UFC 205 Predictions
from Victoria Barnett - UFC VIP Experience
Alvarez vs. McGregor
Our prediction: McGregor via KO/TKO in the 2nd Round
Coming off a big win at UFC 202, McGregor is back and hungry for more. He’s once again moving weight classes to fight Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title. They’re both brilliant and aggressive fighters with solid records so this has the potential to be a really interesting fight. At this point, it’s kind of hard to bet against McGregor, especially when he has all the momentum.
McGregor seems to think he will knock Alvarez out in the first round, but we think Alvarez can hold on until at least the second. In the first round, they’ll likely just be feeling each other out. However, as time goes on, Alvarez will likely start to get impatient and begin throwing some hard punches, whereas McGregor will be doing a lot of countering, to his advantage of course. If this occurs, we could see Alvarez out before we know it.
Woodley vs. Thompson
Our prediction: Thompson via Decision
Tyron Woodley will be defending his welterweight title for the first time against Stephen Thompson, and we definitely see it going the distance. Woodley is coming off a first round knockout against Robbie Lawler at UFC 201, but does this show he can beat Thompson? We don’t think so.
Woodley has a monster of a right, but Thompson has the reach to keep a good distance. Woodley will likely start to gas out by the third or fourth round, which will definitely affect his power, giving Thompson the advantage in the grand scheme of things. Plus, considering how often the belts have been swapping hands this year, we think the trend will continue. It might take him all five rounds, but we see Thompson coming out on top.
Jedrzejczyk vs. Kowalkiewicz
Our prediction: Jedrzejczyk via Decision
This is one fight where we don’t think the belt will swap hands. We’re pretty confident Jedrzejczyk will continue to hold onto the belt as she defends it for the fourth time. Kowalkiewicz will still put up a good fight though, so we aren’t underestimating her capability to take the title from Jedrzejczyk; hence the reason we see this fight going all five rounds. It’s going to be quite the battle.
Gastelum vs. Cerrone
Our prediction: Cerrone via Submission in the 2nd Round
Donald Cerrone has been around for quite a while compared to Kelvin Gastelum. He is currently coming off of a 3-fight win streak, with his most recent win at UFC 202 against Rick Story. Gastelum is coming off a big win against Johnny Hendricks at UFC 200 but prior to had not fought since November of 2015 where he lost to Neil Magny.
Cerrone has the advantage in a few categories, one being that submissions are his strength. We see the two fighters going late into the second round, but think Cerrone will end it via submission.
Weidman vs. Romero
Our prediction: Romero via KO/TKO in the 2nd Round
Chris Weidman was one of the leading UFC fighters to get MMA legalized in New York, so it’s great to see him on the Main Card against Yoel Romero. Weidman has not fought since UFC 194 where he suffered a devastating loss to Luke Rockhold and had to relinquish his belt. Interestingly enough, Romero’s last fight was also at UFC 194 where he landed his seventh victory in a row against Ronaldo Souza. Both have knockout power, but we think Romero has the heart and hunger necessary to get the job done in the late second round.
Tate vs. Pennington
Our prediction: Tate via Submission in the 3rd Round
Last, but certainly not least, Miesha Tate will fight for the first time after her shocking loss to Amanda Nunes for the Bantamweight title. We’ve been wondering when Tate would make a return to the ring, and now we will see her face off against Raquel Pennington. Although Pennington is coming off a three-win streak, her aggression could very well be her downfall. Tate knows how to use her opponents’ momentum against them, so we could see her taking a missed punch and bringing Pennington to the ground for a win via submission.
from Victoria Barnett - UFC VIP Experience
Alvarez vs. McGregor
Our prediction: McGregor via KO/TKO in the 2nd Round
Coming off a big win at UFC 202, McGregor is back and hungry for more. He’s once again moving weight classes to fight Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title. They’re both brilliant and aggressive fighters with solid records so this has the potential to be a really interesting fight. At this point, it’s kind of hard to bet against McGregor, especially when he has all the momentum.
McGregor seems to think he will knock Alvarez out in the first round, but we think Alvarez can hold on until at least the second. In the first round, they’ll likely just be feeling each other out. However, as time goes on, Alvarez will likely start to get impatient and begin throwing some hard punches, whereas McGregor will be doing a lot of countering, to his advantage of course. If this occurs, we could see Alvarez out before we know it.
Woodley vs. Thompson
Our prediction: Thompson via Decision
Tyron Woodley will be defending his welterweight title for the first time against Stephen Thompson, and we definitely see it going the distance. Woodley is coming off a first round knockout against Robbie Lawler at UFC 201, but does this show he can beat Thompson? We don’t think so.
Woodley has a monster of a right, but Thompson has the reach to keep a good distance. Woodley will likely start to gas out by the third or fourth round, which will definitely affect his power, giving Thompson the advantage in the grand scheme of things. Plus, considering how often the belts have been swapping hands this year, we think the trend will continue. It might take him all five rounds, but we see Thompson coming out on top.
Jedrzejczyk vs. Kowalkiewicz
Our prediction: Jedrzejczyk via Decision
This is one fight where we don’t think the belt will swap hands. We’re pretty confident Jedrzejczyk will continue to hold onto the belt as she defends it for the fourth time. Kowalkiewicz will still put up a good fight though, so we aren’t underestimating her capability to take the title from Jedrzejczyk; hence the reason we see this fight going all five rounds. It’s going to be quite the battle.
Gastelum vs. Cerrone
Our prediction: Cerrone via Submission in the 2nd Round
Donald Cerrone has been around for quite a while compared to Kelvin Gastelum. He is currently coming off of a 3-fight win streak, with his most recent win at UFC 202 against Rick Story. Gastelum is coming off a big win against Johnny Hendricks at UFC 200 but prior to had not fought since November of 2015 where he lost to Neil Magny.
Cerrone has the advantage in a few categories, one being that submissions are his strength. We see the two fighters going late into the second round, but think Cerrone will end it via submission.
Weidman vs. Romero
Our prediction: Romero via KO/TKO in the 2nd Round
Chris Weidman was one of the leading UFC fighters to get MMA legalized in New York, so it’s great to see him on the Main Card against Yoel Romero. Weidman has not fought since UFC 194 where he suffered a devastating loss to Luke Rockhold and had to relinquish his belt. Interestingly enough, Romero’s last fight was also at UFC 194 where he landed his seventh victory in a row against Ronaldo Souza. Both have knockout power, but we think Romero has the heart and hunger necessary to get the job done in the late second round.
Tate vs. Pennington
Our prediction: Tate via Submission in the 3rd Round
Last, but certainly not least, Miesha Tate will fight for the first time after her shocking loss to Amanda Nunes for the Bantamweight title. We’ve been wondering when Tate would make a return to the ring, and now we will see her face off against Raquel Pennington. Although Pennington is coming off a three-win streak, her aggression could very well be her downfall. Tate knows how to use her opponents’ momentum against them, so we could see her taking a missed punch and bringing Pennington to the ground for a win via submission.
UFC 205: Full Card Preview and Predictions
from Steven Rondina - Bleacher Report
Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian
The first woman to ever step into the Octagon as a competitor Liz Carmouche is back after an 18-month layoff. Her opponent? Katlyn Chookagian (8-0). Neither woman has been especially inspiring to this point, but both have some upside: Carmouche still owns a bit of name value, and Chookagian's undefeated record is a valuable promotional tool. That said...don't expect this to be exciting.
Jim Miller vs. Thiago Alves
Jim Miller is on a two-fight winning streak in 2016, and Thiago Alves is a lightweight. What a time to be alive! This should be a fun fight between two veterans who are known for exciting performances. Who wins likely comes down to Alves' cut down to 155 pounds. If it doesn't take too much out of him, this could be a slam dunk for him. If his energy gets sapped, though, things could get dicey.
Tim Boetsch vs. Rafael Natal
Tim Boetsch vs. Rafael Natal is the ultimate gatekeeper vs. gatekeeper fight, making this a low-stakes bout that is tough to get excited for. That said, chances are that Boetsch lands something heavy and scores a big knockout.
Tim Kennedy vs. Rashad Evans
This is a battle between two men who have beaten reigning middleweight champ Michael Bisping. As a result, this is a fairly high-stakes bout. Unfortunately, Evans is 37 years old, coming off a devastating knockout loss and is dropping to 185 pounds for the first time in his career. The odds feel stacked against his returning to form here.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Michael Johnson
The UFC did sambo master Khabib Nurmagomedov dirty when they sent him a fake bout agreement for a title fight with main eventer Eddie Alvarez, and it's not too keen on rebuilding bridges based on this fight. He faces Michael Johnson, who has some formidable grappling skills and a great deal of power in his striking as well. Khabib is the favorite here, but this fight has upset written all over it.
Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Frankie Edgar lost his shot at Red Panty Night at UFC 200 when he came up short against Jose Aldo. That leaves him spinning his wheels for the foreseeable future. He'll face fringe Top 10 vet Jeremy Stephens in a fight that feels like busywork for the former champ.
Miesha Tate vs. Raquel Pennington
Miesha Tate is back after her disappointing title loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200. Her path to gold restarts here against former protege Raquel Pennington.
Pennington kicked off her UFC career as a member of Team Tate on The Ultimate Fighter season 18, defeating Tonya Evinger and Jessamyn Duke before losing to Jessica Rakoczy in the semifinals. She has since carved out a niche as an above-average bantamweight, sitting along the fringes of the Top 10.
This fight will boil down to savvy and scrappiness...and that's most certainly a scenario that favors the former champ.
Donald Cerrone vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Unfortunately, UFC 205 will not host a dream match between Donald Cerrone and former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. Instead, it gets the good-but-not-great matchup of Cerrone opposite Kelvin Gastelum.
The veteran Cerrone has been lights out since moving to the welterweight division but faces a stiff test in the young, hungry Gastelum. Both men have proved to be dynamic, well-rounded fighters, and both have a history of being slow starters. With only three rounds to work, that makes this one a bit of a toss-up.
Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero
Chris Weidman is back for the first time since dropping the middleweight strap to Luke Rockhold at UFC 194 in Dec. 2015. Yoel Romero is back for the first time since his failed drug test earlier this year. Now they face off with a shot at the title possibly being on the line.
Both men are known for their powerful wrestling and stopping power. Weidman is the superior all-around fighter due to his more refined striking game, but Romero's pure speed and explosiveness can fell any foe in the blink of an eye. Once again, this is a tough-to-call match between two high-level fighters.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (12-0), Karolina Kowalkiewicz (10-0)
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is quickly becoming one of the most popular fighters among hardcore fans in the UFC, and for good reason. Inside the cage, she is a savage with a beautifully refined striking game. Outside the cage, she has become one of the best fighters in the business in terms of making the most of her time on camera.
That popularity has the UFC putting her on the biggest stages possible, and UFC 205 could be the biggest one yet. Unfortunately, she faces a deceptively stiff challenge in Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
Before joining the UFC, Kowalkiewicz was the toast of the Polish MMA circuit. Despite being relatively young in her career, she rode her solid striking game to victory over some stiff competition.
Her skills, of course, have held up in the UFC. She started her UFC career with good wins over TUF20 alum Randa Markos and Heather Jo Clark and then squeaked past Rose Namajunas at UFC 201 in a gutsy effort. While she hasn't dominated an opponent in a long while, she has demonstrated an ability to adjust to foes and implement her own game.
That makes this fight with Jedrzejczyk an interesting one. While the champ has largely been dominant to this point in her MMA career, she has done so at the expense of competition with a relatively limited, grappling-focused toolset. Kowalkiewicz, however, will attack her as a striker, a scenario the champ hasn't yet faced.
This has the makings of a competitive fight. That said, it's impossible to pick against the champ these days.
Prediction: Jedrzejczyk defeats Kowalkiewicz by unanimous decision.
Tyron Woodley (16-3), Stephen Thompson (13-1)
Tyron Woodley was angling for a big money fight when he took the welterweight title from Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 but is settling for a regular money fight on a big money event instead. That, however, could backfire on him in a big way.
The reason? He is facing Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.
Thompson, inexplicably, has been completely ignored by UFC decision-makers, and the former kickboxer lacks the gift of gab to make up for it. His in-cage work, however, has spoken for itself to the point where this is a hotly anticipated contest.
Since 2013, Thompson is 7-0 opposite elite competition including Johny Hendricks and Robert Whittaker. Along the way, he has established himself as arguably the best striker in MMA today and, more importantly, as a fighter who has all the tools to keep the fight where his strengths shine.
Woodley, despite being the champ, is something of an unknown at this point. He was a fairly accomplished NCAA wrestler in his day and has dynamite in his right hand. That said, inconsistency has defined his UFC career to this point.
While he posts the occasional huge knockout, his losses to Rory MacDonald and Jake Shields highlighted several weaknesses in his overall game. His last fight before his title shot was a narrow split-decision win over Kelvin Gastelum (which came a day after the youngster was hospitalized). The biggest name Woodley has beaten, Carlos Condit, was felled by a fluke knee injury rather than a legitimate offensive blitz from the current champ.
This is a unique bout in that way, as the hotshot challenger is more thoroughly established as an elite fighter. Because of that, it feels like this one is bound to end with an "and new."
Prediction: Thompson defeats Woodley by unanimous decision.
Eddie Alvarez (28-4), Conor McGregor (20-3)
Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor is the ultimate battle for MMA's soul.
Alvarez is the perfect embodiment of what MMA was. He's a wrestler-turned-mixed martial artist. A product of the regional and international scene. A meat-and-potatoes family man.
McGregor is what MMA has become. He's a flashy striker with a karate background. A product of social media who became a national hero as the sport became more mainstream. A blend of equal parts camera-friendly swagger and competitive legitimacy.
The contrast is no less profound in the cage. McGregor sprints to a knockout, pressing forward and peppering foes with kicks before landing his signature left hand. Alvarez fights are much more dynamic, with the champ capable of challenging any opponent at range, on the ground or in the clinch.
Who will win is a tough question to answer because both men, despite being champions, have shown weaknesses that benefit the other.
Alvarez has been staggered in many of his recent fights, which opens the door for an early knockout win for McGregor. On the other hand, McGregor's UFC 202 fight with Nate Diaz cast doubt on his gas tank, making it easy to wonder if Alvarez might take control of this bout down the stretch.
Alvarez's fight against Donald Cerrone begged the question of whether he had the right tools to go after long opponents. McGregor, meanwhile, still has people discussing whether he can handle a good wrestler.
This fight is compelling in large part because of how many unknowns are at play. It could end in any way and at any time. The best way for fans to approach it would be to sit back, relax and enjoy. Anyone desperate for a prediction will have to accept a shaky...
Prediction: McGregor defeats Alvarez by TKO in Round 2.
from Steven Rondina - Bleacher Report
Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian
The first woman to ever step into the Octagon as a competitor Liz Carmouche is back after an 18-month layoff. Her opponent? Katlyn Chookagian (8-0). Neither woman has been especially inspiring to this point, but both have some upside: Carmouche still owns a bit of name value, and Chookagian's undefeated record is a valuable promotional tool. That said...don't expect this to be exciting.
Jim Miller vs. Thiago Alves
Jim Miller is on a two-fight winning streak in 2016, and Thiago Alves is a lightweight. What a time to be alive! This should be a fun fight between two veterans who are known for exciting performances. Who wins likely comes down to Alves' cut down to 155 pounds. If it doesn't take too much out of him, this could be a slam dunk for him. If his energy gets sapped, though, things could get dicey.
Tim Boetsch vs. Rafael Natal
Tim Boetsch vs. Rafael Natal is the ultimate gatekeeper vs. gatekeeper fight, making this a low-stakes bout that is tough to get excited for. That said, chances are that Boetsch lands something heavy and scores a big knockout.
Tim Kennedy vs. Rashad Evans
This is a battle between two men who have beaten reigning middleweight champ Michael Bisping. As a result, this is a fairly high-stakes bout. Unfortunately, Evans is 37 years old, coming off a devastating knockout loss and is dropping to 185 pounds for the first time in his career. The odds feel stacked against his returning to form here.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Michael Johnson
The UFC did sambo master Khabib Nurmagomedov dirty when they sent him a fake bout agreement for a title fight with main eventer Eddie Alvarez, and it's not too keen on rebuilding bridges based on this fight. He faces Michael Johnson, who has some formidable grappling skills and a great deal of power in his striking as well. Khabib is the favorite here, but this fight has upset written all over it.
Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Frankie Edgar lost his shot at Red Panty Night at UFC 200 when he came up short against Jose Aldo. That leaves him spinning his wheels for the foreseeable future. He'll face fringe Top 10 vet Jeremy Stephens in a fight that feels like busywork for the former champ.
Miesha Tate vs. Raquel Pennington
Miesha Tate is back after her disappointing title loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200. Her path to gold restarts here against former protege Raquel Pennington.
Pennington kicked off her UFC career as a member of Team Tate on The Ultimate Fighter season 18, defeating Tonya Evinger and Jessamyn Duke before losing to Jessica Rakoczy in the semifinals. She has since carved out a niche as an above-average bantamweight, sitting along the fringes of the Top 10.
This fight will boil down to savvy and scrappiness...and that's most certainly a scenario that favors the former champ.
Donald Cerrone vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Unfortunately, UFC 205 will not host a dream match between Donald Cerrone and former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. Instead, it gets the good-but-not-great matchup of Cerrone opposite Kelvin Gastelum.
The veteran Cerrone has been lights out since moving to the welterweight division but faces a stiff test in the young, hungry Gastelum. Both men have proved to be dynamic, well-rounded fighters, and both have a history of being slow starters. With only three rounds to work, that makes this one a bit of a toss-up.
Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero
Chris Weidman is back for the first time since dropping the middleweight strap to Luke Rockhold at UFC 194 in Dec. 2015. Yoel Romero is back for the first time since his failed drug test earlier this year. Now they face off with a shot at the title possibly being on the line.
Both men are known for their powerful wrestling and stopping power. Weidman is the superior all-around fighter due to his more refined striking game, but Romero's pure speed and explosiveness can fell any foe in the blink of an eye. Once again, this is a tough-to-call match between two high-level fighters.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (12-0), Karolina Kowalkiewicz (10-0)
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is quickly becoming one of the most popular fighters among hardcore fans in the UFC, and for good reason. Inside the cage, she is a savage with a beautifully refined striking game. Outside the cage, she has become one of the best fighters in the business in terms of making the most of her time on camera.
That popularity has the UFC putting her on the biggest stages possible, and UFC 205 could be the biggest one yet. Unfortunately, she faces a deceptively stiff challenge in Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
Before joining the UFC, Kowalkiewicz was the toast of the Polish MMA circuit. Despite being relatively young in her career, she rode her solid striking game to victory over some stiff competition.
Her skills, of course, have held up in the UFC. She started her UFC career with good wins over TUF20 alum Randa Markos and Heather Jo Clark and then squeaked past Rose Namajunas at UFC 201 in a gutsy effort. While she hasn't dominated an opponent in a long while, she has demonstrated an ability to adjust to foes and implement her own game.
That makes this fight with Jedrzejczyk an interesting one. While the champ has largely been dominant to this point in her MMA career, she has done so at the expense of competition with a relatively limited, grappling-focused toolset. Kowalkiewicz, however, will attack her as a striker, a scenario the champ hasn't yet faced.
This has the makings of a competitive fight. That said, it's impossible to pick against the champ these days.
Prediction: Jedrzejczyk defeats Kowalkiewicz by unanimous decision.
Tyron Woodley (16-3), Stephen Thompson (13-1)
Tyron Woodley was angling for a big money fight when he took the welterweight title from Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 but is settling for a regular money fight on a big money event instead. That, however, could backfire on him in a big way.
The reason? He is facing Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.
Thompson, inexplicably, has been completely ignored by UFC decision-makers, and the former kickboxer lacks the gift of gab to make up for it. His in-cage work, however, has spoken for itself to the point where this is a hotly anticipated contest.
Since 2013, Thompson is 7-0 opposite elite competition including Johny Hendricks and Robert Whittaker. Along the way, he has established himself as arguably the best striker in MMA today and, more importantly, as a fighter who has all the tools to keep the fight where his strengths shine.
Woodley, despite being the champ, is something of an unknown at this point. He was a fairly accomplished NCAA wrestler in his day and has dynamite in his right hand. That said, inconsistency has defined his UFC career to this point.
While he posts the occasional huge knockout, his losses to Rory MacDonald and Jake Shields highlighted several weaknesses in his overall game. His last fight before his title shot was a narrow split-decision win over Kelvin Gastelum (which came a day after the youngster was hospitalized). The biggest name Woodley has beaten, Carlos Condit, was felled by a fluke knee injury rather than a legitimate offensive blitz from the current champ.
This is a unique bout in that way, as the hotshot challenger is more thoroughly established as an elite fighter. Because of that, it feels like this one is bound to end with an "and new."
Prediction: Thompson defeats Woodley by unanimous decision.
Eddie Alvarez (28-4), Conor McGregor (20-3)
Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor is the ultimate battle for MMA's soul.
Alvarez is the perfect embodiment of what MMA was. He's a wrestler-turned-mixed martial artist. A product of the regional and international scene. A meat-and-potatoes family man.
McGregor is what MMA has become. He's a flashy striker with a karate background. A product of social media who became a national hero as the sport became more mainstream. A blend of equal parts camera-friendly swagger and competitive legitimacy.
The contrast is no less profound in the cage. McGregor sprints to a knockout, pressing forward and peppering foes with kicks before landing his signature left hand. Alvarez fights are much more dynamic, with the champ capable of challenging any opponent at range, on the ground or in the clinch.
Who will win is a tough question to answer because both men, despite being champions, have shown weaknesses that benefit the other.
Alvarez has been staggered in many of his recent fights, which opens the door for an early knockout win for McGregor. On the other hand, McGregor's UFC 202 fight with Nate Diaz cast doubt on his gas tank, making it easy to wonder if Alvarez might take control of this bout down the stretch.
Alvarez's fight against Donald Cerrone begged the question of whether he had the right tools to go after long opponents. McGregor, meanwhile, still has people discussing whether he can handle a good wrestler.
This fight is compelling in large part because of how many unknowns are at play. It could end in any way and at any time. The best way for fans to approach it would be to sit back, relax and enjoy. Anyone desperate for a prediction will have to accept a shaky...
Prediction: McGregor defeats Alvarez by TKO in Round 2.
Vicente Luque replaces Lyman Good at UFC 205 in New York City
After losing his original matchup, Belal Muhammad has a new opponent for UFC 205.
As reported on Monday, Muhammad’s original opponent, welterweight Lyman Good has been removed from the card due to a potential anti-doping violation, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Vicente Luque (10-5-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has stepped in as a replacement, UFC officials today confirmed with newsday.com.
After losing his original matchup, Belal Muhammad has a new opponent for UFC 205.
As reported on Monday, Muhammad’s original opponent, welterweight Lyman Good has been removed from the card due to a potential anti-doping violation, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Vicente Luque (10-5-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has stepped in as a replacement, UFC officials today confirmed with newsday.com.
UFC 205 Cheat Sheet: Jim Miller versus Thiago Alves
Miller: 27-8 record (16-7 UFC); on two-fight win streak
Miller: 16 wins in UFC lightweight division tied for most all time with Gleison Tibau
Alves: 21-10 record (13-7 UFC); first fight since May 2015
Alves: 11 knockdowns landed in UFC fights, tied for eighth most all time
Breakdown
Alves said it in plain English: He's looking forward to fighting opponents with less reach.
His knockout power stacked up fine at 170 pounds, but the same wasn't always true of his frame. That doesn't mean he wasn't (or still couldn't be) effective at that weight, but you can't blame him for dropping down.
Although he has expressed confidence, it's worth asking how that cut to 155 will go. Miller likely will look to set a high pace on the bigger man and his grappling can be deadly, especially if his opponent tires. He does have a tendency to get into prolonged exchanges, which is good for his entertainment value but perhaps bad against a dangerous finisher like Alves.
PREDICTION: Miller by third-round submission.
Miller: 27-8 record (16-7 UFC); on two-fight win streak
Miller: 16 wins in UFC lightweight division tied for most all time with Gleison Tibau
Alves: 21-10 record (13-7 UFC); first fight since May 2015
Alves: 11 knockdowns landed in UFC fights, tied for eighth most all time
Breakdown
Alves said it in plain English: He's looking forward to fighting opponents with less reach.
His knockout power stacked up fine at 170 pounds, but the same wasn't always true of his frame. That doesn't mean he wasn't (or still couldn't be) effective at that weight, but you can't blame him for dropping down.
Although he has expressed confidence, it's worth asking how that cut to 155 will go. Miller likely will look to set a high pace on the bigger man and his grappling can be deadly, especially if his opponent tires. He does have a tendency to get into prolonged exchanges, which is good for his entertainment value but perhaps bad against a dangerous finisher like Alves.
PREDICTION: Miller by third-round submission.
UFC 205 Cheat Sheet: Rafael Natal vs. Tim Boetsch
Natal: 21-7-1 record (9-5-1 UFC); four-fight winning streak snapped in last fight
Natal: 36 takedowns in UFC competition, most all-time in middleweight division
Boetsch: 19-10 record (10-9 UFC); 14 of 19 wins by stoppage
Boetsch: Lands 53 percent of significant strikes in UFC middleweight fights, sixth-highest among active UFC middleweights
Breakdown
Natal isn't kidding when he says he couldn't get Whittaker down. He struggled to get anything going in that last fight, and his decision to take time off and evolve speaks to that.
Boetsch doesn't have the same steady kickboxing approach that gave Natal so much trouble. His output is way lower, but he has a good deal of one-punch knockout power. Natal performs better when he's not on his back foot the whole time, which shouldn't be the case against the heavy-handed but at times lumbering style of Boetsch.
A lot hinges on Natal's ability, or lack thereof, to avoid the big shot. He's durable and will probably have an advantage with judges simply because he does more, but Boetsch is a bigger threat for a KO.
PREDICTION: Natal via decision.
Natal: 21-7-1 record (9-5-1 UFC); four-fight winning streak snapped in last fight
Natal: 36 takedowns in UFC competition, most all-time in middleweight division
Boetsch: 19-10 record (10-9 UFC); 14 of 19 wins by stoppage
Boetsch: Lands 53 percent of significant strikes in UFC middleweight fights, sixth-highest among active UFC middleweights
Breakdown
Natal isn't kidding when he says he couldn't get Whittaker down. He struggled to get anything going in that last fight, and his decision to take time off and evolve speaks to that.
Boetsch doesn't have the same steady kickboxing approach that gave Natal so much trouble. His output is way lower, but he has a good deal of one-punch knockout power. Natal performs better when he's not on his back foot the whole time, which shouldn't be the case against the heavy-handed but at times lumbering style of Boetsch.
A lot hinges on Natal's ability, or lack thereof, to avoid the big shot. He's durable and will probably have an advantage with judges simply because he does more, but Boetsch is a bigger threat for a KO.
PREDICTION: Natal via decision.
UFC 205 Cheat Sheet: Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian
Carmouche: 10-5 record (2-3 in UFC); past three fights have gone to decision (1-2 record)
Carmouche: 11 takedowns landed in past four fights
Chookagian: 8-0 record (1-0 in UFC); five of eight wins by decision
Chookagian: Defended three of four takedowns in UFC debut (UD3 over Lauren Murphy)
Breakdown
This bout sets up as a potential passing of the torch for contender status within the division -- unless it's just too early for Chookagian.
Carmouche will battle a size disadvantage, which could make things especially difficult as grappling is her clearest path to victory. Chookagian is a mobile, high-paced striker with a jab that is pretty efficient at maintaining the distance she wants.
What Carmouche lacks in size at this weight, she makes up for in strength. Chookagian also doesn't carry a lot of knockout power, which means there's a solid chance Carmouche will get a full 15 minutes to work her takedowns. If you look over Carmouche's record, her toughest foes mostly have been bigger grapplers. Chookagian is definitely bigger, but her grappling is less proven.
PREDICTION: Chookagian by decision.
Carmouche: 10-5 record (2-3 in UFC); past three fights have gone to decision (1-2 record)
Carmouche: 11 takedowns landed in past four fights
Chookagian: 8-0 record (1-0 in UFC); five of eight wins by decision
Chookagian: Defended three of four takedowns in UFC debut (UD3 over Lauren Murphy)
Breakdown
This bout sets up as a potential passing of the torch for contender status within the division -- unless it's just too early for Chookagian.
Carmouche will battle a size disadvantage, which could make things especially difficult as grappling is her clearest path to victory. Chookagian is a mobile, high-paced striker with a jab that is pretty efficient at maintaining the distance she wants.
What Carmouche lacks in size at this weight, she makes up for in strength. Chookagian also doesn't carry a lot of knockout power, which means there's a solid chance Carmouche will get a full 15 minutes to work her takedowns. If you look over Carmouche's record, her toughest foes mostly have been bigger grapplers. Chookagian is definitely bigger, but her grappling is less proven.
PREDICTION: Chookagian by decision.
UFC 205 Cheat Sheet: Vicente Luque vs. Belal Muhammad
Luque: 10-5 record (3-1 UFC); three-fight win streak
Luque: Nine of 10 fights won by stoppage (four by knockout, five by submission)
Muhammad: 10-1 record (1-1 UFC); six of 10 wins by decision
Muhammad: five takedowns in two UFC fights
Breakdown
Luque offers a nice replacement for the UFC, as his fights tend to produce plenty of action.
He's a heavy hitter, with a fight-changing right hand and a solid repertoire of knees and elbows from his Muay Thai background. He's definitely more dangerous than Muhammad, but he was absolutely bottled up in his UFC debut against Michael Graves.
Muhammad is a busy boxer-wrestler who mixes in both attributes well enough. On the feet, he'll look to score and move. If Luque lands that right hand, expect Muhammad to turn into a wrestler real quick.
PREDICTION: Luque by first-round TKO.
Luque: 10-5 record (3-1 UFC); three-fight win streak
Luque: Nine of 10 fights won by stoppage (four by knockout, five by submission)
Muhammad: 10-1 record (1-1 UFC); six of 10 wins by decision
Muhammad: five takedowns in two UFC fights
Breakdown
Luque offers a nice replacement for the UFC, as his fights tend to produce plenty of action.
He's a heavy hitter, with a fight-changing right hand and a solid repertoire of knees and elbows from his Muay Thai background. He's definitely more dangerous than Muhammad, but he was absolutely bottled up in his UFC debut against Michael Graves.
Muhammad is a busy boxer-wrestler who mixes in both attributes well enough. On the feet, he'll look to score and move. If Luque lands that right hand, expect Muhammad to turn into a wrestler real quick.
PREDICTION: Luque by first-round TKO.
UFC 205 Cheat Sheet: Rashad Evans versus Tim Kennedy
Evans: 19-5-1 (14-5-1 UFC); middleweight debut
Evans: 50 takedowns in UFC career, eighth-most among active UFC fighters
Kennedy: 18-5 (3-1 UFC); first fight since Sep 2014
Kennedy: 14 of 18 wins by stoppage (7 by knockout, 7 by submission)
Breakdown
It's easy to talk yourself into an Evans win here. Kennedy has been away for two years, but more than that, Evans still seems like he's one right hand or left hook away from old magic.
The unfortunate truth is that minus one dominant performance against Chael Sonnen three years ago, Evans hasn't looked right in a while. What's interesting about that is that Sonnen is a middleweight, and if you listen to Evans's comments, he believes that's noteworthy. At light heavy, Evans was undersized. At middleweight, maybe he will look like that power wrestler his career was built on.
If that is to be the case though, this seems like a tough matchup for his middleweight entrance. Kennedy will not be an easy target for offensive wrestling, and even though Evans hits harder, Kennedy's chin is probably in better shape at this point. Evans has been a little gun-shy in recent years and the weight cut is a bit of an unknown. Early success with his wrestling would be a huge confidence boost.
Prediction: Kennedy by decision.
Evans: 19-5-1 (14-5-1 UFC); middleweight debut
Evans: 50 takedowns in UFC career, eighth-most among active UFC fighters
Kennedy: 18-5 (3-1 UFC); first fight since Sep 2014
Kennedy: 14 of 18 wins by stoppage (7 by knockout, 7 by submission)
Breakdown
It's easy to talk yourself into an Evans win here. Kennedy has been away for two years, but more than that, Evans still seems like he's one right hand or left hook away from old magic.
The unfortunate truth is that minus one dominant performance against Chael Sonnen three years ago, Evans hasn't looked right in a while. What's interesting about that is that Sonnen is a middleweight, and if you listen to Evans's comments, he believes that's noteworthy. At light heavy, Evans was undersized. At middleweight, maybe he will look like that power wrestler his career was built on.
If that is to be the case though, this seems like a tough matchup for his middleweight entrance. Kennedy will not be an easy target for offensive wrestling, and even though Evans hits harder, Kennedy's chin is probably in better shape at this point. Evans has been a little gun-shy in recent years and the weight cut is a bit of an unknown. Early success with his wrestling would be a huge confidence boost.
Prediction: Kennedy by decision.
UFC 205 Cheat Sheet: Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Michael Johnson
Nurmagomedov: 23-0 (7-0 UFC); scored a takedown in 5 of 7 UFC fights, including UFC-record 21 against Abel Trujillo.
Nurmagomedov: +146 significant strike advantage in UFC fights (270-124).
Johnson: 17-10 (9-6 UFC); 9 knockdowns landed is most in UFC lightweight history.
Johnson: 6 of 10 career losses by submission.
Breakdown
If anyone needed a reminder of the southpaw Johnson's knockout power, he provided it in his last fight. Johnson's hand speed rivals that of any opponent, and an 81 percent takedown defense in his UFC career jumps off the page, especially in this matchup.
Once Nurmagomedov sinks his hooks in, though, opponents are going nowhere fast. Johnson is pretty mobile and doesn't usually fight off the fence, but Nurmagomedov has a way of putting guys there.
Prediction: Nurmagomedov submission, third round.
Nurmagomedov: 23-0 (7-0 UFC); scored a takedown in 5 of 7 UFC fights, including UFC-record 21 against Abel Trujillo.
Nurmagomedov: +146 significant strike advantage in UFC fights (270-124).
Johnson: 17-10 (9-6 UFC); 9 knockdowns landed is most in UFC lightweight history.
Johnson: 6 of 10 career losses by submission.
Breakdown
If anyone needed a reminder of the southpaw Johnson's knockout power, he provided it in his last fight. Johnson's hand speed rivals that of any opponent, and an 81 percent takedown defense in his UFC career jumps off the page, especially in this matchup.
Once Nurmagomedov sinks his hooks in, though, opponents are going nowhere fast. Johnson is pretty mobile and doesn't usually fight off the fence, but Nurmagomedov has a way of putting guys there.
Prediction: Nurmagomedov submission, third round.
UFC 205 Cheat Sheet: Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Edgar: 20-5-1 record (14-5-1 UFC); 5-0 in non-title featherweight fights
Edgar: 1,871 total strikes landed in UFC competition, fifth most in UFC history
Stephens: 25-12 record (12-11 UFC); 17 of 25 wins by knockout
Stephens: Allowed six takedowns in past four UFC fights
Breakdown
Stephens' reputation is very much tied to his knockout power and although he has put in work to elevate the other areas of his game, it's no secret that power is his best attribute. Even he wouldn't deny that.
And against a former lightweight champion and two-time featherweight title challenger, that power is his greatest equalizer. Edgar had his wrestling neutralized by Aldo his last time out, but that's lightning that shouldn't strike twice here. Stephens doesn't have a hole in his defensive wrestling, but the feints, footwork and timed shots of Edgar will give him a lot to think about. And Edgar has never been finished his entire career.
Prediction: Edgar by third-round TKO.
Edgar: 20-5-1 record (14-5-1 UFC); 5-0 in non-title featherweight fights
Edgar: 1,871 total strikes landed in UFC competition, fifth most in UFC history
Stephens: 25-12 record (12-11 UFC); 17 of 25 wins by knockout
Stephens: Allowed six takedowns in past four UFC fights
Breakdown
Stephens' reputation is very much tied to his knockout power and although he has put in work to elevate the other areas of his game, it's no secret that power is his best attribute. Even he wouldn't deny that.
And against a former lightweight champion and two-time featherweight title challenger, that power is his greatest equalizer. Edgar had his wrestling neutralized by Aldo his last time out, but that's lightning that shouldn't strike twice here. Stephens doesn't have a hole in his defensive wrestling, but the feints, footwork and timed shots of Edgar will give him a lot to think about. And Edgar has never been finished his entire career.
Prediction: Edgar by third-round TKO.
UFC 205 Cheat Sheet: Miesha Tate versus Raquel Pennington
Tate: 18-6 record (5-3 UFC); 5-fight win streak snapped in loss to Nunes
Tate: Scored takedowns in 6 of 8 UFC fights (9 total takedowns)
Pennington: 8-5 record (5-2 UFC); 3-fight win streak
Pennington: +71 significant strike differential in UFC fights (356-285)
Breakdown
The top of this female bantamweight division has featured an extreme clash of styles of late. Rousey the judoka. Holm the boxer. Tate the submission wrestler. Now, Nunes, a heavy hitter.
Pennington isn't as easy to define. She's a slick boxer with good head movement, but she'll also bite down on her mouthpiece and throw when she feels she has opponents trapped near the fence. She has leaned on her wrestling enough that we definitely know it's there and actually, although she classifies mostly as a striker, both of her UFC finishes have come via submission.
Still, Tate figures to have a grappling advantage, especially if she's able to create scrambles with regularity. Tate has always flourished when a fight falls under a little chaos. Pennington is good at minimizing that because of her IQ and range awareness, plus a familiarity with Tate's grappling ability can't hurt.
Prediction: Pennington via decision.
Tate: 18-6 record (5-3 UFC); 5-fight win streak snapped in loss to Nunes
Tate: Scored takedowns in 6 of 8 UFC fights (9 total takedowns)
Pennington: 8-5 record (5-2 UFC); 3-fight win streak
Pennington: +71 significant strike differential in UFC fights (356-285)
Breakdown
The top of this female bantamweight division has featured an extreme clash of styles of late. Rousey the judoka. Holm the boxer. Tate the submission wrestler. Now, Nunes, a heavy hitter.
Pennington isn't as easy to define. She's a slick boxer with good head movement, but she'll also bite down on her mouthpiece and throw when she feels she has opponents trapped near the fence. She has leaned on her wrestling enough that we definitely know it's there and actually, although she classifies mostly as a striker, both of her UFC finishes have come via submission.
Still, Tate figures to have a grappling advantage, especially if she's able to create scrambles with regularity. Tate has always flourished when a fight falls under a little chaos. Pennington is good at minimizing that because of her IQ and range awareness, plus a familiarity with Tate's grappling ability can't hurt.
Prediction: Pennington via decision.
UFC 205 Predictions
from Attack The Back
McGregor vs. Alvarez
This is a risky fight for McGregor and the UFC. The general perception is that the company is hoping their cash cow pulls off the win so that he can defend the belt against Nate Diaz next year in a rubber match for the lightweight title.
Rightful lightweight number one contender Khabib Nurmagomedov’s reaction to the fight announcement was to claim that the UFC has become a freak show. While it is not uncommon in the combat sports world for megastar world champions to move up a weight class and challenge the resident champion, it is hard to dismiss Nurmagomedov’s claim when you consider that this will be McGregor’s third fight outside of his division and still he has not been stripped of his title.
Alvarez is tough, hits hard and is a far better wrestler than McGregor. He will be the experts’ favourite going into this bout. Another advantage he will enjoy over the Irishman is his size. McGregor could be a natural lightweight but that remains to be seen in the UFC. The SBG product utilized his major size and reach advantage to good effect at 145 but when he came up against the taller, heavier Diaz he struggled. McGregor will again have a reach advantage here but Alvarez seems to be the stronger, thicker opponent.
McGregor is undoubtedly the classier, more disciplined striker. His boxing fundamentals, footwork, distance and timing are undoubtedly on another level to his opponent who is stiff and at times wild. McGregor’s laser beam left hand should be able to find Alvarez’s chin with regularity but he cannot afford to keep his hands down and chin up like he tends to do.
Though McGregor’s BJJ is massively underrated it could be a long night for him if Alvarez is able to establish his superior wrestling game. He will undoubtedly look to follow the blueprint set out during his victory over Anthony Pettis.
Prediction: Conor McGregor via TKO
Woodley vs. Thompson
Tyron Woodley wanted a fight against either George Saint Pierre or Nick Diaz. Instead he got the highly regarded and much lauded ‘Wonderboy’ at Madison Square Garden. To his credit, Woodley silenced a number of critics when he bulldozed through Robbie Lawler to claim the 170 lbs. belt. Whether he deserved that title shot or not is another matter.
There can be no disputing Stephen Thompson’s right to challenge for UFC gold. He has won seven straight since his only loss inside the octagon and has improved his wrestling game immensely since we first saw him. The result has been that his deadly striking is now a weapon he wields without the fear of being taken down.
Look to see Thompson use his timing and distance to baffle the compact power fighter in a similar manner to the way in which he outclassed Johny Hendricks. Woodley is robust however, and it could be a long night for him as a result.
Prediction: Stephen Thompson by decision.
Jedrzejczyk vs. KowalKiewicz
Kowalkiewicz has impressed in her three UFC fights thus far. Despite this, it is hard to look passed Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s body of work. The women’s divisions are still in an early stage of development and the specialist still reigns supreme.
Prediction: Joanna Jedrzejczyk by decision
Weidman vs. Romero
Chris Weidman will be a man on a mission as he looks to redeem himself after relinquishing his middleweight crown to Luke Rockhold. The winner of this fight could well go on to receive a title shot, or face the winner of the Rockhold vs. Jacare fight in a title eliminator.
Romero needs a win if he is to keep his championship hopes alive. He is a freak athlete but his striking is not where it needs to be and it is unlikely that it ever will be now that he is in his late thirties. Weidman is the younger, hungrier fighter and has a point to prove.
Prediction: Chris Weidman by decision
Cerrone vs. Gastelum
When it was first announced that Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone was set to face Robbie Lawler at UFC 205 the MMA world lost it’s mind. Lawler’s subsequent pullout was a disappointment to most, and the fact that the replacement fight is a poor substitution for what might have been is not necessarily a knock on Gastelum. Few could have lived up to the original billing.
Cerrone has been on a tear of late. He is ranked seventh in the UFC welterweight division and is 3-0 since losing a lightweight title opportunity against Rafael Dos Anjos. His wins have come against Alex Oliveira, Patrick Cote and Rick Story respectively – all extremely solid wins but none of whom represent the elite of the 170 lbs. class.
Gastelum is ranked at number six and is a former TUF winner. A win over him would be a further indication that ‘Cowboy’ is a legit welterweight but it will do little in comparison to what a win against Lawler would have done for him.
Gastelum is heavier and has struggled to make 170 in the past. He has fought at middleweight, whereas Cerrone is a career lightweight. That being said, Cowboy is taller and will enjoy a reach advantage.
He is a more well rounded fighter and thus has more ways to win the fight than Gastelum. The latter has lost two out of his last four fights, with the two wins coming against opponents whose best days appear to be behind them.
Predicton; Cerrone by submission
from Attack The Back
McGregor vs. Alvarez
This is a risky fight for McGregor and the UFC. The general perception is that the company is hoping their cash cow pulls off the win so that he can defend the belt against Nate Diaz next year in a rubber match for the lightweight title.
Rightful lightweight number one contender Khabib Nurmagomedov’s reaction to the fight announcement was to claim that the UFC has become a freak show. While it is not uncommon in the combat sports world for megastar world champions to move up a weight class and challenge the resident champion, it is hard to dismiss Nurmagomedov’s claim when you consider that this will be McGregor’s third fight outside of his division and still he has not been stripped of his title.
Alvarez is tough, hits hard and is a far better wrestler than McGregor. He will be the experts’ favourite going into this bout. Another advantage he will enjoy over the Irishman is his size. McGregor could be a natural lightweight but that remains to be seen in the UFC. The SBG product utilized his major size and reach advantage to good effect at 145 but when he came up against the taller, heavier Diaz he struggled. McGregor will again have a reach advantage here but Alvarez seems to be the stronger, thicker opponent.
McGregor is undoubtedly the classier, more disciplined striker. His boxing fundamentals, footwork, distance and timing are undoubtedly on another level to his opponent who is stiff and at times wild. McGregor’s laser beam left hand should be able to find Alvarez’s chin with regularity but he cannot afford to keep his hands down and chin up like he tends to do.
Though McGregor’s BJJ is massively underrated it could be a long night for him if Alvarez is able to establish his superior wrestling game. He will undoubtedly look to follow the blueprint set out during his victory over Anthony Pettis.
Prediction: Conor McGregor via TKO
Woodley vs. Thompson
Tyron Woodley wanted a fight against either George Saint Pierre or Nick Diaz. Instead he got the highly regarded and much lauded ‘Wonderboy’ at Madison Square Garden. To his credit, Woodley silenced a number of critics when he bulldozed through Robbie Lawler to claim the 170 lbs. belt. Whether he deserved that title shot or not is another matter.
There can be no disputing Stephen Thompson’s right to challenge for UFC gold. He has won seven straight since his only loss inside the octagon and has improved his wrestling game immensely since we first saw him. The result has been that his deadly striking is now a weapon he wields without the fear of being taken down.
Look to see Thompson use his timing and distance to baffle the compact power fighter in a similar manner to the way in which he outclassed Johny Hendricks. Woodley is robust however, and it could be a long night for him as a result.
Prediction: Stephen Thompson by decision.
Jedrzejczyk vs. KowalKiewicz
Kowalkiewicz has impressed in her three UFC fights thus far. Despite this, it is hard to look passed Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s body of work. The women’s divisions are still in an early stage of development and the specialist still reigns supreme.
Prediction: Joanna Jedrzejczyk by decision
Weidman vs. Romero
Chris Weidman will be a man on a mission as he looks to redeem himself after relinquishing his middleweight crown to Luke Rockhold. The winner of this fight could well go on to receive a title shot, or face the winner of the Rockhold vs. Jacare fight in a title eliminator.
Romero needs a win if he is to keep his championship hopes alive. He is a freak athlete but his striking is not where it needs to be and it is unlikely that it ever will be now that he is in his late thirties. Weidman is the younger, hungrier fighter and has a point to prove.
Prediction: Chris Weidman by decision
Cerrone vs. Gastelum
When it was first announced that Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone was set to face Robbie Lawler at UFC 205 the MMA world lost it’s mind. Lawler’s subsequent pullout was a disappointment to most, and the fact that the replacement fight is a poor substitution for what might have been is not necessarily a knock on Gastelum. Few could have lived up to the original billing.
Cerrone has been on a tear of late. He is ranked seventh in the UFC welterweight division and is 3-0 since losing a lightweight title opportunity against Rafael Dos Anjos. His wins have come against Alex Oliveira, Patrick Cote and Rick Story respectively – all extremely solid wins but none of whom represent the elite of the 170 lbs. class.
Gastelum is ranked at number six and is a former TUF winner. A win over him would be a further indication that ‘Cowboy’ is a legit welterweight but it will do little in comparison to what a win against Lawler would have done for him.
Gastelum is heavier and has struggled to make 170 in the past. He has fought at middleweight, whereas Cerrone is a career lightweight. That being said, Cowboy is taller and will enjoy a reach advantage.
He is a more well rounded fighter and thus has more ways to win the fight than Gastelum. The latter has lost two out of his last four fights, with the two wins coming against opponents whose best days appear to be behind them.
Predicton; Cerrone by submission
McGregor vows to retire Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205: 'His wife and kids won't ever recognize him again'
Conor McGregor has made some bold predictions throughout his career. This one might very well take the cake.
“I’m going to retire him on this night,” McGregor said. “He has been through a hell of a lot of wars. He has been dropped continuously. I can see it in him. You can see the effects of war on his face. Respect to him, he’s a fighter, nothing but respect. But this will be it for you. You’re going to be badly, badly hurt Eddie, and I mean that. It’s over for you. You will not fight again after this. You will not look the same, you will not think the same, and that’s it.”
“I’m going to toy with this man,” McGregor said. “I’m going to really, truly rearrange his facial structure. His wife and kids won’t ever recognize him again. His friends and the people that he knows will know that he’s not the same man after this contest. He’s going to be in a shock when he sees that. They’re about to see your final hurrah.
“I paint many pictures. I can fight in many different ways, and I will. I’m going to paint many different pictures in this contest and put on a showcase, toy with this man and end it all. End his whole career. Retire him. It’s over for him. He should be done anyway. He’s taken too much damage. This will be his last amount of damage that he will be able to take.”
“He’s claiming it’s an easier contest – I look forward to when the eyes shift,” McGregor said. “When the eyes roll and the electric shock darts through his whole body and he goes to his knees and he comes up and he’s in survival mode and the panic sets through his whole body and his whole face. That’s something I’m looking forward to, and I will punish him with those words he’s saying.”
Conor McGregor has made some bold predictions throughout his career. This one might very well take the cake.
“I’m going to retire him on this night,” McGregor said. “He has been through a hell of a lot of wars. He has been dropped continuously. I can see it in him. You can see the effects of war on his face. Respect to him, he’s a fighter, nothing but respect. But this will be it for you. You’re going to be badly, badly hurt Eddie, and I mean that. It’s over for you. You will not fight again after this. You will not look the same, you will not think the same, and that’s it.”
“I’m going to toy with this man,” McGregor said. “I’m going to really, truly rearrange his facial structure. His wife and kids won’t ever recognize him again. His friends and the people that he knows will know that he’s not the same man after this contest. He’s going to be in a shock when he sees that. They’re about to see your final hurrah.
“I paint many pictures. I can fight in many different ways, and I will. I’m going to paint many different pictures in this contest and put on a showcase, toy with this man and end it all. End his whole career. Retire him. It’s over for him. He should be done anyway. He’s taken too much damage. This will be his last amount of damage that he will be able to take.”
“He’s claiming it’s an easier contest – I look forward to when the eyes shift,” McGregor said. “When the eyes roll and the electric shock darts through his whole body and he goes to his knees and he comes up and he’s in survival mode and the panic sets through his whole body and his whole face. That’s something I’m looking forward to, and I will punish him with those words he’s saying.”
