UFC 200 predictions: Can Lesnar make a triumphant return?

Women's Bantamweight Championship Bout

Miesha Tate (5-2 UFC, 18-5)
vs.
Amanda Nunes (5-1 UFC, 12-4)

For Amanda Nunes, she might be damned if she does and damned if she doesn't in her fight with Miesha Tate.

Nunes is known for running hot out of the gates, a style that has led to her tiring in the later rounds. The explosive Brazilian is one of the most prolific finishers at 135 pounds, but Tate's durability is one of the outstanding traits that has made her a champion.

On the other hand, a prolonged bout also favors Tate. A third of her fights have gone the distance and the experience advantage will only become more pronounced as the action drags on. Tate has twice fought into the championship rounds, something Nunes could be ill-prepared for.

So if Nunes comes out too fast, she'll gas and Tate wins. If she takes too long to get going, she'll fall behind on the scorecards and Tate wins.

See where this one is going?

THE PICK: Tate

Heavyweight Bout

Brock Lesnar (4-3 UFC, 5-3)
vs.
Mark Hunt (7-4-1 UFC, 12-10-1)

Breaking down the co-main event between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt is as easy as it gets.

Lesnar is going to go for a takedown to set up a ground-and-pound assault. If Hunt is able to stand up, Lesnar will take him down again and keep hitting him until he stops moving.

Hunt is looking for a knockout. He's going to load up the mother of all uppercuts and as soon as Lesnar comes charging in, he's going to throw it harder than he's thrown any other punch in his life. If it lands, Lesnar's chin won't hold up and he can probably forget about going to Summerslam since it's hard to wrestle when you don't have a head.

Were it any other fighter coming back from a four-and-a-half year layoff from active competition, the concerns about Lesnar would be understandable. But he's a freak athlete who stays in ridiculous shape all year round.

At some point Lesnar is going to shoot on Hunt and take this fight into his world, where Hunt won't have an answer.

THE PICK: Lesnar

Light Heavyweight Bout

Daniel Cormier (6-1 UFC, 17-1)
vs.
Anderson Silva (16-3 UFC, 34-7)

Even having to deal with an absurd level of uncertainty, as well as the fact that he's facing one of the greatest fighters of all time, Daniel Cormier is too focused, too strong, and too skilled to fall into the web of "The Spider."

Keep in mind, the last time Cormier fought a natural middleweight it was Dan Henderson and he literally picked Henderson up and bodyslammed him. Slippery as Silva is, it's easy to picture him suffering the same fate.

Silva absolutely has a chance to pull off the upset here. He's arguably the superior striker. His creativity makes him difficult to prepare for even in the best of circumstances, much less with 48 hours to go before fight night.

If this were Silva in his prime, it wouldn't be unreasonable to pick him to win here. But he's facing a frustrated and emotional Cormier and the champ is going to take all of that aggression out on his opponent come fight night.

THE PICK: Cormier

Interim Featherweight Championship Bout

Jose Aldo (7-1 UFC, 25-2)
vs.
Frankie Edgar (14-4-1 UFC, 19-3-1)

Frankie Edgar has come a long way since losing a decision to Jose Aldo back in February 2013. How much he's developed will be key in authoring a different outcome this time around.

Their first meeting may have been a case of too much, too soon for Edgar who was thrust into a title shot in his featherweight debut. Despite a game effort from Edgar, Aldo's speed and technique were too much. He was in the prime of his championship run then, an immaculate killing machine who was essentially untouchable.

Much of the mystique around Aldo was dispelled when he was knocked out by Conor McGregor last December, and one has to wonder how that loss affected his mental state. In a sport where the tiniest weakness can be your downfall, that could cost him against Edgar.

Skill-wise, Aldo is still one of the most respected strikers in the game, but Edgar is not far-off. "The Answer" has finished three of his five opponents at 145 pounds and won commanding decisions against the other two.

Those results should be enough to convince you that Edgar gets the job done this time around.

THE PICK: Edgar

Heavyweight Bout

Cain Velasquez (11-2 UFC, 13-2)
vs.
Travis Browne (9-3-1 UFC, 18-3-1)

Cain Velasquez is already a winner for making it to this fight without getting injured. Now all he has to do is take out the gigantic Travis Browne.

Even though Velasquez has never faced an opponent as tall as Browne, that won't change his game plan. He's going to have trouble getting in, but Browne doesn't have the defense to keep Velasquez from closing the distance to utilize his boxing.

What Browne does have is solid striking skills from range, and deadly elbows that he uses to counter takedown attempts. If Velasquez thinks he's going to pin Browne against the cage, he could get a rude awakening in the form of Browne's sharp elbows slicing him up.

Velasquez is an intelligent fighter who has undoubtedly worked out a strategy to avoid such a fate. Look for him to impose his will and finish this one early.

THE PICK: Velasquez