After a mediocre 2014 that saw a dubious amount of injuries, watered down cards, class-action lawsuits, and a whole lot more negative influence, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) plans to kick off 2015 in style this weekend with the stacked UFC 182 event.
The main event features arguably the biggest fight of the year as UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones looks to defend his title for the eighth time against his toughest competition to date, the undefeated former heavyweight Daniel "DC" Cormier.
The animosity built between the two men, coupled by their outstanding talents inside the Octagon, has made this main event title fight one of the most anticipated bouts in UFC history. With so many people eager to see what goes down this Saturday, UFC has done a stellar job marketing the title fight with a 'Countdown' show, as well as a 'Bad Blood' special outlining the duo's rivalry.
UFC 182 goes down this Saturday (Jan. 3, 2015) on pay-per-view (PPV) live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (results here). With a main event that could change the course of mixed martial arts (MMA) history as we know it, MMAmania.com pondered "Five Burning Questions" heading into this weekend.
5. Is Kyoji Horiguchi a future flyweight title challenger?
In case you have not heard, UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is really dominant. The flyweight kingpin has already defended his belt five times, defeating six of the top 10 ranked fighters in the division in a span of two years.
With "Mighty Mouse" cleaning house, UFC desperately needs a new challenger to rise up the ranks. Could Kyoji Horiguchi be that man?
The Japanese native has impressed in his three Octagon outings, finishing two opponents in devastating fashion. Horiguchi's three UFC victories has earned him a spot at No. 11 in the rankings, and defeating the notoriously durable Louis Gaudinot this weekend at UFC 182 would undoubtedly catapult him into the top 10.
Could Horiguchi seize the limelight and potentially fight for UFC gold by year's end? The trek begins this Saturday night.
4. Can Hector Lombard separate himself from the rest of the welterweight pack?
UFC's welterweight division is arguably the most stacked in all of MMA, and that means contenders must make a statement when given the opportunity.
With UFC champion Robbie Lawler likely to defend his title in rematches with both Johny Hendricks and Rory MacDonald, the rest of the division will be vying for a title shot in late 2015.
Among the names in the middle of the pack is Hector Lombard. The former Bellator middleweight champion is currently riding an impressive two-fight winning streak that has him settled at No. 6 in the UFC rankings.
With certain top rank fighters -- cough Tyron Woodley cough -- actively ducking and avoiding the dangerous Cuban wrecking machine, UFC was forced to bring back Josh Burkman to take on "Showeather."
As long as Lombard takes care of business this Saturday, and dispatches of Burkman in his usual violent fashion, a No. 1 contender fight likely won't be far behind for the former Bellator champion.
3. Is Myles Jury truly as good as his "undefeated" record states?
UFC lightweight contender Myles Jury is technically undefeated, but many do recall his stunning decision defeat to eventual runner-up Al Iaquinta in the preliminary round of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 season.
Regardless of that bitter defeat, Jury's record currently sits at an unblemished 15-0. In fact, it is safe to say that Jury has already had a more impressive career than Iaquinta up to this point, and you have to look no further than his co-main event slot at UFC 182 this weekend to prove that.
No. 8 ranked Jury has quietly ascended the rankings over the last two years, defeating some impressive names en route to his shot against No. 4 ranked Donald Cerrone. Knocking out Takanori Gomi, Ramsey Nijem, and earning decisions over Diego Sanchez and Michael Johnson is certainly nothing to scoff at, but can "Fury" hang with the "Cowboy"?
With Cerrone riding high following five straight victories, "Cowboy" has set his sights on a rematch with UFC champion Anthony "Showtime" Pettis. With Cerrone as motivated as we have ever seen, Jury has a stiff test in front of him this Saturday.
With a potential title shot on the line for both men, this fight has all the makings of "Fight of the Night." Will "Cowboy" prove once again that he is among the most dangerous fighters in the world, or will "Fury" shock the masses en route to another victory? We find out Saturday.
2. Can Daniel Cormier back up his talk and bring the fight to Jon Jones, or will the champion punish the challenger in similar vein to Rashad Evans?
The fight we have all been waiting for is just a few days away.
After months of back and forth trash talk, UFC promotion, and a whole lot of breakdowns, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier are finally set for war this Saturday night.
Outside the pre-fight hyperbole, this fight truly may be the greatest on paper duel we have ever seen inside the Octagon. Two men who have never lost -- forget Jones' ridiculous disqualification against Matt Hamill -- will throw down in a fight that has many pundits and fans alike scratching their head as to who will leave Las Vegas with the title around their waist.
With Jon Jones already earning the right to be deemed the greatest light heavyweight champion in UFC history, can "Bones" add the indomitable Daniel Cormier to his list of victims? Or will "DC" prove once again that no man can match his wrestling and striking prowess inside the Octagon?
Amid the vitriol and venom shed by both men during pre-fight conversations, Cormier noted something with such startling frankness that truly sheds a light on how epic this fight is. During a UFC 178 pre-fight Q & A, Cormier said "I have been waiting for the man that is my equal for so long. Please be that guy, Jon Jones."
If that does not get you excited for this weekend's fight, I am not sure what will.
Can Daniel Cormier push Jones to the brink like Alexander Gustafsson did? Will Jones give Cormier the beating of his life a la Rashad Evans, Rampage Jackson, Shogun Rua, Glover Teixeira, and so many more? We will finally learn the answer this Saturday night.
1. Can Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier be the biggest (title) fight in UFC history?
This question really has a lot of layers that need to be delineated right off the bat. In terms of importance is this the biggest fight in UFC history? Probably not. In terms of PPV buys is this the biggest fight in UFC history? Again, probably not. Is this the most intriguing match up in terms of the sport in UFC history? The answer is most likely yes.
Most of the "biggest fights of all time" share the common trait of a bitter rivalry, and Jones vs Cormier is no different. Recall Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir 2, Chael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva 2, Liddell vs Ortiz 2, etc. The one major exception to the rule would be Chris Weidman vs Anderson Silva 2, but that fight had a bevy of its own storylines to carry the magnitude.
Of the aforementioned fights, there is absolutely no question in my mind that talent-wise, there has never been a title fight in similar vein to Jones vs Cormier. The facts are that neither man has tasted true defeat in their career, and while Jones was pushed to the brink in his fight against Gustafsson, his victory only further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest talents in the history of the sport.
This fight is truly a battle between two indomitable forces, and one man is going to have to wilt. Considering that Jones is vying to overtake Anderson Silva as the greatest mixed martial artist in history, and Cormier has been unfazed by every man set in front of him, how can you pick a winner?
Even if this fight fails to break one million PPV buys, the match up alone is one of the most impressive in combat sports history, not just MMA.
Revel and enjoy this moment fight fans, for Jones vs Cormier is a once in a lifetime type of fight. Whether it becomes the "biggest fight of all time" is a question to be answered in hindsight.
That's a wrap!
For more information on UFC 182: 'Jones vs Cormier', including the full fight card, results, news, and more, click here.