UFC 216 Preview, Breakdown & Fight Analysis

Although it may not be receiving a ton of attention, UFC 216 this Saturday (Oct. 7, 2017) night live on pay-per-view (PPV) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, boasts a solid lineup with multiple fights of importance in various divisions.

The card will be headlined by an interim lightweight title fight between red-hot top contender Tony Ferguson and the brash and outspoken Kevin Lee. The co-main event will feature a flyweight title fight between dominant 125-pound king Demetrious Johnson, who will attempt to break Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive title defenses made by a UFC champion when he faces rising contender Ray Borg.

Also on the main card, former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum will look to get back into the win column against powerful knockout artist Derrick Lewis.

Now just days away from the event, let’s take a deeper look into the three fights that will top off UFC 216:

Tony Ferguson vs. Kevin Lee

In the absence of 155-pound champion Conor McGregor, the UFC elected to create an interim title in order to keep the division moving forward. Originally, Ferguson was scheduled to face undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov for the strap last March, but “The Eagle” was forced to withdraw from the bout just a day prior to the event.

Now, Ferguson will meet No. 7-ranked Kevin Lee, who’s recently put together a five-fight winning streak.

Ferguson, currently ranked as the No. 2 lightweight, has been on a tear as of late, winning an incredible nine straight bouts. Known best for his unorthodox and unpredictable style, Ferguson is a well-rounded fighter who often sees success both on the feet and on the ground.

Although he tends to leave himself open to damage at times, Ferguson is a resilient and durable fighter who enjoys using his incredible cardio to put pressure on his opponents. “El Cucuy” also has tremendous takedown defense, although he’s extremely comfortable on the mat, finishing eight of his 22 professional victories by way of submission.

Lee, on the other hand, is a young, tough, explosive and highly confident fighter. Like Ferguson, “The Motown Phenom” has a background in wrestling and is very well-versed on the canvas, with half of his victories coming by way of submission. Lee also has power in his hands, although I feel as if Ferguson has the overall advantage in the striking department.

Both men are elite-level fighters, and I could see this fight going either way, but I feel as if the fight may also be too much too soon for Lee. I simply don’t feel he’s faced a fighter the caliber of Ferguson, and I think that, in addition to Ferguson’s awkward style, will be the difference maker.

Prediction: Ferguson via unanimous decision

 

Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg

Arguably the best fighter on the planet, Demetrious Johnson will look to make history against Ray Borg in the co-main event of UFC 216, and I expect him to do so.

Johnson, in my opinion, is one of the most well-rounded fighters on the UFC roster. On the feet, his speed is unparalleled, and he also has the ability to fight successfully out of both stances, often switching between orthodox and southpaw while making it look effortless. He often likes to fight in the clinch as well, where he’s  successful with a vicious array of knees.

In addition to that, Johnson transitions between his striking and his wrestling effectively. On the canvas, “Mighty Mouse” is a relentless finisher, as he’s finished 10 fights by way of submission.

Despite the fact that I expect Johnson to win the bout, I’m not downplaying Borg’s skills. At just 23 years of age, Borg is ranked as the No. 3 flyweight contender. He’s won three consecutive bouts and five of his last six fights. Training out of the famed Jackson-Winklejohn Academy, Borg has consistently improved, while showcasing a strong ground game, as six of his 11 victories have come by way of submission.

At the end of the day, I believe Johnson is leaps and bounds ahead of his division in terms of talent.

Prediction: Demetrious Johnson via. second-round submission

Fabricio Werdum vs. Derrick Lewis

Both of these heavyweight contenders are coming off of losses, but I still find this a compelling bout.

Werdum capped off a six-fight winning streak when he submitted Cain Velasquez to become the heavyweight champion in 2015, but he’s since lost two of his last three bouts. “Vai Cavalo” was brutally knocked out by Stipe Miocic in 2016 after recklessly charging in, and he dropped a lackluster decision loss to Alistair Overeem this past July.

Lewis, on the other hand, was riding a six-fight winning streak, with five of those victories coming by way of T/KO before he was stopped by veteran knockout artist Mark Hunt last June. After that bout, he contemplated retirement, but he’s recently appeared to be rejuvenated.

Despite his recent skid, I feel as if Werdum has the upper hand in this bout. His striking has improved over the years and his grappling remains amongst the best in all of MMA. Lewis has the ability to finish a fight on the feet at any given point, but issues with his cardio and on the ground could hurt him against “Vai Cavalo”.

Prediction: Fabricio Werdum via unanimous decision