UFC 201 Predictions: Will The Champ Retain?

Robbie Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley:

Mike Drahota:

It’s an easy to see that the UFC 201 main event promises fireworks, and for good reason. Lawler has delivered three “Fight of the Year” winners and/or candidates during the last three years, and while many are legitimately picking the wear and tear of those epic five-round wars to finally catch up to him tonight, I’m not as sure.

The champion cannot afford to start slow as he did against Carlos Condit, Rory MacDonald, and Johny Hendricks. Woodley definitely possesses perhaps the most threatening one-round skills due to his massive power and speed, but that athletic prowess could begin to wane if the fight lasts more than five minutes.

It’s hard to predict if the absolutely massive amount of strikes Lawler has absorbed lately will finally affect him, but while it could, I think he should have the gameplan to come out firing and use his height and reach advantage to back “The Chosen One” against the cage for a barrage of strikes. Woodley has been out of the cage for a year-and-a-half, and in my mind he lost his last fight to Kelvin Gastelum. He may have added new wrinkles to his game, but it might not be enough to knock Lawler off his throne.

Lawler by second round TKO is my pick.

Rory Kernaghan:

Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley are an intriguing pair explosive athletes. Woodley likes to go very hard early on, but has shown signs of wavering late in fights. This could be a problem against ‘Ruthless,’ who tends to have his best rounds in the final half of the fight.

This in turn could be a problem for Lawler if he comes out too slow, but he also has a wide experience gap on ‘The Chosen One,’ and here is where I feel the key for victory lies. Lawler knows Woodley is going to come out explosive, and rather than take that risk of playing rope-a-dope in to the later rounds, I predict a ruthless finish early on.

Look for a well-timed counter shot to put the lights out, as Robbie Lawler knocks out Tyron Woodley in round one.

Mike Henken:

In my opinion, Woodley’s long layoff, as well as his questionable gas tank, will give him problems in this fight. “The Chosen One” hasn’t competed since earning a lackluster decision win over Kelvin Gastelum in January 2015. Woodley, a former NCAA Division I wrestler, possess explosive power and finishing ability, but he’s also been known to fade as fights go on while Lawler only gets stronger in the later rounds.

I feel as if the “Ruthless” is the superior technical striker, and if he can keep this fight on the feet, which I expect him to be able to do, he should be able to batter Woodley. Lawler via unanimous decision.

Read on to the next page to see our predictions for the pivotal women’s strawweight co-main event.

Rose Namajunas vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz:

Mike Drahota:

This should be a close, exciting co-main event where the winner will legitimately deserve a title shot at champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a women’s 115-pound landscape devoid of true contenders.

Kowalkiewicz has crisp, accurate striking that appears to be slightly ahead of Namajunas’ Taekwondo-based gameplan. However, it’s yet to be seen how she responds to a top-level ground technician, and “Thug’s” jiu-jitsu game has surpassed herr own stand-up in my opinion.

Look for Namajunas to make this fight ugly by taking Kowalkiewicz to the ground early and go for the submission. I don’t think she’ll get it, but I do think “Thug” wins this one by decision.

Rory Kernaghan:

Namajunas vs. Kowalkiewicz is likely to be a very high-paced entertaining bout. ‘Thug’ Rose has proven herself with three straight wins in the weight class including a stoppage over Paige VanZant, but faces an unbeaten prospect in Kowalkiewicz.

I feel the Polish Muay Thai specialist has a lot to offer Namajunas, but also the same could be said on the opposing side, hence why this is a tough pick to make from my perspective. It has to be a gut call here, Karolina defeats Namajunas by decision to go 9-0.

Mike Henken:

I’m very interested in this bout, as it should determine the next challenger to Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s 115-pound throne. Undefeated Polish contender Kowalkiewicz has shown to be a tough and durable fighter, but I feel as if she’s taking on one of the best the division has to offer in Namajunas. “Thug” Rose, a former title challenger, is extremely well-rounded in her approach and transitions from striking to wrestling to grappling better than most, which I feel will be the difference maker in this one. Namajunas by second round submission.