As sports fans everywhere continue to have Olympic fever, the UFC is set to give us more on Saturday.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, a 2008 bronze medallist in judo, meets Sara McMann, a 2004 silver medallist in freestyle wrestling, in the main event of UFC 170.
Both women are unbeaten in MMA following their successful Olympic careers.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch UFC 170 preliminary fights on Sportsnet 360 Saturday starting at 8 p.m. EST
The co-main event features Daniel Cormier, the former captain of the United States Olympic wrestling team. Cormier makes his light-heavyweight debut against former training partner Patrick Cummins, who will make his UFC debut on short notice after Rashad Evans injured his knee.
Before all the action begins, find out who our predictions panel (UFC Central host Showdown Joe Ferraro, Sportsnet staff writer Mike Johnston, and sportsnet.ca contributors Spencer Kyte, James Lynch and Adam Martin) think will win the main card bouts then have your say by voting.
Ronda Rousey vs Sara McMann
Showdown: Rousey. Ronda has much more to lose than Sara in this bout; it’s a different type of hunger for Rousey and I believe this one could boil down to striking, of which I believe, Rousey has the edge.
Johnston: McMann by decision. I predicted in 2012 McMann would be the one to beat Rousey. Her poise will counteract Rousey’s aggression and she should be able to hold her own in the clinch.
Kyte: Rousey by decision: McMann isn’t going to go quietly or easily, but Rousey is still the better overall competitor and her superior quickness and determination will carry her to another victory.
Lynch: Rousey by third-round submission. McMann will make this more competitive than the Tate fight because of her wrestling. Ultimately though, Rousey’s strength and high-level judo will be too much and she’ll sink in her usual fight ending armbar.
Martin: Rousey by submission. The women’s champ will prove once again she’s the baddest chick on the planet with yet another dazzling armbar submission victory.
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Daniel Cormier vs Patrick Cummins
Showdown: Cormier by decision. I will not be surprised if this one goes the distance. I’ll take DC via unanimous decision.
Johnston: Cormier by TKO. Cummins is a great prospect but the term “anything can happen in MMA” need not apply to this fight. Cormier can’t afford to look average here.
Kyte: Cormier by first-round TKO. This time last week, Cummins was a barista. He’s not coming anywhere near beating Cormier.
Lynch: Cormier by decision. Because of the late switch up, expect Cormier to play it safe and earn a dominating win with his wrestling.
Martin: Cormier by TKO. The Strikeforce Grand Prix champ will dismantle newcomer Pat Cummins and score his first finish in the UFC with a TKO stoppage from punches.
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Rory MacDonald vs Demian Maia
Showdown: MacDonald by decision. The youth and reach advantage is swaying my opinion here. I’ll give the edge to Rory Mac in a three-round affair.
Johnston: MacDonald by TKO. Stylistically this is a poor matchup for Maia, who won’t be able to get inside position due to MacDonald’s excellent distance control.
Kyte: MacDonald by first-round TKO. After a disappointing performance against Robbie Lawler, expect “Ares” to come out more aggressive right out of the gate. If he does, it will be too much for Maia to handle.
Lynch: MacDonald by decision. We’ll see a much more aggressive MacDonald in this fight as he’ll look to out-strike his Brazilian foe. Don’t expect a finish though as MacDonald doesn’t posses superior knockout power nor will he submit the black belt Maia on the ground.
Martin: MacDonald by decision. The pupil of GSP will reaffirm his spot as one of the top five welterweights in the world as the Canadian will outpoint the Brazilian.
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Mike Pyle vs TJ Waldburger
Showdown: Waldburger early, Pyle late. Seems superficial, but Mike is often a slow starter, rope-a-doping his opponents into a fake sense of reality. Then they wake up with a doctor saying “are you ok?”
Johnston: Waldburger by submission. Waldburger shouldn’t risk too many exchanges on the feet, but his jiu-jitsu is superior and he’ll catch Pyle in a choke for the biggest win of his career.
Kyte: Pyle by first-round TKO. The man with the best mullet in the UFC (and a great Southern drawl to go with it) has shown knockout power over the last couple years. Unfortunately, for Waldburger, he’s shown a penchant for getting knocked out.
Lynch: Pyle by knockout. Both these fighters are well versed on the mat, but expect Pyle to keep this fight standing and go for his sixth career knockout as he’ll catch the 25-year-old in the second round.
Martin: Pyle by KO. Pyle has excellent Muay Thai and TJ Waldburger’s chin is not good at all. Look for Pyle to score a KO with knees from the clinch.
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Stephen Thompson vs Robert Whittaker
Showdown: Excellent stylistic matchup here. If Whittaker can get Thompson down to the ground, he will grind out a decision. If he stands and bangs with Stephen, he loses the decision.
Johnston: Thompson by decision. This should be a striking battle and Thompson’s technical superiority will give him the edge over Whittaker’s unorthodox style.
Kyte: Whittaker by decision. As the fight moves out of the first round, this becomes a battle of attrition that comes down to who has the more complete repertoire. I give the edge to Whittaker, and expect the young Aussie to wear down “Wonderboy” to win on the cards.
Lynch: Thompson by split decision. Whittaker has never been knocked out in 14 career fights and I don’t see it happening on Saturday. Thompson should get the better of the standup war as he’ll edge out a close decision.
Martin: Thompson by decision. Thompson is a flashy striker and he and Whittaker will put on a show for the fans, but ultimately Thompson will get his hand raised as he wins via decision.
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