UFC 205 is almost upon us, and despite the Cerrone-Gastellum and Evans-Kennedy fights falling through, it has managed to retain its status as one of the most stacked cards in UFC history.
As UFC President Dana White tells it, it has broken the gate and attendance records at Madison Square Garden, is expected to set new Fight Pass and FX1 viewership numbers and is well on course to shatter the PPV buys record as well.
In a nutshell, November 12th is a historic night for both the UFC and MMA fans worldwide. With a wide array of stylistic match-ups as well, it ought to be a fight fan’s dream. Here then, are our picks for the fights on the main card.
Women’s Bantamweight Fight: (#1) Miesha Tate vs (#8) Raquel Pennington
Dushyant:
Similar to the Joanna fight, Miesha Tate edges out Raquel Pennington in just about every department here. Miesha's head, I believe, is in a very good place right now and the girl has been taking every fight very seriously. She will undoubtedly do her work coming into this fight and regardless of how one-sided it might appear to the outsider, Miesha will ensure that she leaves no stone unturned in taking this one home.
Prediction: Tate via 2nd round Submission
Lennard:
Pennington stuffs the takedowns of Miesha Tate, and lands more volume to edge out a decision victory.
Prediction: Pennington by UD
Aditya:
Tate isn’t the best striker as was exposed against Nunes, and while Rocky isn’t quite on the same level as the Brazilian, do expect her to have the edge on the feet. Of course, Tate is a tenacious grappler who would do well to take this fight to the ground.
I expect this to go the distance and Miesha Tate to just edge a decision.
Prediction: Tate by UD
Men’s Middleweight Fight: (#2) Chris Weidman vs (#4) Yoel Romero
Dushyant:
A really good match, probably one of the hardest to accurately predict, because the fighters themselves are as unpredictable as it gets. While I was tempted to pick Weidman as the safer pick for this match, Yoel Romero, I believe would likely craft an offense built on his athleticism and sheer creativity that will be too much for Weidman to handle.
Prediction: Yoel Romero via 2nd round TKO
Lennard:
Both Weidman and Romero are awesome wrestlers, who have power in their fists. The fight will be even until the 3rd round, where Romero will gas out and give Weidman the advantage.
Prediction: Weidman via 3rd Round submission
Aditya:
The Middleweight Championship picture is wide open, and the winner of this fight is expected to be Michael Bisping’s next challenger. Both men are accomplished wrestlers and both can hold their own on the feet as well. With Weidman coming off a serious surgery on his neck, how good will he look?
Romero’s victory over Jacare has been thrown into jeopardy given that he failed a drug test after that. With an asterix hanging over both fighters, the one who wants it more could end up taking this fight.
Both have toughness for days, and I just don’t see a finish in this one. Weidman’s cardio may edge him this fight.
Prediction: Weidman via UD
Women’ s Strawweight Title Fight: (c)Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs (#2) Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Dushyant:
This match is certainly the easiest to call out of everything else that is on the card. Joanna is, simply put, the better all-round fighter. While Karolina's tenacity is nothing to scoff at. I really don't think Joanna will have any trouble taking this one home.
Prediction: Joanna Jedrzejczyk via UD
Lennard:
Karolina may absorb the shots of Joanna in the first round, but the volume will get to her in the second. This should be a quick one.
Prediction: Joanna Jedrzejczyk via 2nd Round TKO
Matthew:
This fight seems like the most evenly matched on the card and should go the distance with the champion dictating the action both in and out of the clinch. In the end, Jdrzejczyk’s superior Muay Thai should prevail and help her retain her title.
Prediction: Joanna Jedrzejczyk via UD
Aditya:
The Champion Joanna has changed camps to move to American Top Team before this fight, and even the best fighters need time to settle into new surroundings.That being said, Joanna is just a better fighter than Karolina, who has a wide array of strikes in her arsenal, but not quite the snap or the mean streak that the Champion possesses.
This could easily be the fight of the night as both fighters are likely to stand and trade for the entirety of the 5 rounds. But Joanna should take this one.
Prediction: Joanna Jedrzejczyk via UD
Men’s Welterweight Title Fight: (c) Tyron Woodley vs (#2) Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson
Dushyant:
My man Tyron is certainly not the favorite going into this fight and for the life of me, I can't understand why. He has the all-round wrestling and boxing in his arsenal, the ground game is where Wonderboy is going to have a very hard time keeping up.
I don't think Wonderboy’s chin is going to withstand the onslaught of Tyron's punches should the fight remain standing up either. Tyron is a disciplined fighter and I'm sure he's coming into this fully prepared. He'll have an answer to everything Wonderboy throws at him.
Prediction: Woodley via 2nd Round TKO
Lennard:
Wonderboy's range and the sheer unpredictability of his kicks may get the better of Woodley, despite the Champion’s ability to blitz, get into the pocket and land the fight-ending right hand. Expect a similar fight to Wonderboy-Hendricks.
Prediction: Wonderboy via 1st Round TKO
Matthew:
Stephen Thompson’s unorthodox stance could keep Woodley’s right hand at bay and give Thompson control from the bell. Kicks to the body peppered with Thompson’s quick hands should seal this fight as quick as Lawler’s last title defence and we should have a new 170 pound champion at Madison Square Garden.
Prediction: Wonderboy via 1st Round TKO
Aditya:
This is the fight that is stylistically the hardest to call for my liking. Wonderboy’s kicks and distance management could leave Woodley grasping at air and punished for each attempt to close the distance like Hendricks was.
And yet, few in the division are better than Woodley at feinting and blitzing to close the distance. Once he gets into the pocket, that right hand is devastating. Wonderboy could keep him at bay for the majority of 5 rounds, but one slip up could end the fight.
That being said, Woodley’s cardio could also dip at the deep end. Man, what a fight this should be.
Prediction: Woodley via 1st Round TKO/ Wonderboy via 2nd Round TKO
Read Also: Woodley vs Wonderboy breakdown
Men’ s Lightweight Title Fight: (c ) Eddie Alvarez vs (c-FTW) Conor McGregor
Dushyant:
The big one! Also probably the second toughest fight in this card to call. I just want to say that this is the first time Conor is facing someone in the UFC who has really gotten to him in terms of mind games, Eddie Alvarez has been keeping it steady and I believe him when he says that he took the fight only because of the payday and because he knew he'd retain against Conor.
While the world roots for Conor, I'm going to predict a rather easy victory for Eddie Alvarez in this fight. It can be a UD or a Submission, because despite how good a striker Eddie is, he's not knocking a 155 Conor out, there's just no way.
Prediction: Eddie Alvarez by 2nd Round Submission
Lennard:
McGregor weathers the early storm from Eddie to look to grapple and grind him, and gets the job done in the third round with the left cross.
Prediction: Conor McGregor by 3rd Round TKO
Matthew:
The Irishman should start strong, employing his array of Capoeira kicks to keep Alvarez at a distance and go on to control the fight with long left crosses in the midst of lightning quick jabs.
The veteran’s chin should hold up, but Alvarez’s striking history indicates that he could be found out by Mcgregor’s superior head movement. This could, in turn, lead to the Lightweight champion shooting for takedowns and even succeeding.
However, Conor is a tricky customer on the ground, as he proved against Mendez, and if the featherweight Champion finds a way out, I believe that he can finish it in the second, with his boxing bringing him home the historic second title in the second round.
Prediction: Conor McGregor by 2nd Round TKO
Aditya:
Eddie Alvarez seems to be underestimating Conor McGregor going into this fight and that could end up serving the Irishman well. However, Alvarez is a fighter that knows how to win a war and if Conor doesn’t put him away early, he could be in for a rough night.
However, Alvarez is too easily hit and hasn’t really fought anyone in the UFC with the finesse or power of McGregor. This could be done early.
Prediction: Conor McGregor by 1st Round TKO
Read also: Eddie Alvarez vs Conor McGregor breakdown
