UFC 214: Daniel Cormier vs Jon Jones 2 - Preview and Predictions

UFC 214 goes down at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and it is one of the promotion’s most stacked cards of the 2017 calendar year.

Boasting not one but three UFC Championship matchups, UFC 214 has all the makings of a near-perfect combat sports presentation that ensure an equal dosage of entertainment for the casual and hardcore fanbases of the sport.

Apart from the title-fights, fans are also in for a treat as two of the most exciting fighters in MMA history - Robbie Lawler and Donald Cerrone - do battle inside the Octagon. Also on the main card is Cris Cyborg who will face Tonya Evinger for the vacant UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship.

Furthermore, a potential number 1 contender's matchup in the light-heavyweight division opens the PPV section of UFC 214, as the ‘Poster Boy’ Jimi Manuwa takes on the lethally accurate Volkan Oezdemir.

Below are the complete predictions for UFC 214, including the main card matchups as well as the prelims:

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Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

Aleksandra Albu has all the makings of a star for the UFC

#1 Kailin Curran vs Aleksandra Albu

Curran and Aleksandra Albu are both good fighters, who haven’t quite showcased their true potential inside the Octagon.

I see this fight being a platform for both talented fighters to ascend to the next level… or rather elevate each other to the next level, by bringing out the best in one another.

This is going to be a fun scrap!

Prediction: Aleksandra Albu def. Kailin Curran via Decision

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#2 Eric Shelton vs Jarred Brooks

Eric Shelton and Jarred Brooks may be far from a shot at Mighty Mouse, but have shown the potential that makes me believe they’ll eventually reach the top.

This is going to be your run-of-the-mill Flyweight battle, with Shelton likely edging it on the judges’ scorecards.

Prediction: Eric Shelton def. Jarred Brooks via Decision

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#3 Josh Burkman vs Drew Dober

Josh Burkman has always been known for his God-given athleticism and otherworldly durability - both of which seem to be fading lately.

Apart from a flash KO/sub, I don’t see how Burkman will win this one, as Dober is fresher and hungry for success.

Prediction: Drew Dober def. Josh Burkman via Decision

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Preliminary Card (Fox Sports)

Ricardo Lamas looks to get back in the Featherweight title picture

#1 Ricardo Lamas vs Jason Knight

Ricardo Lamas is an excellent fighter, and I fully expect him to outclass Jason Knight in this Prelims headliner.

That said, don’t be surprised if Knight catches Lamas sleeping, and slaps on a flash sub.

Prediction: Ricardo Lamas def. Jason Knight via Decision

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#2 Aljamain Sterling vs Renan Barao

This is a story of two fighters with contrasting fortunes - Aljamain Sterling is on the rise whereas Renan Barao is on the decline.

I see the fight playing out on the feet, with Barao scoring points in the standup. Nevertheless, Sterling’s youth and athleticism will take over, and the former champ will take yet another loss on his record.

Prediction: Aljamain Sterling def. Renan Barao via Decision

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#3 Brian Ortega vs Renato Moicano

T-City is back! Ortega is a highly entertaining fighter and I fully expect him to use his excellent grappling to submit Moicano.

Moicano is a decent fighter, but this is T-City’s time.

Prediction: Brian Ortega def. Renato Moicano via Submission

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#4 Andre Fili vs Calvin Kattar

Andre Fili is good, and is slowly developing into a well-rounded Mixed Martial Artist, with both his grappling and striking skills developing at a steady pace.

I see Fili out-striking Kattar, and submitting him once the ground scrambles start transpiring.

Prediction: Andre Fili def. Calvin Kattar via Submission

Main Card

Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones

#1 Daniel Cormier (c) vs Jon Jones: UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship Match

Daniel Cormier vs Jon Jones 2 is one of the most important rematches in the history of combat sports, as the two rivals are widely regarded as the elite of the elite in the young history of Mixed Martial Arts.

In my opinion, DC is one of the best martial artists to have ever competed in the sport, and when it’s all said and done - regardless of whether or not he wins at UFC 214 - Cormier will go down as a legend of the sport.

Now with that being said, Jon Jones has every possible advantage over DC as the two of them head into their rematch a couple of years after their first encounter inside the Octagon. ‘Bones’ is younger, stronger, faster, and has less fight mileage - with wear and tear and damage owing to injuries and competition taking a toll on him - than his opponent Daniel Cormier.

And come fight night, it’ll show.

Jones will weather the early storm, and survive DC’s onslaught, as the latter may be smaller than Jon but definitely packs more power in his punches than the lanky ‘Bones’.

The fight will progress with both fighters having relatively moderate amounts of success in executing their strategy on the feet, with a few brief exchanges on the ground; but the younger Jones will eventually edge out DC and score a late finish, perhaps a TKO in the championship rounds.

Prediction: Jon Jones def. Daniel Cormier via TKO

#2 Tyron Woodley (c) vs Demian Maia: UFC Welterweight Championship Match

Tyron Woodley with the UFC belt, and Demian Maia

Tyron Woodley is one of the most complete MMA fighters today, and his fights against Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson proved the same, showing us T-Wood’s capability of holding his own on the feet against a lethal former Kickboxing champion in Wonderboy.

Nevertheless, Woodley’s UFC 214 opponent is vastly different than Wonderboy. Demian Maia is one of, if not the, best grappler to have ever competed in the sport of MMA.

The man is a wizard in the grappling department and has developed his own style of MMA fighting that sees him use his grappling skills to wear down and submit his foes and hide his mediocre striking game.

In my opinion, Maia does have a legitimate shot at dethroning Woodley, especially if the fight goes to the mat.

However, apart from a guard pull from the clinch or a takedown initiated by Woodley, Maia won’t have it easy trying to get the reigning 170-pound king to the ground, as T-Wood has excellent defensive and offensive wrestling skills.

I see this fight going at a slow pace, with Maia trying but failing to take Woodley down, and the latter eventually lighting the Brazilian up on the feet to score an early KO/TKO finish.

Prediction: Tyron Woodley def. Demian Maia via KO

#3 Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino vs Tonya Evinger: UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship Match

Cris Cyborg and Tonya Evinger

C ris Cyborg finally gets her shot at UFC gold, but not against the opponent we wanted to see her face in Megan Anderson.

Tonya Evinger is a good fighter who has a lot of heart, but apart from a flash KO/sub, I don’t know how she will beat Cyborg.

This fight will see Cyborg claim yet another victim in the UFC, only this time for UFC gold.

Prediction: Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino def. Tonya Evinger via KO/TKO

#4 Robbie Lawler vs Donald Cerrone

Robbie Lawler

Robbie Lawler has been in some incredible battles over the course of his long and storied career, with most of these fights coming after his UFC return about four years back that was followed by a legendary run to the UFC Welterweight title, a few defences, and then a brutal KO loss to Tyron Woodley.

On the other hand, Cerrone is…well, Cerrone. He can beat any fighter on his day, and is as dangerous as they come.

It’ll be intriguing to see how the two veterans start off as both of them are coming off bad KO/TKO losses. I see Lawler having the advantage in boxing, and Cerrone having the better kicks.

This fight could go either way, but I see Cerrone getting drawn into a firefight with Lawler, and ending up staring at the lights after eating a ‘Ruthless’ combination.

Prediction: Robbie Lawler def Donald Cerrone via KO

#5 Jimi Manuwa vs Volkan Oezdemir

Jimi Manuwa

Both Jimi Manuwa and Volkan Oezdemir have fight-ending power in their strikes. This is an excellent matchup that will give us a solid contender for the winner of Jones-DC II.

I see the fight being technical, and both fighters playing it safe by not overcommitting with their strikes. Oezdemir is extremely durable, and Manuwa has shown a few defensive lapses in the past, which he may try to explout.

I see Volkan edging out a gritty decision over the dangerous Manuwa in this PPV main card opener.

Prediction: Volkan Oezdemir def. Jimi Manuwa via Decision

Watch UFC 214 Anaheim, CA Live and Exclusive on SONY ESPN HD, SONY ESPN SD on 30th July 2017- 7:30 AM