UFC 186 was announced over the weekend with seven bouts confirmed for the card. The event takes place August 25 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and will air on pay-per-view. Here are the seven bouts, along with my initial thoughts: TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao The main event features the rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao. I like Dillashaw in this rematch a lot and I think he’s going to absolutely dismantle Barao just like he did at UFC 173. The line should be fairly tight because Barao always gets respect, but there’s no doubt that Dillashaw will be the favorite this time around. Rory MacDonald vs. Hector Lombard In a welterweight bout, Rory MacDonald squares off with Hector Lombard. This is an amazing fight and a full analysis will be provided when the opening odds are released in the next little while, but I’ll say it right now that I’m leaning MacDonald in this one due to his reach and I think he is going to win a decision. Fabio Maldonado vs. Rampage Jackson In a light heavyweight bout Fabio Maldonado will welcome Rampage Jackson back to the UFC. This is going to be a fun fight between two very entertaining light heavyweights, but it’s hard not to like Jackson in this fight. As long as he’s motivated to fight, and it seems he is, he should have no problem lighting Maldonado up on the feet and winning a decision or perhaps even score a rare knockout on Maldonado. Michael Bisping vs. CB Dollaway In a middleweight bout Michael Bisping takes on CB Dollaway. This is a good fight and I’m sure there will be a lot of support on Dollaway, but I like Bisping here. I think he actually has the power to knock Dollaway out and I think the UFC is trying to set him up with a highlight-reel win to try and get him back in contention. Patrick Cote vs. Joe Riggs I’m not sure what to make of this welterweight bout between Patrick Cote and Joe Riggs. I feel like neither of these guys should be on a UFC PPV at this point of this career, but at the same time this could end up being a decent scrap. Both guys will stand in the pocket and trade and I’m sure we’ll see some takedowns mixed in as well. It’s a close fight but in Montreal I think Cote is going to win a decision. Valerei Letourneau vs. Jessica Rakoczy Two women are dropping to strawweight when Valerie Letourneau meets Jessica Rakoczy. This should be a good fight between two women who are from striking backgrounds, and I’m curious to see how they both look at 115lbs. Letourneau looked awesome in her UFC debut against Elizabeth Phillips at UFC 174 while Rakoczy hasn’t fought since losing TUF 18 to Julianna Pena in 2013. This should be a good standup fight but I think Letourneau probably edges out a decision here. Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. David Michaud And a lightweight bout, Olivier Aubin-Mercier gets another easy fight when he takes on David Michaud. OAM is very good but the UFC seems like they want to build him up slowly. He got Jake Lindsey in his last fight, and now he gets Michaud, and I expect him to win this fight impressively. OAM is the side here, and he should be a big favorite heading into this one.
