Countdown To UFC 205: UFC 205 Fox Sports 1 Preliminary Card Preview
We are a mere two days away from UFC 205 and the fourth edition of the Countdown To UFC 205 will feature a preview of the Fox Sports 1 portion of the preliminary card. The featured fight on this portion of the preliminary card will be Frankie Edgar taking on Jeremy Stephens. Also, Khabib Nurmagomedov takes on Michael Johnson and a pair of middleweights look for a crucial win.
UFC Featherweight Division Fight
Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (20-5-1) vs. Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (25-12-0)
Edgar will be competing for the first time since losing a UFC Interim Featherweight Title bout to Jose Aldo at UFC 200. Stephens has won two of his last three under the UFC banner, those wins came over Dennis Bermudez and Renan Barao. Edgar is a former UFC Lightweight Champion, he defended the belt twice before losing it to Ben Henderson at UFC 144. Stephens previously fought as a lightweight in the UFC, earning a record of 8-8-0 during his time in the division.
Prediction: Stephens definitely has the power to put Edgar to sleep at anytime, but Edgar has footwork and boxing, which will help him get the decision victory.
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov (23-0-0) vs. Michael “The Menace” Johnson (17-10-0)
Nurmagomedov has won a total of seven fights under the UFC banner, including a win over former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC On Fox 11. Johnson has only won just one of his last three under the UFC banner, that lone win came over Dustin Poirier at UFC Fight Night 94. Nurmagomedov has only competed once in the last two-plus years, which was a win over Darrell Horcher at UFC On Fox 19. Johnson made it to the finals of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 12 and he has fought a total of four TUF alumni during his UFC run.
Prediction: Johnson has the boxing to keep Nurmagomedov at a distance for the first round, but Nurmagomedov figures out how to get the takedown on Johnson on route to scoring a decision win.
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Rafael “Sapo” Natal (21-7-1) vs. Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch (19-10-0)
Natal has won four of his last five under the UFC banner, with notable wins coming over Uriah Hall and Chris Camozzi. Boetsch has only won just one of his last four in UFC competition, that lone win came over Josh Samman at UFC Fight Night 91. Natal has seen his last six fights go into the third round, with only one of them not ending via a judge’s decision. Boetsch will be competing on a UFC pay-per-view for the first time in nearly two years, his last PPV appearance came at UFC 183 in January 183.
Prediction: Boetsch strength will be his wrestling game, but Natal is great on the ground and he knows how to use his striking game to keep Boetsch at a distance, Natal gets the decision win here.
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Vicente “The Silent Assassin” Luque (10-5-1) vs. Belal “Remember The Name” Muhammad (10-1-0)
Luque will enter the fight on a three fight winning streak, those wins have come over Hayder Hassan, Alvaro Herrera and Hector Urbina. Muhammad will be looking to build on the momentum of his first UFC win, which came over Augusto Montano at UFC Fight Night 94. Luque is an alumni of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 21, which featured the Blackzilians vs. American Top Team format. Muhammad is a former Titan Fighting Championships Welterweight Champion, he defeated WSOF veteran Steve Carl to win that championship.
Prediction: Luque wants to get the fight to the ground and Muhammad wants to keep it standing, Luque grounds and submits Muhammad in the second round.
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