UFC 205 PREDICTIONS
By Eric Kowal, RCM MMA Correspondent & Founder of MyMMANews.com
Eric’s Prediction Record: (21-9-1)
New York, NY (November 12th, 2016)– One of the biggest, if not the biggest mixed martial arts fight cards of all time, finally goes down this Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. UFC 205 features three title fights on the night to include a champion vs. champion matchup that has everyone talking.
Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez defends against featherweight champion Conor McGregor
Eddie Alvarez is a tough, durable lightweight, but I don’t see him coming out of this fight with the title. Prediction: I think Conor is just too elusive, lengthy, and McGregor has too much momentum and hype behind him that he will push the pace in the first two rounds to get a TKO victory and become the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history.
Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley defends against Stephen Thompson
Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson improves with each and every fight and I see no reason why he cannot get the job done here. Thompson has the reach and the tools to keep the champion at bay. Prediction: I’m not certain Wonderboy will knock Woodley out but I can see him working a decision and taking home the hardware.
Women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrejczyk defends against Karolina Kowalkiewicz
And Still!!!!! That’s all you really need to know. Take nothing away from Karolina but she is not on the same playing field as Joanna. Prediction: Joanna wins via TKO in Round 2.
Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero
This is a tough one. Will a healthy and rejuvenated Chris Weidman show up? For Weidman’s sake, he needs to. If Chris Weidman wants to get back into title contention he needs this win. His strong wrestling pedigree will be neutralized though by an even better wrestler in Yoel Romero. Romero seems to be the stronger of the two men, but will he be able to get Weidman to the canvas and hold him there? Prediction: If not, I see Weidman getting a TKO and earning another crack at the title.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Michael Johnson
If Khabib Nurmagomedov even wants to dream about getting his name back into title contention he needs to put on an absolutely spectacular performance here in this fight against Michael Johnson. The problem however is that he is going against a very tough Michael Johnson who can spoil the party for Nurmagomedov. Johnson is coming off that spectacular KO finish of Dustin Poirier but will that momentum be enough to stop the uncrowned champion in Nurmagomedov? Prediction: I see the Russian getting a split decision victory over Johnson.
Miesha Tate vs. Raquel Pennington
It is always tough to bet against Miesha Tate. She worked her way up to a championship, dominating all the bantamweight contenders in her path to get there, but then lost the belt in her first defense. Raquel Pennington is on a three-fight win streak and is a very likable figure so it is hard to root against her, however I don’t think she has the tools just yet to take out the former champion. Prediction: Miesha Tate unanimous decision.
Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens
The former lightweight champion is going to have the crowd behind him, but more importantly he is going to have his heart. No fighter in UFC history has more heart than Frankie Edgar. I don’t expect Edgar to KO Jeremy Stephens like he did to Chad Mendes but I do see Edgar getting the victory. Stephens is a highly talented and experienced fighter but he will not be bringing anything that Edgar has not seen already from the laundry list of top fighters that he has faced. Prediction: Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision.
Rafael Natal vs. Tim Boetsch
Another hard fought decision but the hometown Natal should get the decision win. Boetsch last fought the late Josh Samman who passed away last month from what appears to be a drug overdose. Boetsch needs to win this fight otherwise he could be handed his walking papers as he only has three wins in his last nine fights. If he loses here it will be three in ten. Prediction: Natal gets the decision.
Vicente Luque vs. Belal Muhammad
A change in opponent should not really affect Belal Muhammad that much. Muhammad was preparing for Lyman Good but that fight changed just weeks ago with Vicente Luque stepping up. Luque is on a three fight win streak while the former Titan FC champ is sitting at one. Prediction: This is a very tough fight to predict but I see Muhammad edging out a decision if he doesn’t put Luque away with a TKO.
Thiago Alves vs. Jim Miller
Thiago Alves last competed in May of 2015 in a welterweight loss to Carlos Condit. Welcoming him to the UFC’s lightweight division will be one of the guys you do not want to fight on your first fight in a new division, Jim Miller. Miller didn’t have a far trek to the City, just hopping on 80 East to get to MSG. Miller is coming off back to back wins over Takanori Gomi at UFC 200 and then Joe Lauzon in a rematch the following month. Alves will have to control his breathing to make sure he doesn’t exert too much energy otherwise Miller will find a way to exploit the weakness. Prediction: Jim Miller via TKO – Round 2.
Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian
We have not seen Liz Carmouche compete in the octagon since April 2015 with a wealth of experience. If there’s one advantage she has over Chookagian it is experience. Carmouche has fought for a major world title when she went up against Ronda Rousey. She also has experience against Miesha Tate and several other notable opponents. Chookagian on the other hand is on a surge and will be competing before many of her fans from the Tri-State area. Prediction: This fight is likely going to to go all three rounds with Chookagian have her arm raised.
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UFC 205 INSIDE THE OCTAGON EPISODES
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