UFC 199 Predictions
Written by Derek Moody, June 3, 2016, at 12:58 a.m. Tweet to: @DerekMoody619
Champion Luke Rockhold vs #4 Michael Bisping
Michael Bisping has waited eight years to fight for the middleweight title since joining the division; the problem is he’s fighting Luke Rockhold who submitted him back in 2014. Rockhold has progressed immensely since their last encounter and looks to continue on his wrecking path.
He did announce an MCL injury, but guaranteed he’d still destroy Bisping. If the injury is true that’s an advantage for Bisping. One thing is certain, Bisping definitely won the verbal sparring at the press conference. If Bisping were to win it’d be by decision and as much as England would love to see that, it’s just not likely to happen.
Pick: Luke Rockhold via TKO
Champion Dominick Cruz vs #2 Urijah Faber
This is the third fight between the two, Faber won the first meeting via guillotine choke back in 2007 for the WEC Featherweight Championship. That is the only time Cruz has seen defeat in his career. He completely transformed his game after that fight vowing to avenge the loss and not meet defeat again.
They met again in 2011, this time for Cruz’s UFC Bantamweight Championship, where Cruz won by unanimous decision. Faber couldn’t contain the movement of Cruz which I foresee being the same issue in this fight.
Cruz has elevated and mastered this style for the last decade; someone trying to figure this out would need to do the exact same but there isn’t enough time in a regular training camp to figure out Cruz and still develop or polish your own skills. If Faber can successfully gain some takedowns and work his wrestling he may have a shot, if he can’t, another unanimous decision loss to Cruz would be his fate making him 0-4 in UFC title fights.
Pick: Dominick Cruz via Decision
#4 Max Holloway vs #5 Ricardo Lamas
Max “Blessed” Holloway is currently on an eight fight win streak and I don’t see Lamas being the guy to stop him from making it number nine. Holloway has a great blend of strikes that come from all angles.
Ultimately, Lamas won’t be able to withstand the spinning back kick to the body that Holloway delivers to every opponent he faces. Gaining a nine-fight win streak should earn him a spot along side Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo on the waiting list for the title shot against Conor McGregor. Holloway is the only fighter to go to a decision with McGregor so a rematch would be intriguing.
Pick: Max Holloway via TKO
#15 Dan Henderson vs #14 Hector Lombard
Neither fighter is in the hunt for a title or really in a great position to break the top 10. Lombard hasn’t fought twice in a year since 2013 so this is the only fight I’m expecting from him this year so he better make it count. Hendo is 2-6 in his last eight fights, his name alone is why he keeps getting booked and the appeal of a possible one punch knockout.
I could easily picture Hendo landing that overhand right for the knockout or gassing himself from throwing that and Lombard being cautious just seeking a decision win. This one is a coin toss, all based on their gas tanks.
Pick: Hector Lombard via Decision or Hendo Knockout
#11 Dustin Poirier vs # 13 Bobby Green
Bobby Green hasn’t fought since November 22, 2014, and stated before that fight that he was considering walking away from the sport. I don’t know if his heart is back in the sport or how well he’ll perform coming off of two serious surgeries.
Green is known to fluster fighters with his constant taunts, something Poirier has struggled with in the past. Poirier has been superb since moving up in weight, if he can control his emotions from the taunting of Green he should be able to come out victorious.
Pick: Poirier via Decision
Prelims Headliner
#12 Brian Ortega vs Clay Guida
Finally we get to witness Brian “T-City” Ortega back in the Octagon to continue his climb into the top 10. This will be an interesting fight as Guida is a hard fighter to contain but once Ortega gets a hold of him the submission won’t be too far away. This should be a bloody one as both guys leave it all in the cage. Ortega needs a name like Guida on his resume as he climbs that ladder towards the title.
The last two fighters Ortega faced had 19 and 20 wins, Guida has 32 so he’s certainly fighting the most seasoned fighters in the division. It’s hard to believe this will only be Ortega’s 12th fight seeing who he usually faces off against. Hopefully this fight ends up on the ground so we can watch jiu jitsu at it’s finest vs some aggressive wrestling seeing how both look for the submission.
Pick: Brian Ortega via Submission
What do you think of our UFC 199 predictions? Who will really win? Let us know in the comment section below!
