The UFC 187 main event bout between Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier is intriguing for many reasons. It’s the first time a new champion will be crowned in the division since 2011. It’s an interesting contrast in styles between two highly skilled fighters. It’s a bout that features two fighters than have overcome lots of adversity, but which one will rise to the occasion on Saturday night?
I believe that fighter will be Daniel Cormier.
Here’s why:
Anthony Johnson is on record saying that Cormier is a tougher fight for him stylistically than compared to when he was training to fight Jon Jones. That’s not hyperbole in hyping the fight in my opinion. I agree that Cormier is a tougher fight for Johnson than Jones.
Daniel Cormier simply has more tools in his tool box than Anthony Johnson. Johnson essentially has a puncher’s chance in this fight. There’s no doubt he has a great equalizer in the power he possesses in his hands and feet. However, Cormier’s style is different than that of Alexander Gustafsson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and even Phil Davis who is a wrestler at heart.
Actually, let’s use the Phil Davis fight as an example since he’s a “wrestler” and many including myself gave Davis a good chance at winning that fight against Johnson. The difference between Cormier and Davis as a fighter is night and day. Cormier’s wrestling has translated better to MMA, but the main difference is that Cormier doesn’t mind getting hit and likes the grind in a fight. Whereas, once Johnson cracked Davis with a big punch early in the fight, Davis basically went into survival mode. Davis allowed Johnson to be the aggressor, and that’s something that historically Cormier has not allowed his opponents to control. If Cormier allows Johnson to dictate the fight, then he’ll be in big trouble.
I expect Cormier to pressure Johnson early in the fight. Most fighters do not fight well moving backwards, and Johnson is no different. Cormier will look to put Johnson against the cage when possible, lean on him and force him to exert energy. Johnson has never been into the fourth or fifth rounds in a fight, whereas Cormier has gone five full rounds twice. The longer the fight goes, the more Johnson will begin to fade at the pace that Cormier will set.
The pace that Cormier and Jon Jones fought at earlier this year was tremendous, and I do not believe that Johnson has the stamina that Jon Jones does. I think that was the difference in winning and losing the Jon Jones fight for Cormier. Cormier has been able to train with heavyweight kingpin Cain Velasquez who has stifling pressure and pace when he fights which wasn’t the case when Cormier was training for Jon Jones due to Velasquez being injured. This could be a telling factor in the fight on Saturday night.
The power of Johnson is of course a concern, but Cormier has fought guys with huge power as a heavyweight and had no problems there. So I don’t anticipate it being a problem on Saturday night. I think the wrestling of Cormier will limit what Johnson tries to do offensively. Will he use kicks and risk being taken down? If Cormier pressures him it will be really difficult for Johnson to use kicks effectively. If Johnson becomes one dimensional, is his stand up good enough to beat Cormier if he doesn’t get the KO in rounds 1 or 2?
I don’t think that’s the case. Cormier’s striking is sneaky good, he’s the better wrestler, and I think has the better stamina. I expect Johnson to have his moments in the fight, but I think Cormier gradually wears Johnson down and takes a unanimous decision or stops a heavily fatigued Johnson with strikes late in the fight.
AJ via T/KO
Like I said homie!