Preview: UFC 210 ‘Cormier vs. Johnson 2’

Featherweights

Myles Jury (15-2) vs. Mike de la Torre (14-6): Given the way WME-IMG has been handling the UFC roster in 2017, this could be a loser-leaves-town fight for two talented featherweights. It was not so long ago that Jury was a ranked lightweight on his way to contention. A one-sided loss to Donald Cerrone spoiled those plans and sent “Fury” to the featherweight division, where he was succinctly tapped out by Charles Oliveira. Now, two years, two camp changes and one extended layoff since his first defeat, Jury will hopefully show some of his old fire in a bout with the power-punching De La Torre. De La Torre has the makings of an excellent fighter but for two fatal flaws: He is not particularly durable and he is prone to brawling when pressured. Jury will likely have a hard time outwrestling De La Torre, whose takedown defense is stout, but a disciplined, long-distance approach should work well for him. Fortunately for Jury, he has a two-inch reach advantage and the wherewithal to use it. So long as the cut to 145 pounds does not kill his stamina -- we have yet to see him outside the first round in this weight class -- this should be his fight to lose. The pick is Jury by second-round TKO.

Welterweights

Kamaru Usman (9-1) vs. Sean Strickland (18-1): Still just 28 years old, Usman belongs in the same category as men like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Mirsad Bektic, a new generation of super-athletic wrestle-boxers. Like his compatriots, Usman specializes in cage wrestling, suffocating his opponents with airtight control even as he methodically works for takedowns and hammers away from dominant positions. Under the guidance of Henri Hooft, Usman has developed a solid kickboxing game, but he needs to apply pressure in order to keep a fighter such as Strickland from taking control at range. On paper, Strickland’s reach is identical to Usman’s, but long-range is where he thrives. Two years younger than Usman, Strickland has twice as many fights under his belt, and that experience shows. He is a deft boxer and a better defensive wrestler and grappler than most assume. However, like many athletes who began fighting professionally at a young age, “Tarzan” sometimes seems to have a different conception of victory than his counterparts. He is often content to let time slip away so long as he is not absorbing serious damage, and his superb jab is too infrequently followed by power punches. Strickland could frustrate Usman with his footwork and distance control, but the strategic focus of Usman is a distinct advantage when it comes to winning rounds. The pick is Usman by unanimous decision.

Featherweights

Charles Rosa (11-2) vs. Shane Burgos (8-0): The concept of an easy fight is foreign to Rosa, who has battled back and forth with every one of his four UFC opponents. This sword is double-edged: Rosa can brag that he took top prospect Yair Rodriguez to a split decision, but he might also choose not to mention that Sean Soriano, 0-3 in the UFC, gave him all he could handle just one fight prior. Burgos is not quite as sharp on defense as his self-assured swagger would suggest, but he is not at all afraid to be hit, and the power in his hands -- particularly his left hook -- allows him to come out on top in most exchanges. That confidence is practical, as well. Burgos effortlessly maintains his composure, whether countering strikes in the pocket or thwarting a takedown attempt against the fence. Though he likes to come forward, Burgos does prefer to counter, and he is not particularly adept at cutting off the cage. Rosa likes to move, and he possesses a confusing array of kicks. His posture on the feet is more defensive than threatening, however, and despite his long-distance game, he absorbs 50 percent of his opponents’ significant strikes. Rosa’s best shot will be to tangle up Burgos on the ground, but he will first have to get through some solid takedown defense and a respectable grappling game. The pick is Burgos by unanimous decision.

Light Heavyweights

Patrick Cummins (8-4) vs. Jan Blachowicz (19-6): In many ways, Blachowicz is a difficult opponent for Cummins. A two-time NCAA All-American wrestler, Cummins has consistently struggled to blend striking with his excellent wrestling game and has a bad habit of throwing himself out of position as he attacks with punch combinations. For a fighter who has been knocked out four times in the UFC, Blachowicz’s precise kickboxing is a problem. However, the men who have put Cummins away have not only been powerful punchers but aggressive ones, as well. Blachowicz is neither. The Pole has just five knockouts to his name, and he typically throws fewer than five strikes per minute, preferring to keep distance and pot shot. Cummins can press the pace when he needs to, which does not bode well for Blachowicz, who has always struggled to up his volume without gassing. As for the wrestling: Blachowicz stops just 33 percent of the takedowns attempted by his opponents, whereas Cummins typically shoots once per minute, completing nearly seven takedowns per 15 minutes. Blachowicz’s accuracy could be a problem for the hittable wrestler, but Cummins will have the energy and will to press his advantages even more fiercely. Cummins by unanimous decision is the pick.

Lightweights

Gregor Gillespie (8-0) vs. Andrew Holbrook (12-1): Gillespie may be inexperienced and his skills are continuing to develop, but he possesses the discipline and composure of a more tenured fighter. Gillespie is a wrestler and grappler by nature, but he showed the fullness of his game in his UFC debut against Glaico Franca. While Franca found holes in Gillespie’s striking defense, he also found himself on the end of a surprisingly powerful jab, which Gillespie frequently followed with a takedown attempt. Holbrook lacks Gillespie’s clean technique, but he is as tenacious as they come, pressuring with strikes and countering everything that comes his way with a takedown attempt. Gillespie is certainly the better takedown artist of the two, but Holbrook stays extremely heavy whenever he gets his hands on his opponent and has a knack for finding the back as his opponent carries his weight. Gillespie is the more technical and powerful fighter, but he will need to watch his neck as he shoots, as Holbrook specializes in finding chokes from the front headlock. Ultimately, this fight should be a perfect test for Gillespie -- or a chance for Holbrook to prove himself as a contender. The pick is Gillespie by unanimous decision.

Lightweights

Desmond Green (18-5) vs. Josh Emmett (11-0): Emmett came to the UFC by chance, making his debut as a short-notice replacement in May, but he has proven he belongs on the big stage. In his most recent fight, a hard-fought win over Scott Holtzman, Emmett’s skill and talent were on full display. He threw 175 strikes, putting full power into the vast majority of them. He completed eight of 12 takedown attempts, scored one knockdown and showed off the top-notch conditioning and scrambling for which Team Alpha Male is renowned. In many ways, Green is a similar fighter. He has compiled an impressively full record in just five years of pro competition. Taller and longer than Emmett, Green does tend to fight from a longer distance. Emmett has shown a propensity for counterpunching, however, and Green tends to get a little wild on the attack; nonetheless, he is quite durable, having never been knocked out. Both men thrive in back-and-forth, scrappy battles of attrition, and that is precisely what this fight should look like. Emmett’s combination of dogged wrestling, aggressive pocket boxing and constant lateral movement should enable him to counter and control Green enough to get the win. Emmett by unanimous decision is the pick.

Women’s Bantamweights

Katlyn Chookagian (8-1) vs. Irene Aldana (7-3): If you are a fan of back-and-forth kickboxing, then this is the fight for you. Chookagian has struggled somewhat in the UFC bantamweight division for two reasons: She is a little small for the weight and she has fallen prey to superior wrestling. Aldana may have more strength and power than Chookagian, but the Invicta Fighting Championships emigrant is no Liz Carmouche, both in terms of physicality and wrestling skill. In fact, Aldana is a boxer who will seek to occupy middle distance and trade punches at every opportunity. Aldana hits harder and tends to throw more, but she is hittable, relying too much on distance and blocking for a fighter who likes to step in and throw hands. If Aldana can land the big shots, she could very well steal rounds, but Chookagian is the better defensive fighter and more likely to mix a variety of kicks into her punch combinations. Both women are typically in excellent shape, so it will be an interesting battle between the discipline of Chookagian and the fire of Aldana. Chookagian via unanimous decision is the pick.

Flyweights

Jenel Lausa (7-0) vs. Magomed Bibulatov (13-0): Lausa impressed in his UFC debut, a competitive but convincing win over the ever-improving Zhikui Yao. However, Bibulatov will be a much tougher opponent. In fact, the Chechen star, widely regarded as the best flyweight prospect in the world, will be Lausa’s best opponent to date. Bibulatov’s record speaks to the completeness of his fighting style. He has earned five submissions and two knockouts since his pro debut in 2013. He is as dynamic as any flyweight on the planet, throwing flying knees and spinning back kicks with ease and deadly precision. In 2015, he took the World Series of Fighting title with a five-round decision, comfortably dispelling any doubts about his stamina. Lausa does have the power and speed to break Bibulatov’s rhythm. He is essentially a flyweight Jimi Manuwa, limited but dangerous and patient to boot. Like BIbulatov, Lausa has taken a five-round decision. The ease with which Bibulatov presses the pace and flows from phase to phase will be something he has never seen before, however. The pick is Bibulatov by second-round submission.

Connor Ruebusch is an analyst of striking and boxing technique for Sherdog.com, as well as BloodyElbow.com and BadLeftHook.com. He has written hundreds of articles examining fighting form and strategy, and he is not done yet. Every Wednesday he talks about the finer points of face-punching on his podcast Heavy Hands. Though he dabbles in fantasy MMA, he is not a regular gambler, nor is he an expert in the field. If you use these predictions as a betting guide, please do so in combination with your own best judgment and a healthy pinch of salt. It is your money.