded talent who has serious skills in wrestling, grappling and striking, has already taken Joanna Jedrzejczyk to the brink of defeat once before, coming out on the bad end of a questionable split decision in December. Aguilar, possibly the best wrestler in the division, is riding a strong 10-fight winning streak that includes wins over MMA legend Megumi Fujii and former Invicta and UFC champ Carla Esparza.

In most ways, this fight is a toss-up. The most likely outcome, however, is a hard-fought decision win for Gadelha, where she keeps up with Aguilar in the grappling department but scores points on her striking. It isn't hard to fathom Aguilar getting the nod from judges on her wrestling alone, however.

Prediction: Claudia Gadelha def. Jessica Aguilar by Decision

Antonio Silva vs. Soa Palelei

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Division: Heavyweight
Records: Antonio Silva (18-7 (1)), Soa Palelei (22-4)

When it comes to fighters who test positive for steroids, wind up on TRT, get hidden away from American athletic commissions (NSFW language), get caught with above-average levels of testosterone and then stink up the joint when they try to fight clean (or maybe not?), the poster boy is Vitor Belfort. The Scotty Pippen to his Michael Jordan, however, is Antonio Silva, who was flagged for Boldenone in EliteXC, wound up on TRT, got flagged for elevated testosterone while fighting in Australia, and has gone 0-2 since the TRT ban.

Silva has never been a particularly brilliant fighter, but a big right hand, a size advantage and serviceable grappling have always been enough to get wins in the UFC's heavyweight division. A TRT-free Silva, however, seems to lack the strength required to ply those skills, and that translates to a bleak UFC future.

Soa Palelei isn't an amazing fighter, but he is a ground-and-pound specialist who can take advantage of a less-than-on-point Silva. Watch for him to take down Silva without too much trouble and finish him without much difficulty.

Prediction: Soa Palelei def. Antonio Silva by TKO in Round 1

Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Division: Heavyweight
Records: Stefan Struve (25-7), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-9-1 (1))

Stefan Struve is fighting for his UFC job. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is fighting for a happy ending to a legendary career. Either way, it is all but guaranteed that one or both of these men will be shown the door after this event.

Struve has long been a "what if" in the heavyweight division. Standing at 7'0", he has a boa-like submission game that has allowed him to push into the Top 10 on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, dreadful striking defense has resulted in five brutal KO losses over the course of his UFC career, which has put a tight cap on his upward mobility.

Nogueira's resume needs no introduction. MMA legend. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pioneer. Only man to hold gold in both the UFC and Pride.

Unfortunately, Father Time hasn't fawned over him the way the UFC commentary desk does. Thirty-nine years old and coming off two brutal losses, even Nogueira isn't denying that his days on the competition end of the sport are all but done.

There are only two ways this fight could reasonably go. Either Nogueira leans on his veteran savvy and takes a decision with lay-and-pray and clinchwork, or Struve gets the ball rolling and out-points him at range. Neither outcome is particularly exciting, but look for the younger fighter to get the nod in the end.

Prediction: Stefan Struve def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by Decision

Glaico Franca vs. Fernando Bruno

Division: Lightweight
Records: Glaico Franca (12-3) vs. Fernando Bruno (15-2)

Glaico Franca and Fernando Bruno have walked very similar paths en route to The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 4 finals. Both men have found great success on the Brazilian regional circuit and have avoided becoming one-dimensional can-crushers. They have similar records and have found similar success on the show.

Making picks following a season of The Ultimate Fighter is always difficult. Fighters can improve drastically with full-time training between the taping and their UFC debuts, and the fact that the bouts were pushed back from Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero to UFC 190 makes things even tougher to guess.

When it comes to Franca vs. Bruno, it's safer to bet on Franca due to his youth (he is 24 years old to Bruno's 33) and size advantage (Franca is a 6'0" lightweight while Bruno is a natural featherweight). Bruno taking the victory through superior coaching and training, however, would not be a shock.

Prediction: Glaico Franca def. Fernando Bruno by Decision

Dileno Lopes vs. Reginaldo Vieira

Division: Bantamweight
Records: Dileno Lopes (18-1), Reginaldo Vieira (12-3)

Everything from the previous slide about the difficult nature of picking TUF fights holds true here, but things start to get a bit more nitpicky in this matchup between Dileno Lopes and Reginaldo Vieira.

In general, Vieira has greatly benefited from soft, tomato can-like competition. While Lopes hasn't faced a murderer's row himself, his record isn't as stuffed with soft opposition, and his wins on both TUF and on the regional circuits have been equally impressive. Look for him to muscle Vieira around and submit him as the fight wears on.

Prediction: Dileno Lopes def. Reginaldo Vieira by Submission in Round 3

Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

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Division: Light Heavyweight
Records: Mauricio Rua (22-10) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-6)

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua have a lot in common. They're both strikers by trade. They're both Brazilian. They both fought in Pride. They're both physical wrecks. They're both coming off ugly knockout losses. They're both very close to retirement. They're both hard to get excited about these days.

Rua has struggled throughout his UFC career. His ability to avoid sustained losing streaks has kept him off the headsman's list, and his ability to deliver brutal knockouts has kept alive the hope that he can turn things around. A loss to Nogueira, however, would net him a three-fight losing streak and could mark the end of his days as a UFC fighter.

Nogueira is on fairly solid footing on paper, but in reality L'il Nog is in a similar position to his brother. At 39 years old and with more than a few nicks and tears in his body, the 14-year veteran doesn't have the ability to continue contending in the UFC at this point. Even if he can somehow come into this fight healthy and in shape, the odds are stacked against him doing so again.

The odds certainly favor Rua in this fight. While he may never completely break free from the unmet expectations of yesteryear, he still vaguely resembles a fighter who can hang with UFC-level competition. Expect him to take a TKO victory, restart the comeback discussion and get knocked out by a young up-and-comer in his next fight. 

Prediction: Mauricio Rua def. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by TKO in Round 2

Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Division: Women's Bantamweight
Records: Ronda Rousey (11-0), Bethe Correia (9-0)

Ronda Rousey's dominance cannot be oversold. The UFC women's bantamweight champion has demolished all comers and made numerous lifelong grapplers look downright weak by comparison. Her next foe, Bethe Correia, probably won't reverse that trend.

Sure, Correia has the resume of a contender. Undefeated and coming off a brutal knockout of the veteran Shayna Baszler, it's easy for an outside observer to buy into her as a serious challenge. Anybody who has watched both women in the cage, however, has noticed the difference between the two.

Correia has the mindset and attitude of a champion, but her feet simply are not as quick as Rousey's. Her hands are not as heavy. Her body is not as well-suited for destroying fellow human beings.

Rousey will defeat Correia with ease. That is pretty much a guarantee. The only question is if this victory will be a quick, efficient fight, as it was with Alexis Davis and Cat Zingano, or if it will be a prolonged, sadistic beating like what we saw in her fight against Miesha Tate.

Prediction: Ronda Rousey def. Bethe Correia by TKO in Round 1