UFC 216 Preview - Potential Card of the Year Featuring Two Title Fights

By Muk

Folks, we are in for a treat Saturday night with UFC 216. This card has three massive fights on the main card, all of which have the makings for a big-time finish with huge significance. 

The first two fights on the main card are more-or-less just your average solid matchups, starting with a lightweight matchup between #12-ranked Beneil Dariush taking on #14-ranked Evan Dunham, a fight that will likely land the winner inside the top-10 ranks at 155-pounds. Next we have a women's bantamweight matchup, between Mara Romero Borella, and Kalindra Faria. I will be quite honest with you guys, I do not know either of these women, as both are making their UFC debuts, but I think this matchup should prove to be fun for that exact reason. These two have finally made it to the biggest possible stage, and we can only hope that fuels them to put on a great performance. 

It seems like I'm not the only one who's surprised by this addition to the main card.

Is this a mistake or is this fight really on the #UFC216 main card? pic.twitter.com/2PeYVo5XHj

— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) October 3, 2017

Now things get fun, with two big and bad heavyweights throwing down, as #2-ranked Fabricio Werdum takes on #6-ranked Derrick Lewis, as both men look to rebound from their last fights, both coming off of loses. This is a huge fight for the heavyweight division, because right now there is no challenger scheduled to fight the champ, Stipe Miocic, and both of these men are looking to strengthen their case as a true title contender. Werdum, the former champ, has the clear advantage if this fight goes to the mat, as not only is he probably the heavyweight with the best ground game, but Lewis has probably the worst in the division. I am pulling for "The Black Beast" in this one, because I really don't like Werdum, and I think Lewis is great for the UFC and the heavyweight division because he is quite the character, so him climbing back into the title picture would be awesome.
Prediction: Lewis via 2nd-round TKO
(However if I was a betting man, I would have Werdum via 2nd-round submission)

Next, we have a historic title fight between flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson and #3-ranked Ray Borg. Mighty Mouse is looking to defend his belt for a record 11th straight time, which will break his tie with Anderson Silva, and will solidify his argument as the greatest champion in UFC history. This fight was meant to take place at UFC 215 a month ago, but Borg pulled out with an illness due to his poor weight cut, something that is a concern every time Borg fights. This fight will go how every Mighty Mouse fight goes, and he will completely dominate in every fashion. He is the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world for a reason, and I think he will not face much adversity in this matchup. 
Prediction: Johnson via Unanimous Decision

Finally, our main event of the evening, a matchup that should have any and every fan excited, for many, many reasons. This fight is for the Lightweight Interim championship, as #2-ranked Tony Ferguson will take on #7-ranked Kevin Lee, in what should be an all out war. Both men have awesome ground games, and incredible toughness, which has all the makings for a technical brawl. Tony Ferguson is regarded as one of the toughest fighters on the roster, but that has not impressed Kevin Lee, who thinks that will be Ferguson's downfall, and will just lead to a "longer asskicking". I think this fight will start as a standup battle, but one of these guys is going to initiate the ground game, and that's when things will get real interesting. Another big reason that this fight is a must-see, is that the winner may be the next man to face Conor McGregor, and that should get everyone excited. I am going to be honest and say that I think the hype around Tony Ferguson is too much, and I think that McGregor would stop him within the first two rounds, and I think he may meet the same fate on Saturday against Kevin Lee, just through a different means of stoppage.
Prediction: Lee via 3rd-round submission

Q: When was the last time @TonyFergusonXT was in a boring fight?

A: Never#UFC216 pic.twitter.com/lcIyVx597W

— UFC (@ufc) September 28, 2017

Whether he ends Saturday night with his hand raised or not, Tony Ferguson is for sure going to do his best to put on a great show for everyone.