UFC 186: Staff Predictions

Prior to every UFC event, theScore's Kyle Smith and Ali Dar give their predictions on all the main-card fights.

Demetrious Johnson vs. Kyoji Horiguchi

Dar: Horiguchi could one day be a champion at flyweight, but the UFC did him a major disservice offering him this fight so early in his development as a fighter. Even after his last victory, he told Joe Rogan that he thought he was a few fights away. But with such few contenders in the flyweight division, Horiguchi's time has come ahead of schedule. Horiguchi is a great striker with good power. With his karate background, Horiguchi likes to keep the distance before blitzing an opponent with fast combinations, similar to Lyoto Machida. He's a decent wrestler as well and has a technically proficient clinch, but his main goal is always to keep the distance and strike. The problem for Horiguchi is that Johnson is just a bit better than him in basically all facets of the fight game. His striking from a technical standpoint is superior - he has excellent grappling and his clinch is fantastic. Horiguchi won't have much luck keeping the distance with Johnson as he's been able to close the distance against much better fighters and keep them there. Horiguchi's only real shot at a victory would be to catch Mighty Mouse in an exchange or during one of his blitzes, but the likelihood of that is very low. More likely we're going to see Johnson wear down his opponent before securing a submission (or TKO victory) in the championship rounds. Pick: Johnson

Kyle Smith: As incredibly talented as Kyoji Horiguchi is, I don't think he's ready for this massive leap up in competition. Demetrious Johnson is the energizer bunny on speed. A seemingly unkillable monster at the top of a relatively thin division. He's Mike Tyson at the end of Punch-Out, but his opponent doesn't know the pattern, and the controller is unplugged. I think Horiguchi hangs tough for a few rounds before Johnson overwhelms him with his speed, dominates him on the floor with heavy top-control, and finishes him with a third round submission. Pick: Johnson

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Fabio Maldonado

Smith: This bout could resemble a live action version of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, where both men just continually punch each other in the face until one of their heads pops up (that's how human anatomy works, right?). Rampage still has big power in his hands, while Maldonado is the kind of hittable maniac that will eat five punches just to land one. If someone isn't rendered unconscious early, this could turn into a sloppy firefight, one I think favors Rampage, who will either win with a quick KO, or an exhausting unanimous decision. Pick: Jackson

Dar: Maldonado comes into his fight with Rampage as a sizable underdog and it's frankly quite surprising. Rampage may be on a three-fight winning streak, but if you watched his Bellator performances you would know that he did not look great in any of those bouts. Maldonado will never be a contender in the UFC, but he knows how to put on fun fights and can take a ton of damage along the way. His boxing and his chin are his best assets, similarly to Rampage. Unfortunately, the winner of this fight may come down to who is the better conditioned athlete. With this fight now being a catchweight bout at 215 pounds, you have to assume that it will be Maldonado. It's very likely that Rampage stopped training in preparation of this fight when the initial injunction was granted against him fighting in the UFC and the catchweight was agreed to after his camp made it clear that getting to 205 would be near impossible. Either fighter could win this fight with their combination of power and technical boxing prowess, but Maldonado will be victorious via better conditioning and cardio. Pick: Maldonado

Michael Bisping vs. C.B. Dollaway

Dar: Bisping is in the twilight of his career and it's unlikely he ever gets the title shot he's so desperately wanted. Bisping's game has always been to pepper his opponent with strikes, eventually getting a unanimous victory or a late TKO. But the Tim Kennedy fight has shown that Bisping's defensive wrestling isn't as great as it once was and this is where Dollaway will need to capitalize. An accomplished collegiate wrestler, Dollaway's best chance will be to take Bisping down and keep him there because if the fight remains standing, I don't see him being effective enough to pull off a win against the Brit. Dollaway's penchant to use his wrestling may give Bisping some hesitation with throwing the kicks he's newly incorporated into his game. In the end, I don't think Dollaway's grappling will be enough to neutralize Bisping's striking game which should lead him to a unanimous decision. Pick: Bisping

Smith: This is maybe the toughest fight on the card to call. Dollaway has the one-shot power advantage, and can fall back on his superior wrestling when things get a little too hairy on the feet. Conversely, Bisping has excellent takedown defense, superior technique standing, and will most likely outwork "The Doberman" with his pace and high-volume striking. Bisping by decision. Pick: Bisping

John Makdessi vs. Shane Campbell

Smith: In a battle of two strikers, the more athletic Makdessi will try to use his kicks and pure volume to keep Campbell at range, while the debuting Campbell has a superior technical game, and could piece up his fellow Canadian on the feet with solid combinations. In such a close stylistic matchup, Makdessi's experience could be the difference maker, and he'll likely scrape by with a razor-thin decision victory. Pick: Makdessi

Dar: Makdessi and Campbell are decorated strikers who use a lot of kicks in their striking approach but vary with their intentions. Campbell likes to keep constant pressure on his opponents, hoping to test their cardio, while throwing shots with everything behind them. Makdessi loves to use his kicks to keep opponents at distance. He doesn't throw a lot of power behind his shots but like many of his teammates at Tri-Star, he looks to break his opponents with a consistent stream of jabs and light kicks. It's tough to choose a winner in this fight because of the similar style that both fighters possess, but I think Makdessi's experience fighting tougher guys will have him prepared to take on Campbell. Pick: Makdessi

Yves Jabouin vs. Thomas Almeida

Smith: A crafty veteran, Yves Jabouin is a well-rounded jack of all trades, with solid wrestling and good technique on the feet. None of this is likely to matter on Saturday. Thomas Almeida is faster, will work at a higher pace, is able to string together effective combinations, and packs more power. If Jabouin can't neutralize Almeida with a few takedowns, the 23-year-old Brazilian will completely freight train him. Pick: Almeida

Dar: Almeida is one the brightest prospects in the bantamweight division. He's an excellent striker who likes to string together combinations. A former kickboxer, Jabouin has looked towards his grappling in the UFC. His game plan should be to take Almeida down to the ground. That is easier said than done and I think Almeida will be able to keep the fight standing. If he is able to do that, it should be a short night. Jabouin's previous two losses have come via knockout and Almeida has enough power and speed - coupled with his opponent's diminished chin - to end the fight before the final bell. Pick: Almeida