UFC 195: Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit Early Preview and Predictions

UFC 194 was something, huh? The next pay-per-view event with the unenviable task of living up to that standard is UFC 195 on Saturday, January 2. The full card is as follows:

• Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit
• Stipe Miocic vs. Andrei Arlovski  
• Albert Tumenov vs. Lorenz Larkin 
• Diego Brandao vs. Brian Ortega 
• Michael McDonald vs. Masanori Kanehara 
• Justine Kish vs. Nina Ansaroff 
• Drew Dober vs. Scott Holtzman 
• Abel Trujillo vs. Tony Sims 
• Dustin Poirier vs. Joseph Duffy 
• Kelvin Gastelum vs. Kyle Noke
• Joe Soto vs. Michinori Tanaka 
• Edgar Garcia vs. Sheldon Westcott

The bout order is currently unclear, so rather than the usual main card breakdown, we're here to give you a quick rundown of each and every fight on the card. So buckle in, folks. While this card lacks the sheer star power of UFC 194, it still has a lot to look forward to.

UFC 195 Undercard

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Sheldon Westcott vs. Edgar Garcia: You may or may not remember Edgar Garcia for his win over former WEC title contender Hiromitsu Miura, but he has failed to find success in the UFC. He is 0-3 across his two UFC runs, and if he loses to Sheldon Westcott, he will likely end up back on the regional scene.

Joe Soto vs. Michinori Tanaka: This is another "loser goes to RFA" fight. Soto and Tanaka are better than their combined 1-3 UFC record would suggest. Still, this fight will either end with Soto going 0-3 in his UFC career or Tanaka 1-2 with a failed drug test on his record. Not a good place to be.

Dustin Poirier vs. Joseph Duffy: The UFC isn't mad or anything, but Dustin Poirier and Joseph Duffy have been buried on the Fight Pass Prelims after Duffy pulled out of the UFC Fight Night 76 main event at the last minute and Poirier refused a replacement opponent. That said, the fight remains mouthwatering and is the clear-cut Fight of the Night favorite.

Abel Trujillo vs. Tony Sims: Abel Trujillo is an interesting prospect because of his pure power, but his awful fight IQ has made it unclear as to whether he can succeed in the UFC. Already riding back-to-back losses, if he can't get back into the win column against the unheralded Tony Sims, he might also be headed to the indies.

Drew Dober vs. Scott Holtzman: Scott Holtzman's undefeated record is starting to draw attention, but it's not quite time to start buying into him. That may change, however, if he can defeat serviceable journeyman Drew Dober.

Justine Kish vs. Nina Ansaroff: The women's strawweight division is wide-open right now, and Justine Kish and Nina Ansaroff have the chance to jump into the thick of things by making a strong first impression. 

Kelvin Gastelum vs. Kyle Noke: Kelvin Gastelum suffered a disappointing loss to Neil Magny, but the UFC still seems invested in him. He is set to take on Australian veteran Kyle Noke in a fight he will likely be heavily favored in.

Diego Brandao vs. Brian Ortega: Diego Brandao seems to have his legs back under him after a ghastly 2014, but the fast-rising Brian Ortega would love to earn a win over the former fringe Top 10 featherweight. 

Michael McDonald vs. Masanori Kanehara

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This is by far the most compelling fight that nobody is talking about.

Michael McDonald was one of the hottest names at 135 pounds. An eight-fight winning streak across Tachi Palace Fights, WEC and the UFC earned him a crack at the then-interim bantamweight title. Renan Barao would slap him back down in 2013, and Urijah Faber would do the same 10 months later, and he hasn't been seen since. 

Two years removed from that loss and with a number of injuries in the rearview mirror, he looks to right the ship by taking on an interesting foe, Japanese standout Masanori Kanehara. He is best known for either his 2009 win over Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto or his 2014 disqualification loss to Toshiaki Kitada for throwing his opponent out of the ring, but regardless, he is a compelling talent who deserves a straight fight in the cage following a controversial split-decision loss to Rani Yahya.

Both men have a lot riding on this fight, with McDonald needing to prove he remains a Top 10 name and Kanehara looking to secure a path to the top of the division. This one is tough to call, but when in doubt, pick the guy who has fought more than zero times in the last two years.

Prediction: Masanori Kanehara def. Michael McDonald by unanimous decision

Albert Tumenov vs. Lorenz Larkin

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That picture up there is Lorenz Larkin having his hand raised after beating then-Strikeforce middleweight Robbie Lawler. Not only did Larkin beat him, but he earned a unanimous 30-27 decision win following a relatively lopsided affair.

Larkin would have major issues after that but has addressed his woes by dropping down to the welterweight division and posting two impressive knockout wins. Needless to say, that seemingly unimportant fight from 2012 seems like a much bigger deal today.

If Larkin continues building a streak, he could start knocking on the door to a welterweight title shot. Albert Tumenov, however, doesn't want to be part of that story.

Tumenov is just 23 years old and already looks the part of a top welterweight, racking up a 4-1 UFC record (with three of those wins coming via knockout) since debuting in 2014. If he continues to win, he will be impossible for the UFC to ignore, but if he loses another one, that would be a major setback for him.

There are some serious long-term stakes here for the fighters to worry about, but it will be an absolute treat for fans in the short term. These are two men who have enormous stopping power, and this one could go either way. This may be different tomorrow, but right now, the prediction is...

Prediction: Lorenz Larkin def. Albert Tumenov by TKO in Round 2

Stipe Miocic vs. Andrei Arlovski

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Stipe Miocic is the new breed of heavyweight fighter. With foundations in boxing and wrestling, he has the ability to end fights both standing and on the ground. With his legitimate athleticism, he can also push less gifted opponents to their breaking points and charge through them.

Andrei Arlovski is the old breed yet redefined. A former UFC champion, he has already been to the top of the mountain and fought more than a few all-time greats along the way. While he hit the skids after leaving the UFC in 2008, he has turned his career around in a profound way over the last few years, breaking off a six-fight winning streak where he has shown new wrinkles to his established attack, courtesy of his coach, Greg Jackson.

Both men are at their peaks right now, and it will be a treat to see whose is higher.

Miocic is the safer bet, given his more well-rounded attack. That said, there is no denying Arlovski's veteran savvy or pure power. This could go in either direction.

Prediction: Stipe Miocic def. Andrei Arlovski by TKO in Round 3

Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit

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Robbie Lawler. UFC champion. Hyper-violent.

Carlos Condit. Former WEC champion. Former interim UFC champion. Hyper-violent.

This is the kind of fight that MMA fans crave. Two men known for their ability to destroy other human beings with a level of efficiency that borders on the unnatural. Rarely do their fights end in anything other than a bloodbath.

This fight is tough to predict since both men have an excellent offensive game, sturdy chins and, most of all, veteran smarts. When in doubt, though, one must always lean on the champ. 

Prediction: Robbie Lawler def. Carlos Condit by unanimous decision