UFC 205 main card predictions: Will The Notorious make history?

Prior to UFC 205, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis and Alexander K. Lee give their predictions on the evening's main card bouts.

Lightweight Championship Bout

Eddie Alvarez (3-1 UFC, 28-4)
vs.
Conor McGregor (8-1 UFC, 20-3)

Alexander K. Lee: Conor McGregor is about to become the first man to hold two UFC title belts at the same time.

To do so, he has to overcome Eddie Alvarez, a force at 155 pounds who has held titles and beaten champions in promotions all over the globe. He has few weaknesses other than a propensity for brawling, though that may be the key to a McGregor victory. The Notorious" has a knack for causing world-class fighters to make dumb mistakes, whether it's Jose Aldo recklessly charging him or Nate Diaz allegedly flopping to his back to try and draw McGregor into a jiu-jitsu contest.

At some point in the UFC 205 main event, Alvarez is going to want to stand in the pocket and trade leather. When the dust clears it's McGregor who will be on his feet with a few extra pounds of gold added to his waist.

THE PICK: McGregor

Related: Gold rush: 3 reasons McGregor will beat Alvarez

Themistoklis Alexis: It's a long 25 minutes in there.

If Alvarez wants to keep the lightweight strap draped over his shoulder, he'll have to craft a composite performance of sorts. Despite insisting he won't back down from a standup war with the lethal McGregor, "The Underground King" shouldn't indulge in one until the later rounds, by which time the Irishman's conditioning will have failed him.

Expect Alvarez to wear McGregor down early with his wrestling - as in previous victories over Gilbert Melendez and Anthony Pettis - before conjuring flashbacks of his coup of Rafael dos Anjos with a late TKO.

THE PICK: Alvarez

Related: Down With the King: 3 reasons Eddie Alvarez will beat Conor McGregor

Welterweight Championship Bout

Tyron Woodley (6-2 UFC, 16-3)
vs.
Stephen Thompson (8-1 UFC, 13-1)

Alexis: From the awkward sideways stance to the lead leg switch kicks, Stephen Thompson is an anomaly Tyron Woodley can't solve.

The 33-year-old's karate-based attack is impossible to decipher, which could prompt a tentative, wrestling-heavy performance from Woodley. "Wonderboy" could nullify the champ's wrestling with stout takedown defense, while his tendency to work from range will keep him from succumbing to Woodley's deadly right hand.

In other words, look for Thompson to prematurely end the incumbent's reign with one of his patented kicks to the noggin.

THE PICK: Thompson

Lee: Woodley's wresting ability would have been the key to grounding Thompson and neutralizing his striking if this fight had happened four years ago.

At UFC 205, Wonderboy will complete the journey from undefeated kickboxer to MMA world champion when he knocks Woodley out in the evening's co-main event. Thompson has simply been too crafty and too evasive for some of the welterweight division's best strikers, and "The Chosen One" is about to be added to that list.

As long as this one stays standing, Woodley has almost no chance of retaining his title.

THE PICK: Thompson

Strawweight Championship Bout

Joanna Jedrzejczyk (6-0 UFC, 12-0)
vs.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz (3-0 UFC, 10-0)

Lee: Joanna Jedrzejczyk is going to show New York City why she's called "Joanna Champion."

As skilled as Karolina Kowalkiewicz is, the strawweight challenger simply doesn't have the striking vocabulary of Jedrzejczyk. Even in her career-best performance against Rose Namajunas this past July, there was never the sense that Kowalkiewicz was that far ahead of her peers at 115 pounds.

Much like middleweight legend Anderson Silva, Jedrzejczyk sometimes needs a round-and-a-half to properly calibrate her sights. Once she's locked in, it won't be long before Kowalkiewicz is put away.

THE PICK: Jedrzejczyk

Alexis: Two things are certain to unfold when these two lock horns: the fight will end early and a Pole will emerge victorious. But one bold enough to venture a third prediction may see a cruel fate awaiting Kowalkiewicz.

The 31-year-old is incredibly methodical and technically proficient, but her lack of killer instinct will do her in against a resilient Jedrzejczyk. The challenger will look to counterstrike her way to victory, but it's only a matter of time before she crumbles under the champion's incessant stalking and relentless Muay Thai attack.

THE PICK: Jedrzejczyk

Related: 3 bold predictions for UFC 205

Middleweight Bout

Chris Weidman (9-1 UFC, 13-1)
vs.
Yoel Romero (7-0 UFC, 11-1)

Alexis: Chris Weidman is in for a world of trouble.

"The All-American" may be just that, but he'd be foolish to engage in a grappling stalemate with a fellow wrestler and Olympic silver medalist in Yoel Romero. Unfortunately for Weidman, his chances at winning a standup war are equally as slim, as Romero will gladly trade fisticuffs with the former champ and hand him the same demise as nine others who came before him - a knockout.

THE PICK: Romero

Lee: Out of action for the past 11 months, it's easy to forget how good Weidman is.

When fans last saw Weidman in action, he was on the receiving end of a beatdown at the hands of Luke Rockhold that cost him his middleweight title. Prior to that, Weidman showed that he is an explosive athlete capable of blistering displays of striking and grappling. While Romero is superior when it comes to traditional wrestling, Weidman's jiu-jitsu will give him the advantage in any prolonged ground exchange.

Weidman gets the win here and challenges for another title in 2017.

THE PICK: Weidman

Welterweight Bout

Kelvin Gastelum (7-2 UFC, 12-2)
vs.
Donald Cerrone (18-4 UFC, 31-7)

(UPDATE: This bout was scrapped Friday morning after Kelvin Gastelum failed to make the welterweight limit.)

Related: Gastelum misses weight, Cerrone fight removed from UFC 205

Women's Bantamweight Bout

Miesha Tate (5-3 UFC, 18-6)
vs.
Raquel Pennington (5-2 UFC, 8-5)

Alexis: Grueling, albeit uneventful scraps have worked out pretty well for Raquel Pennington of late.

She may not be as technically sound on her feet or the ground as Miesha Tate, but "Rocky" has a penchant for nullifying her opponents' strengths and grinding away at their spirit with her smothering, hard-nosed style. While the tactic might raise some eyebrows, it's earned her a three-fight win streak and nearly got the best of former champion Holly Holm.

Tate is coming off a disheartening loss to Amanda Nunes, and she'll be ripe for an agonizing three rounds, during which Pennington will keep her painfully cozy with the cage.

THE PICK: Pennington

Lee: Pennington is on the cusp of becoming a top contender. It's just not going to happen on Saturday.

While Rocky has rapidly improved since making her UFC debut three years ago, she still lacks that extra gear needed to get her over the hump against the best at 135 pounds. Tate has faced a considerably higher level of competition than Pennington and it's difficult to picture her opponent giving her too much trouble.

The sturdy Pennington is a tough out who hasn't been finished in four years, but Tate's wrestling is going to allow her to control this bout.

THE PICK: Tate

Related - UFC 205 prelims predictions: Will 'The Answer' get past Stephens?