Countdown To UFC 187
This Saturday night (May 23, 2015) the mixed martial arts (MMA) world will be treated to arguably the most stacked pay-per-view card of the year (at least so far) in the form of UFC 187 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Although the blockbuster event took some massive hits when headliner Jon Jones was stripped of the belt and indefinitely suspended and lightweight title hopeful Khabib Nurmagomedov was forced out of his title top contender bout against Donald Cerrone, it will still feature two high-profile title fights backed by their own background and hype.
But it’s not for the same reasons whatsoever. In the main event, bulldozing title contender Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson will take on late replacement Daniel Cormier, who lost a grinding five-round decision to Jones at January’s UFC 182 after a massive trash talked-filled buildup. Jones tested positive for cocaine prior to the fight, and he got into even more trouble with drugs that has been his career in serious doubt for the time being.
Meanwhile, ‘Rumble’ has been knocking out every opponent put in his way since coming back to the UFC. The Blackzilians team member has found a new focus after putting his once-ridiculous cuts down to welterweight in the past, now fighting in a more natural class of 205 pounds. He proved that he could deal with very high-level wrestlers by dispatching Phil Davis at UFC 172; Cormier will present a much more well rounded test, however. Watch the all-new Countdown to UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier below:
And the card doesn’t stop there, as oft-injured middleweight champ Chris Weidman will finally square off with longtime rival Vitor Belfort in a bout that has seemingly been in the works since Weidman’s second victory over Anderson Silva in late 2013. It was first delayed when Belfort failed a drug test for elevated testosterone in early 2014, and then a slew of Weidman ailments pushed the bout back two more times after he beat Lyoto Machida at UFC 175 last July.
Aside from all the hype and bad blood between Weidman and Belfort, however, the fight actually presents a very intriguing battle of young, undefeated champion against the old, crafty ‘lion’ who has seen it all after debuting the UFC almost 20 years ago (it’s true).
Weidman has been injured a frustrating amount in the past year, true; but Belfort hasn’t fought since he knocked out Dan Henderson at UFC Fight Night 32 way back in November 2013. With his stigmatized testosterone-replacement therapy banned, it’s just hard to say where Belfort will be at, and the same could probably be said for Weidman as well.
Those dynamics make this a potentially explosive title fight that will serve as an absolutely blockbuster co-main event. Check out Countdown to UFC 187: Weidman vs. Belfort right here:
