UFC 178: Fully Loaded

Photo Credit: mixedmartialarts.com

By: Chris Huntemann, Columnist

I think “fully loaded” would be the perfect subtitle for this UFC pay-per-view, as this is the most stacked card in recent memory. Although the main event is the only title fight, each of the other fights on the main card (and even one on the preliminary card) is rife with title implications.

So, who will take advantage of their opportunity on the big stage and separate themselves from the pack? Let’s find out.

Bonus pick: Dominick “The Dominator” Cruz vs. Takeya Mizugaki (Bantamweight – 135 lbs.) Cruz makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon after an almost three-year absence because of multiple injuries. So does Cruz get an easy warm-up fight to help ease his way back into the flow? Why, of course not! He gets Takeya Mizugaki, who’s in the midst of a five-fight win streak that includes names like Francisco Rivera and Nam Phan. Cruz was well on his way to being considered one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world before his injuries. His speed and elusiveness makes it almost impossible for his opponents to land any significant strikes. It remains to be seen if his multiple knee surgeries robbed him of any of that. But while Mizugaki is no pushover, given Cruz’s almost fanatical dedication to his craft, I like his return to be a triumphant one as he seeks to regain the belt he never officially lost. Winner: Cruz by unanimous decision

Cat “Alpha” Zingano vs. Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes (Women’s Bantamweight – 135 lbs.) Much like Cruz, Zingano is also returning after a long layoff due to injury. She was set to coach opposite women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey on “The Ultimate Fighter” after defeating Miesha Tate in April 2013. A knee injury derailed those plans, and then Zingano had to deal with the unspeakable tragedy of her husband’s suicide. Nunes is following up back-to-back TKO victories with an opportunity to spoil Zingano’s return and thrust herself into the title race. But Zingano’s Muay Thai is second to none and is what some think is the key to beating the seemingly unbeatable Rousey. That remains to be seen. But, what I think will be seen Saturday night is Zingano’s Muay Thai carrying her to a TKO victory. Winner: Zingano by TKO

Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero (Middleweight – 185 lbs.) Kennedy is on fire in the middleweight division, rattling off a four-fight win streak and vanquishing the seemingly always-hated Michael Bisping earlier this year. He’s now itching for a fight with Vitor Belfort, but first has to get past Romero, who has a four-fight win streak of his own. Something has to give in this fight, and I like Kennedy to continue his streak. Winner: Kennedy by TKO  

Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier vs. “The Notorious” Conor McGregor (Featherweight – 145 lbs.) Judging by how much coverage this fight (or more accurately, McGregor in particular) has received, you would think this is the main event. McGregor has become one of the biggest stories in MMA, seemingly by just opening his mouth and insulting basically every featherweight fighter in the world. He backed up his talk by posting a three-fight win streak thanks to a first-round TKO victory over the dangerous Diego Brandao in July. But Poirier isn’t Brandao. His war with Chan Sung Jung in 2012 is still fresh in many people’s minds, and Poirier’s last victory is also a TKO over Brandao. McGregor may have the flashy clothes and be able to hitch a joyride in Dana White’s Ferrari, but he's still a long way away from the upper echelon of the featherweight division. Unfortunately, I see “The Diamond” derailing a game McGregor’s hype train. Winner: Poirier by unanimous decision  

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vs. Eddie Alvarez (Lightweight – 155 lbs.) If the term “dream match” ever applied in MMA, it might apply to this fight. Alvarez finally makes his UFC debut against one of the most exciting fighters in the world and a finishing machine in Cerrone. I fully expect this fight to result in people paying their bills at their local bar afterwards and leaving before the actual main event of Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso. This fight will definitely have that main event buzz. Alvarez is known for his classic battles with Michael Chandler in Bellator and has basically been considered the best fighter not to be in the UFC. Now he gets his chance to live up to that claim against a fighter who never fails to entertain in “Cowboy.” Both men are tough as nails, and I expect this to be a slugfest for the ages. Either guy winning would not surprise me at all. But, since I have to pick a winner, I like Alvarez to pull off an upset and immediately thrust himself in the lightweight title conversation. Winner: Alvarez by unanimous decision  

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson vs. Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso (Flyweight Title – 125 lbs.) Demetrious Johnson has cleaned out the flyweight division. I don’t think this is up for debate. He previously competed in the bantamweight division and came up short in a title fight against Dominick Cruz. But, he has completely and utterly dominated the flyweights. I think it’s just a matter of time before he gives bantamweight another shot. Cariaso has a three fight win streak going, but that streak will end early against a fighter who is head and shoulders above everyone else in his division and is in the thick of the pound-for-pound conversation. Winner: Johnson by TKO

Fall is here folks, and with it a UFC pay-per-view that finally seems like it lives up to the title “pay-per-view.”  

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.