LAS VEGAS, Nevada – UFC 200 is this Saturday Night July 9th from the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Nevada. It is set to be the biggest card in UFC History because of a stacked card. We here at NEO Sports thought it would be a fun idea to break each match down as this card will change the course of MMA forever.
Takanori Gomi vs Jim Miller
Gomi established his legacy in the Japan-based organization, PRIDE Fighting Championships. He was dominant in his time there and was regarded as one of the best, if not, the best lightweight fighter to ever come out of Pride. He was 31-5-1 by the time he entered the UFC in March of 2010.
His UFC career has been a far cry and loaded with losses. He is 4-6 in his UFC career with losses coming against men such as Kenny Florian, Clay Guida, Nate Diaz, Diego Sanchez, Myles Jury and Joe Lauzon. He has never been able to reclaim the flame he had in PRIDE.
Jim Miller also had a great start to his career, a stellar 20-3 record that had everyone talking title for him. His only loss’s of that stretch were against Frankie Edgar, Benson Henderson and Gray Maynard, the two top men of the division at that time. Since then he has struggled and went 5-5.
This is a tough one to pick, because I feel both fighters better days are long behind them. Gomi still has that fire in his punches, but Miller is a grind it out style a fighter that will make Gomi work and eventually tire out.
I see Jim Miller grinding his way to another decision victory.
Thiago Santos vs Gegard Mousasi
Gegard Mousasi is a former DREAM Light Heavyweight Champion, former DREAM Middleweight Champion, former Cage Warriors World Middleweight Champion and the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.
By the time he entered the UFC in April 2013, he was an impressive 33-3-2. His UFC stint has not gone as well, going just 5-3. He will look to end this one early, and get back on track.
Thiago Santos is explosive and could end a fight in seconds with explosive fists and feet. He is also on a roll, winning his last 4 straight in the UFC to bring his overall record to 13 -3. He will have his hands full with a veteran champion like Mousasi.
This is a great fight that truly could be a main event on most Free TV cards. I like Santos in this one to give Mousasi all he can handle.
However, I will pick with head and not my heart and play it safe this time, I pick Mousasi to eventually weather the early Santos storm, and win by decision.
Joe Lauzon vs Diego Sanchez
At one point both of these men were seen as the possible future of the UFC Lightweight Division. Sanchez was a fan favorite phenom that crowds loved. Lauzon had fists of stone and always seem to relish and excel at the underdog roll.
Sanchez was 21-2 when he took on and lost to BJ Penn for the UFC Lightweight Title in December of 2009. Since then he is 5-6 and clinging to keeping his UFC career alive.
Joe Lauzon is a blue collar worker and someone fans love for his fast paced approach and never say die attitude. He is a veteran of 36 MMA fights with a record of 25 – 11. He holds wins against such names as Jens Pulver, Mike Brown, Jeremy Stephens, Melvin Guillard, Mac Danzig and Takanori Gomi.
This has every chance to steal the show, and be the best fight of the undercard. Two UFC veterans with plenty of big fight experience. I see Sanchez putting on a excellent display and Lauzon matching him every step of the way.
In the end, I think Sanchez wins by third round TKO in a blood bath.
Sage Northcutt vs Enrique Martin
Sage Northcutt was on the fast track to UFC stardom. He started his career 7-0 and has the look to go far. The ladies wanted him, and the men wanted to be him. And then he quit! He lost to Bryan Barberena back in January of this year in a lackluster effort. He literally quit from a choke that wasn’t even fully sunk in.
If he wants his hype back, and wants to prove that outing against Barberena was a fluke, then he needs to win quickly and convincely against Martin. I expect him to do just that with a first round submission.
Raphael Assuncao vs TJ Dillashaw
TJ Dillashaw defeated Bantamweight champion and top 5 pound for pound Renan Barão twice in one year to capture the title. He won his first 12 of 14 MMA fights and appeared to be headed for a long run with the belt until he ran into the buzz saw named Dominic Cruz back at UFC Fight Night in January where he lost his title in a razor thin split decision.
Dillashaw was pissed, and rightfully so that Faber got the next title shot at Cruz before he could get his deserved rematch. He will have his hands full with Raphael Assuncao. The man from Brazil is 23-4 and riding a 7 fight winning steak, including one over Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night in October 2013.
However, the biggest problem facing Assuncao is injuries as he hasn’t fought since October 2014. He will be rusty and Dillashaw will take advantage.
My pick is Dillashaw by third round TKO.
Johnny Hendricks vs Kelvin Gastelum
With so many former champions fighting on this card, it could be named “Redemption”. Hendricks is one of them. He looked unstoppable as he rolled to a UFC Welterweight Championship over Robbie Lawler back at UFC 171 in March 2014.
Since then he has lost the title to Lawler and been upset by Stephen Thompson from a stunning first round knockout. Hendricks needs this win badly if he ever wants a third match with Lawler for the title.
Gastelum won The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen. Since then he has impressive wins over Rick Story, Jake Ellenberger and Nate Marquardt.
This will not be an easy win for Hendricks to get back on track, but it will be a win none the less as I expect Hendricks to win by third round knockout.
Cat Zingano vs Julianna Pena
Julianna Pena is the real deal and Cat Zingano will find out first hand on July 9, at UFC 200. Pena won the Ultimate Fighter Season 18 in convincing fashion.
Cat Zingano may have more experience and wins over names such as Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes but she is rusty. She hasn’t fought since her 14 second loss to Ronda Rousey for the Womens Title at UFC 184 in February, 2015.
The long layoff for Zingano will spell doom for her as Pena is set to capture her biggest win with a convincing decision.
Cain Velasquez vs Travis Browne
Cain Velasquez is one of the most dominant Heavyweight fighters of all time. A two time champion and there isn’t a doubt in my mind he will be a three time champion soon enough. He holds victories over Brock Lesnar, two against Junior Dos Santos, Cheick Kongo, Ben Rothwell, Big Nog and Bigfoot Silva twice.
Velasquez is dangerous because he can strike with the best of them on his feet, and also knows how to grapple. There isn’t anything he can’t do. He is hungry and wants another shot at the title. Travis Browne is in big trouble.
My pick is a dominant, and I mean dominant first round ref stoppage victory for Velasquez.
Miesha Tate vs Amanda Nunes
Tate is living proof that perseverance pays off! After two crushing losses to Ronda Rousey, he UFC title dreams looked to be over. But the former Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion didn’t give up, and began to roll. She won five straight on her way to an upset victory for the title over Holly Holm back in March at UFC 196.
Tate has used her smoking hot looks, combined with a competitive spirit in the cage to become the most popular female in UFC history. Her opponent on July 9th, isn’t as popular but every bit as dangerous. Amanda Nunes is 12-4 but lacks any wins against notable opponents. She will get her chance against Tate.
I fully expect Tate to stay hot and walk away with an easy decision win in this one.
Jose Aldo vs Frankie Edgar
Jose Aldo is one of the best pound for pound fighters on the planet, and also in the entire history of MMA. Aldo is regarded as having some of best takedown defense in all of MMA, as he has defended 91% of his opponents’ takedown attempts.
Aldo is also renowned for regularly winning his fights using little more than the fundamentals of Muay Thai. He employs an array of damaging knees, kicks and punches, as well as agile footwork and slick head movement.
His leg kicks demonstrated in his fights against Urijah Faber, Ricardo Lamas and Frankie Edgar. Aldo has both the most wins and knockouts in UFC and WEC featherweight history, has landed a total of 691 significant strikes in the UFC and the WEC, and holds the record for the longest winning streak in UFC, WEC, Strikeforce and Pride featherweight history, with fifteen consecutive victories.
It was a dominant run that ended on December 12, 2015 at UFC 194 when he lost the fight against Conor McGregor via knockout in 13 seconds with only one punch into the first round, resulting in his first defeat in over ten years.
If Aldo is going to rebound from that crushing defeat, he will have to do it against one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, Frankie The Answer Edgar. Aldo does hold a victory of the former UFC Lightweight champion Edgar.
However, the answer holds numerous big wins himself. Edgar has beaten former world champions Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn (x3), Urijah Faber and top featherweight contender Chad Mendes. Edgar is currently ranked as the #2 featherweight in official UFC rankings. He is no joke, and won’t be a walk through for the former champ Aldo.
This match will be held at featherweight, just as their first one was. It is also for the Interim UFC Featherweight Championship as current champion Conor McGregor seems to have forgotten about his title, and natural weight class.
Look for Edgar to push the action but Aldo to return to form and reclaim his title with a split decision victory.
Mark Hunt vs Brock Lesnar
Hunt is an all or nothing fighter. His 12-10-1 record would normally never be good enough to fight this high on the card. But when you factor in that his 12 wins have come by way of devastating knockouts over the likes of Frank Mir, Bigfoot Silva, Dan Bobish, Stefan Struve, Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson amongst others. Hunt hits and hits hard!
This a dangerous fight for Brock Lesnar to come back from a 4 year plus layoff against. Lesnar has proven he doesn’t have any standup game, and a bit of glass chin. Factor that in with the ring rust, and Lesnar is in big trouble.
Brock has one chance to win this fight, he has to avoid getting hit and get the fight to the ground instantly. He needs to take Hunt down and use the ground and pound.
I feel he will and he will walk away victorious in his return with a brutal three round decision beat down victory.
Anderson Silva vs Daniel Cormier
You do not take a fight on two days notice when you have just gone through a full training camp getting ready for someone else. You do not take a fight on two days notice when you had your heart set on facing someone else.
You do not take a fight on two days notice when it is against “arguably” the greatest of al time. Don’ tell any of this to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier.
The man is a proven winner and has won at every level, every weight class, and every promotion he has fought for. He has pride, he has skill and he is the ultimate company man.
The problem for DC is, the man he is fighting also has something to prove and is very hungry. No one will argue that Silva is one of the top 3 greatest MMA fighters of all time.
He is up there with GSP and Jon Jones. He is coming off of losses to Michael Bisping, and two straight to Chris Wiedman. He is a wounded animal for the first time in his career.
As we all know, wounded animals are the most dangerous.
There is no way Silva would have taken this fight if he hadn’t already been preparing for it. He is wise, and he wouldn’t take a fight he wasn’t positive he could win.
He doesn’t have to cut weight, and will come in strong and fully hydrated.
My heart says and wants DC to win . He earned this, he trained hard and passed every drug test. Silva did not. Silva failed a drug tests for PEDS as recently as a year ago.
DC is the ultimate company man, taking this fight on two days notice, when he has nothing to gain from doing so.
Silva has a history of ducking fights, and only performing when he wants to. He has made a mockery of certain fights against men he felt to be inferior.
Such examples include his fights against Patrick Cote at UFC 90 where he danced around, and made the entire thing a circus. He would so the same at UFC 97 against Thales Lietes. He did yet again against Demian Mai at UFC 112.
He is the ultimate villain. His antics finally caught up to him at UFC 162 when he kept mocking Chris Weidman until getting knocked out cold. It was sweet justice.
So again, this matchup is the ultimate Good Guy in DC vs the Ultimate Villian in Silva. Much like it would have been if Jones was still in the bout.
At the end of the day, as much as I hate to say it……. Silva by KO in the second round in a fight DC should have never taken. And when that happens, Dana White will now have two champions on his roster with their last match being a loss.
Agree or disagree with these picks? Let me know on twitter at VinceTheAuthor.
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