UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux

Date: Saturday, April 23rd
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass): 23:30 LP.net / 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1): 1:00 LP.net / 5pm PST / 8pm EST
Main Card (PPV): 3:00 LP.net / 7pm PST / 10pm EST
Live Streams: http://firstrowus1.eu/




Main Card (PPV)

Jon Jones (21-1) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (19-7) (Light Heavyweight)
Demetrious Johnson (23-2-1) vs. Henry Cejudo (10-0) (Flyweight)
Anthony Pettis (18-4) vs. Edson Barboza (16-4) (Lightweight)
Robert Whittaker (15-4) vs. Rafael Natal (21-6-1) (Middleweight)
Yair Rodriguez (6-1) vs. Andre Fili (15-3) (Featherweight)

Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)

Sergio Pettis (13-2) vs. Chris Kelades (9-2) (Flyweight)
Danny Roberts (12-1) vs. Dominique Steele (14-6) (Welterweight)
Carla Esparza (10-3) vs. Juliana Lima (8-2) (Women's Strawweight)
Glaico Franca (13-3) vs. James Vick (8-0) (Lightweight)

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

Walt Harris (7-4) vs. Cody East (12-1) (Heavyweight)
Marcos Rogerio de Lima (13-3-1) vs. Clint Hester (11-5) (Light Heavyweight)
Efrain Escudero (24-10) vs. Kevin Lee (11-2) (Lightweight)

Other

- The event was expected to be headlined by a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between current champion Daniel Cormier and former champion Jon Jones. The pairing met previously at UFC 182 in January 2015 with Jones defending his title via unanimous decision. Subsequent to that victory, Jones was stripped of the title and suspended indefinitely from the UFC in connection with a hit-and-run incident that he was involved in. Cormier replaced him and went on to defeat Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 to win the vacant title.
- On March 29, Jones was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico on a charge of violating his probation related to his hit-and-run incident in 2015. The arrest took place five days after Jones was cited on multiple traffic charges, including drag racing, exhibition driving, weaving, failing to properly display his license plate and modifying his exhaust pipe. He agreed to plea deal and was released on March 31. In a statement, the UFC announced it was "disappointed" with Jones, but the bout will continue as planned. However, on April 1, it was announced that Cormier injured his foot and was out of the planned fight. He was replaced by Ovince Saint Preux in what will now be an interim title fight. Anthony Johnson was the original planned replacement, but due to a recent oral procedure, he wasn't able to accept the fight.
- A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Demetrious Johnson and 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling Henry Cejudo is expected to co-headline the event.
- In January 2016, B.J. Penn announced his intentions to return to active competition in the featherweight division after an 18-month "retirement" and was expected to compete at this event. However, Penn's return was delayed after an investigation into recent criminal allegations made against him was launched. After he was exonerated, the UFC announced that he would face Dennis Siver at UFC 199.
- Former WSOF Women's Strawweight Champion Jessica Aguilar was expected to face Juliana Lima at the event, but pulled out on March 18 due to a knee injury. She was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza.

----------

First impression of the match-ups:

• Jones > OSP
• Johnson > Cejudo
• Barboza > Pettis
• Whittaker > Natal
• Fili > Rodriguez
• Kelades > Pettis
• Roberts > Steele
• Lima > Esparza
• Vick > Franca
• East > Harris
• Lima > Hester
• Lee > Escudero

Pettis brothers always fight @ same night or what ? :D
Why Barboza > Pettis though ? They seem to have similar styles, but Pettis should be the more skilled one

I'm gonna be on cejudo,

Also thinking about taking Barbosa over pettis

Yeah also barboza over pettis but I'll watch the weigh ins first, and it think Rodriguez > Fili

On April 17 2016 22:50 Spitfiree wrote: Pettis brothers always fight @ same night or what ? :D Why Barboza > Pettis though ? They seem to have similar styles, but Pettis should be the more skilled one

Pettis and Barboza are both outside fighters because they are kickers. While Barboza isn't known for his boxing, he's faster and throws much harder punches than Pettis, and also kicks harder.

Barboza has good TDD, and since he's facing a "tall" fighter who isn't a wrestler, Pettis won't have much of a chance to use his superior BJJ skills.

Also, Barboza throws way more strikes than Pettis, which is pretty obvious just by watching their fights.

I predict a decision win for Barboza.

On April 17 2016 23:31 jvilla777 wrote: Yeah also barboza over pettis but I'll watch the weigh ins first, and it think Rodriguez > Fili

You won't learn anything from the weigh-ins when it comes to Barboza and Anthony Pettis. Both always look great. I don't remember a time they looked anything close to "bad."

Regarding Rodriguez vs. Fili, I see it similar to Pettis vs. Barboza. Rodriguez is a flashy fighter who isn't a volume striker, while Fili is a volume striker with superior hands and power and also has decent wrestling (better than Rodriguez), while Rodriguez has the BJJ advantage off his back. Decision win for Fili, imo.

I'm okay with taking OSP here, I think...

Jon Jones might come out on some super beast level, but perhaps OSP is a bigger beast /shrug.

I don't think Cejudo can beat Demetrius Johnson.

Once you watch the first few minutes of the main event you are going to remember what the #1 P4P looks like.

I assume OSP is drawing really thin here but I'll be pulling for him hard

He trains out of the town I went to college in (Knoxville, TN). He also played football for the University of Tennessee (where I went). When I was a student, I went with 3 other buddies to an XFC event (some small MMA organization) and he was apart of the main event when he was first starting his career. We got to see him knock his opponent out with a head kick in the 1st round sitting ringside for like $25/piece

Also Jon Jones is a douche. GO OSP

Found a video of it. Pretty epic knockout

His tdd wasnt as good back then bit solid head kick on the midget tho. Sick video to find. Were they similar in weight?

Ovince needs to hit a runner runner but maybe the stars will align just like it did in holm vs rousey. Everyone is overlooking OSP as they should (myself included), but i love controversy. IDK what it is but i get a thrill out of watching champs get beat with exception of MCG even though diaz is my guy who lives like an hour away. But as long as the fights are exciting ill be happy.

Holm had everything necessary needed to win plus a bunch of guys predicted it. OSP would be a much bigger upset. Its a dumb main event, but nothing they could do about it I guess, I doubt they would put JBJ in a position to fight Gustafson on a short notice and I doubt he d agree either. Would be the only available great fight @ LHW

On April 17 2016 23:41 PuertoRican wrote: Pettis and Barboza are both outside fighters because they are kickers. While Barboza isn't known for his boxing, he's faster and throws much harder punches than Pettis, and also kicks harder. Barboza has good TDD, and since he's facing a "tall" fighter who isn't a wrestler, Pettis won't have much of a chance to use his superior BJJ skills. Also, Barboza throws way more strikes than Pettis, which is pretty obvious just by watching their fights. I predict a decision win for Barboza.

All of that is true but Pettis beats all fighters who give him space and time, he has only lost to pressure fighters and Barboza doesnt pressure I think Barboza is going to get countered and picked apart, I think Pettis wins this unless Barboza hurts him early with leg kicks.

On April 18 2016 23:56 Baalim wrote: Show nested quote + On April 17 2016 23:41 PuertoRican wrote: Pettis and Barboza are both outside fighters because they are kickers. While Barboza isn't known for his boxing, he's faster and throws much harder punches than Pettis, and also kicks harder. Barboza has good TDD, and since he's facing a "tall" fighter who isn't a wrestler, Pettis won't have much of a chance to use his superior BJJ skills. Also, Barboza throws way more strikes than Pettis, which is pretty obvious just by watching their fights. I predict a decision win for Barboza. All of that is true but Pettis beats all fighters who give him space and time, he has only lost to pressure fighters and Barboza doesnt pressure I think Barboza is going to get countered and picked apart, I think Pettis wins this unless Barboza hurts him early with leg kicks.

I'd rather see Pettis win, but I'm not letting my love for him as a fighter and as a fellow Puerto Rican cloud my judgment.

I know the styles of Pettis and Barboza really well, which is why I'm sticking to my original thought on the fight.

In a perfect world, we'll see a nice striking battle with Pettis winning via Matrix kick off the cage.

On April 18 2016 19:54 flounder44 wrote: Ovince needs to hit a runner runner but maybe the stars will align just like it did in holm vs rousey. Everyone is overlooking OSP as they should (myself included), but i love controversy. IDK what it is but i get a thrill out of watching champs get beat with exception of MCG even though diaz is my guy who lives like an hour away. But as long as the fights are exciting ill be happy.

Holm winning wasn't luck.
A lot of people predicted it happening. Her fightning style was perfect to beat Ronda.
She totally dominated ronda for the whole fight. It had nothing to do with luck.

OSP on the other hand needs a lucky KO or hes not winning for sure.

Jones > OSP - Once OSP is on his back he's completely fucked.

Johnson > Cejudo - Interested more than most people only because DJ's game is largely predicated off of his constant level changes so its possible Cejudo nullify's that and it becomes closer.... but I doubt it because unless Cejudo improved massively, DJ is just better everywhere and has a massive cardio advantage. Still, for the first time in forever for a DJ fight I feel like the odds are correct.

Pettis > Barboza - What can I say, the guy burned me super hard before but this is a tailor made matchup for him. A distance striker with a non-granite chin who doesn't push the pace. Barboza is live but I think he gets starched. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Pettis submits him, his offensive wrestling is far better than his defensive wrestling, he took down Jeremy Stevens a few times but more-so he'll probably just rock him and finish it with a sub.

Whittaker > Natal - Please God let Whittaker land early and murk this scrub.

Rodriguez > Fili - Close, fun fight. Fili looked much improved in his last fight vs Benitez but I just think he's a bit less dangerous than Middle-Pettis and far more hittable. Fili is the better wrestler and throws more volume though, but Yair is also really amazing in the scrambles and creating them with his guard, where Fili is over-aggressive and not that heavy on top (atleast in his fight vs Arantes)

Pettis > Kalades - Another tailor made matchup for a Pettis bro. His biggest weakness is his chin (unlike Anthony who I've never seen rocked even vs RDA) but Kalades doesn't hit hard. Should be some great scrambles but at range it should be a wipe-out.

Roberts > Steele - Roberts is really good and dangerous, Steele isn't.

Esparza > Lima - Wrestle-fuck to submission

Vick > Franca - Submission

East > Harris - East looks like he could actually be a legit prospect. His striking and movement for a HW look awesome. Want to see him vs good competition, but this is a good start to get his feet wet.

Hester vs Lima - Pickem, whoever lands big first, I'm leaning Hester though, better gas tank and technique (only because Lima is just a massive hitter with neither) - The under 1.5 should be -200ish

Lee > Escuedero - Should be a fun but 1-sided fight