UFC 216: Lines Will Be Drawn And Champions Will Be Crowned!

After a chaotic week in Las Vegas, things will get back to normal as the UFC comes to town for their UFC 216 Pay Per View.  This one has been much hyped despite an ever changing card, and will provide quite the wallop of action for all fans tuning in!

It seems as though it has been since UFC 214 with Jones vs Cormier that a matchup for the belt has been steeped in this much hate between the two fighters involved, but main eventers Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee appear to have a true dislike for each other that should prove to be very entertaining to watch play out.

That match between Lee and Ferguson is for the Interim UFC Lightweight Title currently held by Conor McGregor who is yet the defend the belt since winning it 11 months ago at UFC 205 against Eddie Alvarez.  McGregor is clearly the best 155lb’er in the world, but this will determine a solid number two until McGregor is ready to defend the belt.

The smart money is on McGregor taking a quick timed fight with Lee for UFC 218 in Detroit if Lee wins easily.  Lee is from Detroit and McGregor is known to love the challenge of fighting someone if their own backyard if he can.  Such as Mayweather in Vegas back in August.

On the flip side, if Ferguson wins the chances are likely McGregor skips that unification bout all together and opts to fight Nate Diaz at 155 in a trilogy fight between the two instead.  Time will tell based on the winner what happens next in the 155 division.

 

Breaking down the big main card next!!

Lightweight Beneil Dariush vs Evan Dunham

A wiley veteran of the UFC, I hate to ever pick against Dunham.  With 24 fights under his belt, including a four fight win streak currently, Dunham has proven to be a tough out for anyone.  All four of those wins were convincing decision victories against lesser known opponents.

Beneil Dariush has been a mission as of late, talking to anyone who will listen that his last fight loss against Edson Barboza was fluke flying knee that landed.  Will Dariush be able to prove that and get back to his winning ways tonight?  I feel that he will.

Pick – Beneil Dariush by Decision

 

Women’s Flyweight – Mara Romero Borella vs Kalindra Faria

A fight that got placed on the main card under some very low exposure and out of luck.  These two women look forward to taking advantage of that main card break and give the fans a show!  Borella only had 5 days to prepare for Faria after her original opponent Andrea Lee was removed from the card. Who will the short notice affect more?

Pick – Mara Romero Borella by decision

 

Heavyweight Fabricio Werdum vs Walt Harris

This was a late addition to the card after Derrick Lewis pulled out of the fight due to an injury.

Pick – Werdum by submission 

 

UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson vs Ray Borg

12 straight wins for Johnson, 10 of them as Flyweight Champion while completing a full clean out of the division.  He is one win away from breaking the record for consecutive successful title defenses in UFC history and is widely regarded as one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world!  Do I really need to go on?

Pick – Johnson by ref stoppage in the 2nd round

 

UFC Lightweight Interim Championship on the line Tony Ferguson vs Kevin Lee

The match seems forced a little bit and kind of out of nowhere.  They had a minor verbal clash on a FOX post fight show in which Lee got the better off.  It won’t matter tonight when the cage doors lock and the real action begins.  There has been a bit of debate as to why this is the main event and not the Johnson fight?  Perhaps another way for Dana White to stick it to Johnson.  All that aside, this will be a good one!

Pick – Ferguson by 1rst round submission