UFC 209 predictions: Woodley, Wonderboy run it back

Prior to UFC 209 in Las Vegas on Saturday, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis and Alexander K. Lee predict the evening's main-card bouts.

Welterweight Championship

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

Alexander K. Lee: Stephen Thompson had his chance.

One of the sport's most mystifying strikers, Thompson has made many men look foolish as they struggle to figure out what angle he's going to be attacking from next. Woodley appeared to have downloaded Thompson's style before the end of the opening frame of their first meeting at UFC 205, so how much better will Woodley look with an extra three months to break "Wonderboy" down?

Woodley came the closest to finishing Thompson last time, rocking him with a right hand and almost scoring a submission with a python-like guillotine choke. A finish is still a tall order, but Woodley is going to make sure that this second meeting with Thompson ends without controversy.

THE PICK: Woodley

Related - Hater proof: 3 reasons Tyron Woodley will exit UFC 209 as 170-pound champ

Themistoklis Alexis: Going back to square one can be a good thing.

An early takedown may have deterred Thompson from unleashing his endless arsenal in his first meeting with Woodley, but expect him to look every bit his unpredictable self this time around. Look for Wonderboy to control the striking range, circle away from Woodley's deadly right hand and keep his lead leg busy to disrupt the timing of the champ's shots.

Once he's earned his rival's respect, it shouldn't be long before one of the challenger's funky techniques makes its way to Woodley's dome for a stoppage.

THE PICK: Thompson

Related - Karate Kid: Why 'Wonderboy' will beat Woodley for the 170-pound title at UFC 209

Interim Lightweight Championship

Khabib Nurmagomedov (8-0 UFC, 24-0)
vs.
Tony Ferguson (12-1 UFC, 22-3)

*The interim lightweight championship bout between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson has been canceled after Nurmagomedov was hospitalized on Friday morning due to complications related to his weight cut.

Alexis: Khabib Nurmagomedov is about to learn just how rare a specimen "El Cucuy" is.

Tony Ferguson is as good as doomed if the Russian gives him the Michael Johnson treatment, yet he thrives in chaotic scrambles, and it's only a matter of time before his rangy ways goad Nurmagomedov into one. The 33-year-old's long limbs allow him to pick opponents apart without entering the pocket and keep grapplers of Nurmagomedov's ilk at bay.

If "The Eagle" gets tagged by Ferguson's crafty striking, expect him to shoot for a takedown in desperation, and El Cucuy to find his neck in the ensuing scramble and choke him into oblivion for his first taste of UFC gold.

THE PICK: Ferguson

Related - Meet the Boogeyman: Why 'El Cucuy' will win the interim 155-pound title

Lee: The real winner of this bout will be the fans.

OK, that was incredibly lame, but it can't be stressed enough how highly-anticipated this meeting is between arguably the two most accomplished fighters in the lightweight division over the last few years. Nurmagomedov and Ferguson are a combined 20-1 in the Octagon, with a bevy of spectacular performances between them.

As evenly matched as they are, it's Nurmagomedov's grappling superiority that will be the difference on Saturday. He'll grind Ferguson down until he has few options left other than to submit or accept that he's about to lose a decision and his nine-fight win streak.

THE PICK: Nurmagomedov

Related - Fly like an Eagle: 3 reasons why Nurmagomedov will win at UFC 209

Middleweight

Rashad Evans (14-5-1 UFC, 19-5-1)
vs.
Dan Kelly (5-1 UFC, 12-1)

Lee: There is no way Dan Kelly can keep this up, right? The 39-year-old Aussie has somehow made a UFC career of outwitting and outlasting his younger opponents. Whether it's due to his elite judo skills or sheer grit, Kelly has emerged as more than a curiosity in the middleweight division.

Booking him against former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans only makes his next outing more difficult to predict as Evans is competing at 185 pounds for the first time. The last two years have been tough for "Suga," but if he has even three quarters left in the tank, he should beat Kelly.

THE PICK: Evans

Alexis: The UFC's most adored overachiever is in for a rude reality check.

A glorious dad bod, advanced age, and downright atrocious striking haven't kept "Judo Dan" from repeatedly getting the better of whoever the UFC has put in front of him, but Evans is no Chris Camozzi. The former world champion is looking for a second wind at 185 pounds, and can still put anyone on their back or shut their lights out with his granite hands.

As endearing as Kelly's run has been, all the judo trips in the world won't be enough to net him another upset.

THE PICK: Evans

Lightweight

Lando Vannata (1-1 UFC, 9-1)
vs.
David Teymur (2-0 UFC, 5-1)

Alexis: "Groovy" Lando Vannata has produced must-see television in just a pair of Octagon appearances, but with just 10 pro bouts to his name, he remains somewhat of an enigma, which should work in his favor opposite a fellow prospect in David Teymur.

Teymur has a nose for blood, but instead of obliging him with a whiff, Vannata will likely let the Swede come to him, ride the head movement that gave Tony Ferguson fits in his UFC debut and put his foe away with a pinpoint counter.

THE PICK: Vannata

Lee: Teymur is a fine athlete with plenty of potential, but he's going to struggle against the more advanced Vannata. The prized Greg Jackson pupil showed off his potent striking with a wheel kick knockout of John Makdessi in his last appearance, and Teymur could be the next addition to Vannata's highlight reel.

That's not to say that Teymur is a walkover. The 27-year-old Swede has shown an impressive killer instinct in his two UFC appearances. However, it's difficult to see him being able to impose his game on Vannata, who will wait for Teymur to make a mistake and capitalize with a KO.

THE PICK: Vannata

Heavyweight

Alistair Overeem (6-4 UFC, 41-15)
vs.
Mark Hunt (7-4-1 UFC, 12-10-1)

Lee: All Alistair Overeem has to do to win this fight is not get hit. Should be easy, right?

With Overeem already wearing 10 knockout losses on his resume, the last thing he needs is to take one more at the hands of the rock-fisted Mark Hunt. He'll have to reach deep into his bag of kickboxing tricks to keep Hunt away, or possibly go back to the submission game that earned him the win in their first meeting all the way back in 2008.

The latter strategy is the safer route for "The Reem." Even if he can't make Hunt tap, he should at least be able to control him on the ground to take a decision win and live to fight another day.

THE PICK: Overeem

Alexis: Hunt's resume pales in comparison to Overeem's, but his edge on the Dutchman can't be found on paper. While "The Super Samoan" remains turtle-like when fighting off his back, the odds Overeem resurrects his comatose submission skills are slim.

Hunt owns a superhuman chin and has never shied away from closing the distance against rangier fighters (i.e. Stefan Struve), while Overeem's threshold for punishment has gradually waned over his far more prolific career. Expect The Reem to lose what's left of his chin and make it to Hunt's collection of walk-off KOs in short order.

THE PICK: Hunt