UFC 194 Staff Predictions: Can Aldo silence McGregor?

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

Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor

Ali Dar: McGregor has definitely proven himself in the UFC. Defeating Chad Mendes was impressive, but Aldo is a different type of animal. You will be hard-pressed to find a better overall athlete in all of MMA, and he's gone up against the absolute best. While I imagine Aldo wants to strike with McGregor to prove a point, the champ's road of least resistance is on the ground. McGregor's power is enough of a catalyst to make this fight very close, but I think Aldo's championship pedigree will propel him past the Irishman. Pick: Aldo

Alexander K. Lee: The X-factor here is Aldo's long layoff, dating back to October of last year. There really is no substitute for actual in-Octagon experience, and while McGregor hasn’t had the busiest schedule, he still had two highly competitive fights to prepare him for this date with destiny. Aldo has refused to play along with McGregor’s antics, an approach I expect to carry over to fight night. He won't fall for any of McGregor's deceptive stances, he won't be overwhelmed, and he won't get impatient. This will be a chess match, and it's McGregor who will find himself in checkmate when the final bell sounds. Pick: Aldo

Kyle Smith: In the biggest bout in featherweight history, it's the pinpoint striking, underrated grappling, and blistering leg kicks of Aldo against the deadly combinations and unflappable confidence of McGregor. Although both men have several avenues to victory, Aldo's defensive prowess and surprisingly stout grappling will be the difference should McGregor swarm with powerful strikes. Cross your fingers and pray to whatever deity you worship that no one is hobbled during weigh-ins. Pick: Aldo

Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold

Smith: This seems almost impossible to call. A gifted wrestler, Weidman couples dominance on the ground with hellacious power in his hands, creating a terrifying situation for his generally overmatched opponents wherever the fight goes. Rockhold, though not quite as powerful, carries anvils in his hands, is incredibly hard to drag to the mat, and is the superior technical striker. The pick is Rockhold by unanimous decision, but there's no way I would throw down my hard-earned ducats on this potentially glorious display of ultraviolence. Pick: Rockhold

Dar: Both fighters are massive middleweights, good strikers, and extremely gifted on the ground. This might just be the closest middleweight championship fight ever. Weidman's most underrated tool is his boxing, with his good footwork and pressuring movement, and I think this is where he'll need to score points to win rounds against Rockhold. I have a tough time envisioning either fighter ending the fight early, but Weidman will do enough to retain his title in a decision. Pick: Weidman

Lee: In his last four fights, Rockhold has been a savage, with only one of his opponents making it past the midway point of the second round. Rockhold might not have the name value of an Anderson Silva or Lyoto Machida, but in his athletic prime, he's the greatest threat to Weidman's championship run so far. I lean toward Weidman here due to how he evolves from fight to fight, while we may have already seen the best that Rockhold has to offer (though that's still pretty damn good). Pick: Weidman

Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza vs. Yoel Romero

Smith: It's yet another middleweight showdown that has me frothing at the mouth in anticipation. A grappling wizard with nuclear warhead-laced hands, "Jacare" would be perfectly content ending Romero's night with a clubbing right hand, an air-restricting choke, or even a limb-destroying armbar. Romero's modus operandi isn't too dissimilar. An Olympic wrestler who possesses explosive power, Romero has the tools to hang with "Jacare" on the feet, in the clinch, and on the mat. Another genuine toss-up, but I'm going with "Jacare" on points. Pick: Souza

Lee: Oddly, Romero doesn't utilize his Olympic-caliber wrestling as much as one might imagine offensively, choosing to get into firefights instead - and, more often than not, getting the better of them. When he does score takedowns, he bludgeons his foes with devastating punches and elbows. Standing opposite him, Souza is no stranger to finishing fights himself. He's shown legitimate knockout power while retaining his aggressive submission skills. Romero's run ends here at the hands of a more experienced and more well-versed martial artist. Pick: Souza

Dar: Romero has a storied career in wrestling, but I give the former world jiu-jitsu champion Souza the advantage for this fight on the ground and on the feet. Souza's striking has improved so much since his days in Dream and on the floor, it's almost impossible to stave off his submission attempts. His constant pressure is going to give Romero fits, eventually causing the Cuban to gas. Once that happens, Souza will capitalize and book his ticket for a fight with the next middleweight champion. Pick: Souza

Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson

Lee: Grappler’s delight! It is entirely possible that these two neutralize each other’s specialties and turn this into a lukewarm kickboxing match, but this will be a sleeper candidate for Fight of the Night if they collide on the canvas. Nelson is on the short list of fighters I can picture going to the ground with Maia for an extended period and living to tell. That said, I expect Maia to remind everyone why he's the best ever at turning a BJJ career into MMA success. Pick: Maia

Dar: Maia's known for using his jiu-jitsu to give opponents trouble, but this likely won't be the case against Nelson, who can more than hold his own against top grapplers. The smart game plan for Nelson would be to keep the fight standing and either catch Maia with his improved striking or tire him out on the feet before taking it to the ground. As long as Nelson doesn't get caught making a mistake, this fight is his for the taking. Pick: Nelson

Smith: Maia's superior wrestling should carry him past Nelson in at least two rounds on Saturday night. Sure, Nelson is the better overall striker, but he won't be able to dent Maia's iron chin, and the Brazilian's venomous grappling has been known to swallow up even the strongest opponents once the bout hits the mat. Pick: Maia

Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens

Smith: Blessed with bricks where his hands should be, Jeremy Stephens better pray for a jaw-jarring knockout. Otherwise, he's in for a long night. An incredibly well-rounded fighter who unleashes variety and volume on the feet, Max Holloway should be able to outclass Stephens wherever the the fight ends up, and barring a one-hit quick kill shot, the streaking Hawaiian should emerge from UFC 194 with his hand raised. Pick: Holloway

Dar: Stephens is as game as they come in the featherweight division, but he's going to have his hands full. Holloway has developed into an all-around monster. The Hawaiian's striking is technically proficient and his grappling is so smothering that Stephens is going to have a tough time getting his shots off. If Stephens can connect, Holloway will go to sleep, but I don't see Stephens getting that lucky. Wherever the fight goes, Holloway should have it locked up. Pick: Holloway

Lee: Stephens has been a joy to watch at 145, putting aside an ugly miss on the scales in his last appearance. He's in this sport to finish fights, and when he lands cleanly, few can withstand the onslaught. Holloway is too elusive a target to let that happen. He's come a long way since a 2013 loss to Conor McGregor, rounding out his game and honing the pinpoint striking that has many pegging him as a featherweight contender. Barring a lapse in concentration, "Blessed" should show off his arsenal against the slower, less agile Stephens. Pick: Holloway