UFC 194 has perhaps the biggest fight of the year with the UFC Featherweight Championship Unification fight between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor. What’s going a little under the radar is perhaps the best co-main event in UFC history with the middleweight belt up for grabs when champion Chris Weidman locks horns with Luke Rockhold.
There’s plenty more exciting fights to keep you on the edge of your seats in UFC 194. Top middleweights collide when Ronaldo Souza takes on Yoel Romeron, while other top contenders go toe-to-toe in their respective weight divisions.
Read on for everything you need to know on UFC 194. For more action, take a look at our in-depth breakdown of the Aldo vs. McGregor fight.
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UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor Undercard Preview
UFC Middleweight Championship: Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold
Back in May, UFC Middleweight Champion Chris “All-American” Weidman (13-0) was tired of his doubters. He quickly dispatched of Brazilian blitzer Vitor Belfort with mounted punches in the very first round for his third straight title defense. But the champ didn’t walk away totally unscathed, he absorbed a Belfort blitz which gave him a cut above his left eye.
[sc:UFC240banner ]Weidman is your workman-like fighter, excelling in putting a ridiculous amount of pressure against his opponents. Most of them wilt. Weidman has two finishes against one of the greatest fighters of all-time, Anderson Silva, in 2013 winning the title in one and defending it in the other. He also defeated former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida for his second title defense.
While the All-American loves to put on the pressure by landing plenty of strikes and attempting takedowns (3.75 per fight), he doesn’t seem to have a deep gas tank to keep him fresh in the championship rounds. Enter No. 1 contender Luke Rockhold (14-2). A former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, Rockhold has shown that he can grind out five-round decisions. He has title fight victories over Ronaldo Souza and Tim Kennedy while under the Strikeforce banner.
Rockhold is a dangerous southpaw with a solid kicking game. His liver kick is deadly, while his right question mark kick can fluster opponents. Rockhold is also no slouch when it comes to his hands with a solid check right hook and a stunning left elbow. But where the challenger excels is on the ground. He submitted Machida in the second round to earn his title shot and submitted perennial contender Michael Bisping with a one-armed guillotine choke on November 2014.
Writer’s prediction: Rockhold (+110) has all the tools to hand Weidman his first career loss. The fight goes the distance in a thrilling decision victory for the challenger.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (22-3) is tired of waiting for a shot at the UFC Middleweight belt. He’ll fast track his way to the title with a victory over No. 3-ranked middleweight Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero (10-1). Jacare is an elite Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt with 16 submission victories. But he could meet his match in Romero, a former Olympic silver medallist in free-style wrestling.
The Solider of God isn’t just a wrestler; he’s taken well to striking in mixed martial arts competition. Romero has nine knockouts in his 11-fight career, five of those in the UFC.
Writer’s prediction: Souza (-150) doesn’t give Romero any space at all. Jacare grabs a hold of his opponent’s neck and squeezes tight for the second round submission.
It’s going to be one hell of a grappling match when Demian Maia (21-6) and Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson (14-1-1) lock horns in the middle of the Octagon. Maia is a serious title challenger in the stacked UFC Welterweight Division, currently in a three-fight win streak. A decorated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, Maia’s skills have served him well in mixed martial arts with 10 submission victories.
Gunni is no slouch on the ground either as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt. He’s won silver and gold medals in his own weight class as well as the absolute division (no weight limit!) in his grappling career. Like Maia he’s crossed over well in mixed martial arts with 10 submission victories. But Nelson may have an edge as an excellent striker with a karate black belt. Nelson’s vicious knockdown and subsequent submission of Brandon Thatch is still so beautiful to watch as a showcase of his well-rounded skill set.
Writer’s prediction: Gunni is the more well-rounded fighter and should hold the edge in this matchup. Nelson (-110) wins a unanimous decision.
It’s all action when the main card starts rolling. Sluggers Max “Blessed” Holloway (14-3) and Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens (24-11) meet in what should be a brawl. Holloway is known for being an elite striker with a deadly submission game. He picked off top contenders Charles Oliveira (technical knockout) and Cub Swanson (submission) to cap off a seven-fight win streak entering this bout.
Stephens may lack technical striking, but he makes up for it with grit and determination. A very big featherweight, Lil Heathen has dynamite in his hands with 16 career victories by knockout or technical knockout. Stephens was most impressive in his last outing, knocking down top contender Dennis Bermudez twice before ending the fight with a flying knee KO.
Writer’s prediction: Holloway (-600) puts the hurting on Stephens in a dominant unanimous decision victory.
Fox Sports 1 Prelims
Urijah Faber suffers another late career bump in a decision loss to up-and-comer Frankie Saenz (+450), whose wrestling and crisp strikes should be dominant in this matchup.
Tecia Torres (-300) peppers UFC newcomer Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger with strikes, and mixes in opportune takedowns for a clear-cut unanimous decision victory.
Warlley Alves (-110) is too strong and too big for Colby Covington. Alves surges in the first two rounds before fighting off a comeback effort from Covington in the third in a contentious decision.
Kevin Lee (-600) puts on a mixed martial arts clinic, spamming takedowns and powerful strikes against aging Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Leonardo Santos for a unanimous decision victory.
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
Joe Proctor (+280) upsets Magomed Mustafaev with a first round submission.
Yancy Medeiros (+140) overwhelms an undersized John Makdessi for a late second round TKO.
Court McGee (-180) beats Marcio Alexandre Jr. from pillar to post in what should be the safest bet of the night. McGee takes a wide unanimous decision victory.
