UFC 200: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Predictions

It's been a rough week, but UFC 200 is almost upon us! 

In about 24 hours, a who's who of top UFC talent will enter the cage, ranging from elite prospects to fan favorites to current champions to all-time legends. While the card is full of names from top to bottom, the Bleacher Report predictions team is going to bottle up their enthusiasm and stay focused on the main card, which reads as follows:

• Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes
• Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt
• Daniel Cormier vs. Anderson Silva
• Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar
• Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne

Given everything that's happened in the last 48 hours, things could change before the start time on Saturday. But for now, check out the Bleacher Report main card staff predictions. And for later? Keep those fingers crossed.

Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne

Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Sydnie Jones

I'm not sure of Las Vegas' elevation, but it has to be way closer to sea level than Mexico City. Cain Velasquez's loss to Fabricio Werdum last year isn't indicative of his potential, and although Browne has a six-inch height advantage, he won't have much for the former champ.

Velasquez, KO, Round 2

Craig Amos

Even though Velasquez is coming off a loss, this bout doesn't look competitive. The former champion will re-establish his title prospects by soundly defeating Browne early in the fight.

Velasquez, TKO, Rd. 2

Nathan McCarter

If Velasquez is healthy, this shouldn’t be much of a fight. Browne has no edge in this one. Velasquez has outstruck better strikers and is the better grappler. Browne is going to put all his eggs into the one-punch KO basket...and Velasquez is going to run over the basket like a freight train.

Velasquez, TKO, Rd. 2

Scott Harris

I'm looking forward to a return to form from Velasquez. I just don't see it happening any other way. Browne is a big guy, even by heavyweight standards, but Velasquez will get takedowns and punish him from the top. This could get bloody.

Velasquez, TKO, Rd. 2

Steven Rondina

I have nothing else to add. Either Velasquez bounces back from yet another physical calamity with an impressive win, or he doesn't, and the official slide toward retirement begins.

Velasquez, submission, Rd. 2

Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar 2

Associated Press

Jones

Frankie Edgar has been on a tear the last few years, and he's a great fighter. However, Aldo's loss to Conor McGregor hasn't broken him. He's a smart, versatile fighter and obviously hard to catch, and he'll use that in his return to the Octagon to stay out of Edgar's reach.

Aldo, unanimous decision

Amos

Unless Aldo has become a different fighter since losing to McGregor, I don't see the outcome of this bout being any different than the first time these two squared off. Edgar has been on some kind of a roll, but Aldo is on another level than any opponent The Answer has defeated during his five-fight win streak.

Aldo, unanimous decision

McCarter

This was a spectacular fight the first time around, and I expect more of the same in the rematch. These are two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport’s history. It’s so difficult to pick a winner, but that’s what I’m here to do. So I’ll take Aldo. The leg kicks will be the difference as they moderately slow Edgar down enough to take heavy punches. Aldo gets by on another narrow decision.

Aldo, unanimous decision

Harris

On a stacked card and weekend, this may be the fight that is falling through the cracks. It's a great one. Aldo will put the memory of McGregor behind him and everyone else, using his defense and efficiency to outpoint Edgar and stave off a late charge from The Answer.

Aldo, unanimous decision

Rondina

Aldo's mental state seems to be one of the most under-discussed stories in MMA. In this world of Ronda Rousey meltdowns and Anderson Silva legacy suicides, Aldo actually seems ready to return from his loss with a renewed mean streak. His run back to the top starts here with a beatdown of Edgar.

Aldo, unanimous decision

Daniel Cormier vs. Anderson Silva

Associated Press

Jones 

Given Anderson Silva's super short-notice acceptance and his statement that he hasn't been training hard for a few months, I'm not confident his natural abilities will be enough to best the champion who has been training for months and has had a full camp. That doesn't detract from the bizarre appeal this fight has, though.

Cormier, TKO, Rd. 2

Amos

Silva's name still carries a lot of weight, but this is not a close fight. Daniel Cormier will win with little difficulty, taking the former middleweight champion down and beating him up on the canvas until he earns a stoppage.

Cormier, TKO, Rd. 3

McCarter

It's possible Anderson may pull off something straight out of Mortal Kombat, but it's also not likely at all. Cormier may flatten him with a big overhand, but I'd wager Silva is going for a ride...or four. He'll be rag-dolled and pummeled until the referee stops the fight. Cormier is just way too big and strong from top in this matchup. Michael Bisping can breathe a sigh of relief too.

Cormier, TKO, Rd. 2

Harris

Silva deserves respect for stepping in on short notice. He'll get a nice boost in his Q rating and bank account, but he's not going to win this fight barring a total collapse from Cormier. The latter is bigger, younger, probably in better shape, a far better wrestler and foaming at the mouth in the wake of this Jon Jones fiasco.

Cormier, TKO, Rd. 2

Rondina

In his prime, Silva struggled to handle wrestlers. In his prime, he wasn't really big enough to hack it against light heavyweight grapplers. In his prime, he probably couldn't have handled a guy like Cormier.

Now? He doesn't stand a chance. 

Cormier, submission, Rd. 1

Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt

JP Yim/Getty Images

Jones

Brock Lesnar's four-and-a-half-year hiatus is a serious consideration here. He looks like he could stop virtually anyone with a well-placed glare, never mind his actual fighting. But Mark Hunt is so often seemingly impervious to pain and having his bell rung that I'm not sure Lesnar will be able to stop him before Hunt finds the one strike he needs to drop the wrestler.

And while he's huge in both height and physique, Lesnar isn't even the tallest opponent Hunt has faced. Stefan Struve had a whopping 14 inches on Hunt and still couldn't land much. Different fighters, different bodies, different games, sure. But Hunt is a 32-fight, 12-year veteran for a reason. I believe in him.

Hunt, KO, Round 1 

Amos

Since 2011, Hunt has only lost to the heavyweight division's upper echelon. Is Lesnar a part of that? He's a gifted athlete and has shown a will belying his origins as a WWE Superstar, but he hasn't won a fight in almost six years and hasn't even fought for more than four. Coming back against Hunt just isn't a promising proposition.

Hunt, TKO, Rd. 3

McCarter

There is no question Hunt can turn off Lesnar’s lights with one punch, especially considering the deceptive speed of his left hand. Hunt is a much more skilled and polished striker, but Lesnar is a better athlete and wrestler. I’m siding with him. Hunt’s takedown defense has gotten better, but it’s still nothing to write home about. Once Lesnar completes the takedown, he is going to maul Hunt until the referee saves The Super Samoan.

Lesnar, TKO, Rd. 2

Harris

Yes, yes, Lesnar doesn't like to be hit. But if Hunt falls on the canvas and gets held there, does it really matter? The Beast puts Hunt on his back early and often, neutralizing Hunt's power and reminding us all why he's such an interesting fighter.

Lesnar, unanimous decision

Rondina

Anyone saying Lesnar has no chance needs to go back and look up Hunt's fight with Stipe Miocic, where he was mauled by a smaller, less athletic, less accomplished wrestler than Lesnar. If Hunt can't get the early takedown, he's going to get bullied around the cage.

Lesnar, unanimous decision

Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Jones

Miesha Tate is a durable fighter with solid wrestling that's difficult to counter, but Amanda Nunes is an aggressive, faster-paced fighter. Nunes' record suggests she's loath to let fights go the distance, and with the title on the line, she'll bring that aggression in this one. But Tate, after so many years, finally has the title, and she's gritted her teeth through more than one victory, seemingly on sheer will. Nunes is a powerful striker, but Tate has enough experience and her wrestling is strong enough that she'll nullify the Brazilian's strengths.

Tate, split decision

Amos

Nunes is a remarkably gifted fighter for about a round-and-a-half. Then she's ordinary. My in-depth prediction is Nunes takes Round 1, edges out Round 2, loses Round 3 and is finished in Round 4.

Tate, submission, Rd. 4

McCarter

Nunes will have to catch Tate early in the fight if she wants to claim gold. As the fight draws on, Tate will only become stronger. She will put Nunes on her back repeatedly until the Brazilian gasses. Eventually, the submission will come. It’s too big a stage for Nunes at this juncture against a crafty vet like Tate.

Tate, submission, Rd. 3

Harris

Nunes is out of her league here. She'll come out firing, but after the adrenaline dump, which Tate should survive, Nunes will be vulnerable to the champ's wrestling. Nunes will go the distance, but this one won't be close. It may also be boring, but Tate will retain her title.

Tate, unanimous decision

Rondina

If this fight was three rounds, there's a good chance Nunes wins on the scorecards in the same way she beat Valentina Shevchenko. Unless Nunes can draw the stoppage, though, Tate should out-scrap her in the later rounds and take a decision.

Tate, unanimous decision