Preview & Prediction: UFC 200 – Lesnar vs Hunt & Cormier vs Silva

The big one is here. The build up for UFC 200 has been escalating since beginning of the year. The initial headline fight was billed as McGregor vs Diaz. However the promotional comittment of UFC 200 proved too much for McGregor who will now fight Diaz in UFC 202. And now two days before the main event Jon Jones tests positive for drugs. Is UFC 200 cursed? Despite the change in the schedule we still have a classic billing. Lesnar vs Hunt! We have another change. Daniel Cormier will now fight Anderson Silva in a 3 round fight.

Here is the statement from Dana White regarding the shocking revelations;

UFC President Dana White announced Wednesday night that the new main event for UFC 200 on July 9 will be the heavyweight bout between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt.

The announcement came after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed Jon Jones of a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out of competition test on June 16. With insufficient time for a full review of Jones’ case before his main event bout against UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, Jones was removed from the card.

“It’s super, super disappointing,” White said during a hastily called press conference at MGM Grand. “It was a brutal phone call.”

The entire card for UFC 200 is insane. Only the best will fight on the night. Is it still the best fight line-up in history after all the changes? Two world title fights in one night. Here is the full card:

Live on pay-per-view

Lesnar 27/20 vs Hunt 20/39
Tate 20/57 vs Nunes 19/10
Aldo 10/11 vs Edgar 10/13
Velasquez 5/18 vs Browne 9/4

Prelims

Zingano vs Pena
Hendricks vs Gastelum
Dillashaw vs Assuncao
Northcutt vs Marin

Lesnar vs Hunt

If there ever was a clash of the titans, then Lesnar vs Hunt is exactly that. These guys are big in stature and character. It will be bloody and brutal. Don’t expect any games, just pure solid blows. Could potentially be the end of a career if there is a fatal knock-out.
Prediction: Mark Hunt to win in the second round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmTHCHCdNVw

Cormier vs Silva

So this is the replacement fight for Cormier vs Jones. Remember this is not a title fight. A three round bout between seasoned fighters. Silva makes Cormier look like a newcomer with double the fights. He really is a legend of the sport. Glad to see a quality fight instead of nothing at all.

Tate vs Nunes

Third on the bill, Tate vs Nunes will be an explosive affair. Tate is on high after putting Holly Holmes to sleep, she had previously beaten Ronda Rousey. The quality of this fight highlights the level of women’s fighting. We are constantly seeing title fights on big fight nights.
Prediction: Nunes to win in the first round

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjyw6F47CEs

Aldo vs Edgar

With McGregor now fighting at a higher weight, Aldo and Edgar are the best featherweight fighters on the planet. Expect fireworks and surprises. Aldo has only ever lost once, where as Edgar has been knocking out champions on the way up.
Prediction: Aldo to win in the fourth round

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5CyItRTOjE

Let’s see how history will be written. There is no doubt that UFC 200 will live up to it’s billing. How can it not?