First and Worst is an ongoing series for MMARatings.net, where every week Adam will make his pick for the best and worst newly-announced fight of the past week (Monday to Sunday). If you’d like to see any additions to this series, hit him up on Twitter @MMAdamMartin.
First: Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier, UFC 187
My pick for the best new fight announced over the past seven days is the upcoming fight at UFC 187 between Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson, who are fighting for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title after Jon Jones was stripped of his belt by the UFC due to his alleged role in a hit-and-run. UFC 187 takes place May 23 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Johnson vs. Cormier is the main event of the pay-per-view card.
This is no Jones vs. Johnson, but it’s a nice consolation prize. Both Cormier and Johnson are ranked in the top five of the light heavyweight division, and this is a fight we would have seen down the road for sure at some point, but we get to see it now because of Jones’ legal issues. Again, this is a replacement bout for a reason, and no one can replace the excitement Jones brings to the Octagon, but Cormier and Johnson are both solid fighters who will undoubtedly put on a great show for the fans, with one of the two men emerging with the title after 25 minutes or less of action.
For Cormier, the game plan is simple: Use your wrestling and take Johnson down, where he has been susceptible to submissions in the past. For Johnson, he doesn’t have as clear of a game plan, but if he can keep this fight on the feet and utilize his reach and knockout power, that would be his best way to get the win. It’s an intriguing style matchup between two very different fighters, and it makes for a very interesting clash for the fans, who are looking for some excitement on what was once a super-stacked UFC 187 card.
It’s unfortunate that the winner of Johnson vs. Cormier will be considered a paper champion because of what happened with Jones, but hey, at least we get a title fight between two of the best in the world, and it should be a good one. It’s just not Jones, and that’s the sad thing.
• Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier (UFC Light Heavyweight Championship)
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Worst: Michelle Waterson vs. Angela Magana, TUF 21 Finale
My pick for the worst new fight announced this past week is the upcoming women’s strawweight bout at the TUF 21 Finale between Michelle Waterson and Angela Magana. The card takes place July 12 at a yet-to-be-announced venue in Florida, and Waterson vs. Magana will likely find a place on the event’s main card.
I just don’t really get the matchup. I understand the UFC wants to introduce Waterson, the former Invicta FC atomweight champion, to a new fanbase, but I feel like Magana is a severe step down in competition. I mean think about it. Waterson won her title against Jessica Penne, who is now fighting Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship. So for her to go from fighting championship-caliber fighters to fighting someone who is only in the UFC because of her trash talk is a puzzling decision by the UFC. I know Waterson lost her belt to Herica Tiburcio in her last fight, but come on. Magana?
Yes, Magana has a marketable personality, but let’s face it, she’s being brought in here to lose to Waterson and to make the UFC’s latest signing look really good. Magana isn’t a bad fighter, but she’s not really at the UFC level, and is only with the promotion because she talks a good game. She looked terrible in her UFC debut against Tecia Torres, and oddly enough the UFC is giving her what is arguably a step up in competition against Waterson, and it’s an opportunity that I just don’t feel like she earned.
This is a blowout mismatch, and if Waterson doesn’t look impressive I’d be shocked. Look for the former champ to cruise in this fight and win in devastating fashion, likely by TKO or submission. But what a win over Magana means for her future career prospects at 115 lbs, I don’t know.
• Angela Magana vs. Michelle Waterson
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UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier (formerly UFC 187: Jones vs. Johnson) takes place on May 23, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 187 will be.
