The UFC’s return to Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 23 with a stacked card that is one of the best of the year on paper. Here are the five fights that have been booked for the super card so far, along with my thoughts on them: Jon Jones vs. Anthony Johnson The main event of UFC 187 is a title fight between UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Anthony Johnson. This is going to be a tremendous matchup but it’s hard not to lean Jones, even after seeing what Johnson just did to Alexander Gustafsson. The line is already out with Jones a heavy favorite, and I expect that trend to continue into fight week. Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort The on-again/off-again middleweight title match between champion Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort will (hopefully) finally take place at UFC 187. These two were supposed to meet at UFC 173, then UFC 181, then UFC 184, and now UFC 187. It’s a tremendous matchup still, but if it doesn’t happen this May for whatever reason I hope the UFC just goes a different direction. The line for this fight was out for a long time with Weidman a heavy favorite, and I expect that to be the same come May. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Donald Cerrone A lightweight No. 1 contender’s bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Donald Cerrone will take place at this event. These two have been talking about fighting one another for seemingly ever and it will finally happen this spring. Nurmagomedov will likely enter the contest as the favorite due to the hype and his wrestling skills, but don’t count Cerrone out, and if he’s a big-enough dog, could be worth a stab. Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne A heavyweight fight between Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne also takes place on this card. Arlovski has been a nice story as of late but Browne should maul him. I’m expecting a first-round finish by “Hapa” and I believe he should be a heavy favorite entering the fight. John Moraga vs. Joseph Benavidez And finally, a flyweight bout between top contenders John Moraga and Joseph Benavidez also takes place on this card. These are two elite fighters in the division who have already lost to divisional kingpin Demetrious Johnson and who are looking to get another crack at the champ with a victory over one another. I think you have to favor Benavidez here but Moraga is a very scrappy fighter and could definitely pull off the upset. But Benavidez should in theory win.
