Issue 149
December 2016
Can ‘Rumble’ turn the tables on ‘DC’ and land a blow that will see the light heavyweight belt change hands at UFC 206?
Jon Jones may be AWOL again, but the battle for the UFC 205lb title will be as compelling as ever when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object again.
Anthony Johnson may have been worn down and submitted the last time he competed for the championship, but he made a compelling case for another crack of the whip by hitting three consecutive KOs since.
He’s confirmed his status as the most fearsome hitter in MMA.
Daniel Cormier, though, could be the sport’s most durable fighter. He survived ‘Rumble’s power once before, as well as Alexander Gustafsson’s knee to his face and Anderson Silva’s surgical body kick.
He’s also got all the offensive attributes to give anyone fits. No one grinds as hard has he does.
So can ‘DC’ survive and conquer again, or will the challenger be able to land that perfect strike to put the champion away this time? Here's experts for their breakdowns.
ONE OF THE TWO
Cormier was only the second man to survive a knockdown from Johnson and come back to win. The other was Rich Clementi back in 2007.
- DAN HARDY - UFC WELTERWEIGHT TURNED FIGHT ANALYST
‘Rumble’s kryptonite is partly what makes him so dangerous.
He is able to generate unnatural power, but it comes at a cardiovascular cost. For every full power punch he throws, there is a taxation on his conditioning.
DC is known for his grinding style and ability to make opponents work until they give him an opening to finish. This is how it played out last time.
DC weathered the early storm, took him down, beat on him and smothered him until he began to tire, and then submitted him. I expect his game plan to follow a similar course.
If Johnson is to win this one he has to replicate his victory over Phil Davis, but against a better mixed martial artist. The Davis fight was the best performance we’ve seen of Rumble, where he didn’t starch the guy in the first round.
He was able to pace himself, land powerful but not over-committed shots, stuff all of his takedowns, and continue moving forward. He has to be measured early in the fight. This is a five-round fight, so those first two rounds are expendable when looking at the bigger picture.
Johnson isn’t going to outgrind Cormier. If he beats him, it will be a big punch.
To do that he has to maintain distance, defend takedowns, and touch DC with some lighter punches to establish his timing, for when the opportunity to finish presents itself.
PICKING: DANIEL CORMIER
- BENEIL DARIUSH - KINGS MMA'S BJJ BLACK BELT LIGHTWEIGHT PRODIGY
It’s such an interesting fight because if you look at Anthony Johnson in his fights leading up to the first Cormier fight he was just running through guys. He was just destroying everybody.
Cormier, in the lead up to the first fight, he looked a little bit more depleted and tired from the weight cut. You would say to yourself, ‘Anthony Johnson has got this.’ And I feel like it’s exactly that same situation again.
I’m thinking ‘Rumble’ just because he is looking so good right now. At the same time it is exactly like the last fight. I don’t think there is much difference.
I’m sure Johnson has made some improvements to his ground game but I think Cormier’s wrestling is still on another level.
Cormier is also an incredibly smart guy. If he’s taking the proper measurements he will be ready to deal with Johnson’s crazy power.
You have also got to give props to DC for his great chin. He can certainly take a punch. His chin has never been found lacking. I have a lot of respect for DC.
I’m still going to go with Cormier by either a decision or a finish in the later rounds.
PICKING: DANIEL CORMIER
- GEGARD MOUSASI - LEADING UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE CONTENDER
I was watching recent sparring of Johnson against Tyrone Spong. He looks good. He has better chances of winning this time, but still, it’s going to go the same if he doesn’t knock him out.
That’s a fight that can go either way. Johnson knocks him out or ‘DC’ is going to win, just grinding it out. It’s a very close fight.
Form on the day or if you’re able to land that punch – it’s all about that. It’s not like this guy’s better or that guy’s better.
DC is the better fighter, skill-wise, grinding, wrestling. But it’s small gloves. Johnson’s specialty is to knock people out. If he does that, who cares if DC is better in the grappling area or the wrestling area. It’s whether you can do what you’re good at.
Yeah, he recovered (in the first fight), which shows DC was in good shape to take that punch and come back. I think he’s going to be in good shape this time too. I don’t think he’s going to underestimate Rumble at all.
If I had to choose, DC, but it’s difficult. Johnson uses a lot of power to knock you out. If that doesn’t happen, the other guy can come back. If he weathers the storm, you can do something. Even Vitor survived the storm and was able to put him away. It’s the same way. Nothing has changed. He’s not a different fighter. DC is not a different fighter. Weather the storm and you can get the win.
PICKING: DANIEL CORMIER
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