Predict the Hangover: UFC 178 Picks & Prognostications

Tonight I'll be working until 2am at my other job but will hopefully have line of sight to a nearby craft beer spot that has TV's and I'll be able to see Bellator. After about 6 hours of sleep, bright and early tomorrow morning, I'll referee and compete in the advanced NoGi and purple belt featherweight at the US Grappling Pendergrass Classic.

Saturday night I'll have a rare opportunity to take the night off from my 2nd job and watch UFC 178.

In case you need some more fuel to your Conor McGregor hype train fire, here he is on embedded:



I saw this UFC card and knew I had to miss work. This is easily IMHO the most stacked UFC PPV in ages. It's not a UFC Fight Night or a card with a main event you sort of care about followed by a main card that is basically a years past UFC prelim card. No sir. This is the real deal.
We've got a belt on the line. A potential contender for the LW belt fight on the line. A logjam clearing fight for the 185 weight class. The return of the bantamweight champion who never lost the belt but surrendered it due to injury. The hype train of Conor McGregor is preparing to really kick into overdrive depending how it plays out. I plan on jumping to my feet at least 6-7 times during this card. Mark my words.

Demetrious Johnson, the UFC'es busiest champ defends his strap against pretty much the last guy who might be worth him facing. Demetrious by 2nd round stoppage. Johnson's latest stoppages have really shown marked improvement in his accuracy in striking. Benavidez got the lights out switch with completely trounced his previous close performance against Mighty Mouse.

Alvarez makes his long awaited UFC debut against Donald Cerrone in what will undoubtedly be Fight of the Night in a brain damaging stand n' bang scramble affair. I think Cerrone will lose this one because this is exactly the kind of fight he loses, ala the Nate Diaz fight.

Conor McGregor will win by hype train in a 2nd round stoppage.

I love Tim Kennedy, but Yoel Romero is a frighteningly huge specimen at this weight class and his wrestling will be too much for Kennedy. Romero also has insane power as evidenced by the big right hands he put on Brad Tavares, Derek Brunson, and Ronny Markes. Credit to Kennedy for taking this fight but Yoel is a guy I think virtually no one else in the division wants to fight.

I don't typically watch women fights so I don't know how that one will go.
Dominick Cruz will pick apart the plodding, flat-footed Mizugaki who will stalk and grow increasing frustrated over the 3 round affair.

Masvidal because I've always liked watching "Gamebred" fight.

Cote will fight Thompson and the question is whether Cote's experience will balance his ring rust. My suspicion is that his time has passed and Thompson will barely eke out a split decision.

"Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso
for flyweight title

Eddie Alvarez vs. Donald Cerrone

Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier

Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero

Amanda Nunes vs. Cat Zingano

preliminary CARD

FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET

Dominick Cruz vs. Takeya Mizugaki

James Krause vs. Jorge Masvidal

Patrick Cote vs. Stephen Thompson

Brian Ebersole vs. John Howard

preliminary CARD

UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET

Kevin Lee vs. Jon Tuck

Manny Gamburyan vs. Cody Gibson " 
                                                                                           
 

Monday Morning Videodrome/Productivity Killer: UFC 178 Countdown, Dominick Cruz Comeback, et al

The brash self promotion-minded Irishman in the vein of Ali takes on his first real stern test to move toward a title shot. Poirier as missed a few steps along the way but is the first (IMHO) real genuine danger to McGregor's hype train.
 

And
Alvarez wastes no time in taking a fight that could put him up for a title shot. Cerrone...well, Cerrone tends to lose these kinds of fights. He beats Alvarez, no one cares because they'll say Alvarez was fighting in the minors. He loses, it's a big "W" for Alvarez and a reminder that Cerrone misses the mark in making his way to fighting for the title every time. Either way, it will be a fun stand and bang affair to be sure.

 

And
The least heralded of the UFC's title holders, Johnson faces another challenger in the dwindling supply of the pipeline of guys worth him facing in his division. Other than a rematch with McCall who recently had his hand operated on, I don't honestly know who else there is for him to legitimately fight. But, that being said, it will be a fun fight to watch as long as it lasts. I see Johnson catching Cariaso in maybe the 1st or 2nd round.



And
Near and dear to my heart, I remember watching Cruz in the WEC and thinking, "that guy will have the UFC strap one day". An ACL tear or two later, followed by a groin tear, and he's largely been forgotten despite never having actually lost the belt.
Having gone through ACL surgery, I can't imagine the heartbreak of a second tear right as he was about to return from the first one.

 

UFC 178 Johnson vs Cariaso, McGregor vs Poirier, Cerrone vs Alvarez: Extended Preview for the Most Stacked Card in Awhile

In less than two weeks, what looks like to me, the best bang for your buck UFC card in recent memory takes place:

Flyweight title fight.
Alvarez makes his long awaited UFC debut against Cerrone in what has to be a good fight.
McGregor's hype train continues gains momentum or derails.
Tim Kennedy takes a SERIOUSLY dangerous fight against the ridiculously heavy-handed and wrestling standout Romero who looks like a LHW when he cuts weight.
Dominick Cruz returns after 2 ACL surgeries and surrendering his belt.
Masvidal who I love to watch fight is on the card. Patrick Cote from my younger years is on the card, and the entertaining Ebersole fight Doomsday.
Man.
I'm out of breath just putting all that out there. Below is the extended preview.

"main CARD

Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET

Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso
for flyweight title

Eddie Alvarez vs. Donald Cerrone

Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier

Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero

Amanda Nunes vs. Cat Zingano

preliminary CARD

FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET

Dominick Cruz vs. Takeya Mizugaki

James Krause vs. Jorge Masvidal

Patrick Cote vs. Stephen Thompson

Brian Ebersole vs. John Howard

preliminary CARD

UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET

Kevin Lee vs. Jon Tuck

Manny Gamburyan vs. Cody Gibson "