UFC 197 Fight Predictions – SportsBlog.com (blog)
This partial reproduction is courtesy of our friends from Australia. For a look at the complete article which contains more stats and predictions please visit Free Bets Australia UFC 197 Predictions.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The long awaited comeback of Jon Jones has been confirmed, and he will headline UFC 197. It will be a fight for the title against Daniel Cormier, the current holder of the light heavyweight belt. The rematch between the two titans was confirmed during the UFC 82 Fight Night Event.
Jones was stripped of this title back at UFC 187. The mixed martial artist was involved in a hit and run accident and was put on suspension by the UFC. Jon “Bones” Jones is thought to be the best pound for pound fighter by many pundits. Jones last fight in the octagon was against Cormier, who he beat convincingly on points. When Jones was suspended, Cormier fought for the vacant title and had been Champion ever since.
Without a shadow of doubt Jones deserves an instant shot at regaining his title, since his suspension has been lifted. It should be a very exciting card with Demetrious Johnson the current flyweight belt holder putting it on the line against Henry Cejudo.
Most fight fans that follow the UFC will agree that Jon Jones is the best fighter that has ever entered the Octagon. At the young age of 23 years old, he managed to win the light heavyweight belt from Shogun Rua. During his reign as Champion, he defended his belt eight times which is the record for the UFC light heavyweight division.
Through Jones career in the UFC, he has dominated everyone apart from Alexander Gustafsson. Speaking in an interview, Jones said that was the fight that made him realize that he had to train for fights. It just goes to show how good he is when he dominated everyone without putting the hours into training that all others in the sport do.
Jones has every tool in the box available to him and with his athleticism along with a long reach, it is hard to see anyone beating him. During his first fight with Cormier he dominated him and even took him down twice for the first ever time in his career.
Cormier has been begging for a rematch ever since he lost. During Jones suspension, he was calling him out telling him he wanted him to get his head straight so he could fight him once more.
Jon Jones V.S Daniel Cormier
With a background in Olympic wrestling and the winner of the Heavyweight Grand Prix for Strikeforce, Cormier is a formidable beast. The fighter was unbeaten in the UFC before facing Jones and record is 5 – 1. When Jones was suspended, Cormier fought Alexander Gustafsson for the vacant belt. It was a brutal fight which Cormier managed to come out on top. Rather than use his wrestling he stood toe to toe with Gustafsson. After the fight, he said the reason he took that approach was to please the fans and put on a show. If he takes that approach in the rematch with Jones, there is no way that he will come out on top. During their last fight Cormier struggled to get inside, and Jones used his reach advantage to great effect. UFC expert fight picks Jones by TKO inside three rounds.
Demetrious Johnson V.S Henry Cejudo
The co-main card event at UFC 197 is Johnson Vs. Cejudo. Mighty Mouse has looked unstoppable since winning the flyweight belt and many argue the pound for pound king in mixed martial arts. He has defended his title seven times and is well rounded in all aspects of the sport. Demetrious will be in for a tough night though as Cejudo has to look fantastic so far. He can give anyone in the division a problem with his high-level wrestling and knockout power. During his last outing in the octagon, he beat Jussier Formiga at Fight Night 78. The fighter will have to put on a better performance if he wants to take the belt from Johnson. UFC fight predictions Johnson victory by points decision.
Anthony Pettis Vs. Edson Barboza
In the lightweight division, two of the top ranked fighter will battle it out. Anthony Pettis the former belt holder who is currently ranked third will fight Edson Barboza, who is ranked eighth. It is a defining fight for both as the winner will be the hot favourite for a shot at the title. The loser will drop down the pecking order and will need to win a few more time before getting their shot at the belt. Both fighters like to keep it on their feet, so it should be an explosive battle.
Pettis won the belt for the lightweight championship at the final World Extreme Cagefighting event that took place before the UFC purchased Zuffa, the company that hosted the events. He faces Henderson, which has a blood bath and one of the best fights in history.
In the UFC, his record stands at 5 – 3 which include two title defences of the belt. Pettis is an exciting fighter and very popular with fans due to been involved in epic battles. In half of the fights he has taken place in, he has earned a bonus for fight of the night.
Pettis is on a two-fight losing streak after defeats to Rafael dos Anjos along with Eddie Alvarez in his last fight. Both of his opponents gave the fighter no room to work which limited his main weapons of attack.
Edson Barboza is also on a bad run of form and out of his last three fights he has only one once. Even with these losses, he still has an impressive record in the UFC of 10 – 4. He is one of the most popular Brazilians and is known for his powerful kicks. He has picked up an impressive three TKO victories through his leg kicks during his professional UFC career. During UFC 142 Barboza knocked out his opponent via a wheel kick which is voted by most fans as the best of all time KO`s.
Barboza`s background is kickboxing and Muay Thai. He managed 22 Muay Thai and 25 kickboxing wins before joining the UFC.He last entered the Octagon at the TUF 22 Finale. It was an epic back and forth fight against Tony Ferguson who came out victorious by submitting Barboza. UFC 197 betting tips – Pettis victory by decision.
Robert Whittaker Vs. Rafael Natal
In the middleweight division Robert Whittaker will take on Rafael Natal. Whittaker is ranked eighth and is on a four-fight winning streak. He will not have it all his way though as Natal, who is ranked twelfth is also on a winning run of four in a row.
In Whittaker`s last outing he defeated highly rated, and eleventh ranked fighter Uriah Hall. Natal`s last appearance in the octagon was against Kevin Casey, who he knocked out. Our UFC Predictions Robert Whittaker by Decision
This partial reproduction is courtesy of our friends from Australia. For a look at the complete article which contains more stats and predictions please visit Free Bets Australia UFC 197 Predictions.
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