UFC 178 – Why This Is A Card You Don’t Want To Miss

With the UFC putting on fifty plus shows a year, it is often very hard to know when there is a card that you absolutely should not miss. Let me save you a little trouble: this weekend’s event, UFC 178, is one of those cards. Not only does this card boast a Flyweight title fight in the main event, it also has three fights scheduled that are legitimate title fight eliminators. UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby did a masterful job putting this card together. Each matchup is incredibly important to its participants and the fall out from these fights will help build future cards into special events much like UFC 178 should be. Here are a few fights you won’t want to miss on this absolutely stacked card.

Right out of the gate, I’ll have to pay respect to the fighting pride of Kirkland, Washington, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Johnson will be looking to defend his title for the fifth time on Saturday. While some will argue that Johnson’s fights can be a bit dull, it is important not to mistake his dominance in fights as him playing it safe. The simple fact is, Johnson is a cut above the rest of the division and until someone even comes close to making it look like he isn’t, I don’t see why his fights are not appointment television. On Saturday he will be taking on a well-rounded veteran in Flyweight standout Chris Cariaso. Cariaso actually has a very similar skill set to Johnson; both fighters rely on their striking output and takedown defense to secure wins. This fight will likely come down to cage control and pressure. No matter what the outcome I expect this fight to be fast paced and offer up tons of action.

In my opinion, a great fight card needs a great co-main event and this card has one. Fans will finally get to see the UFC debut of Eddie Alvarez. Fight fans have been asking to get Alvarez into the UFC for years and after a lengthy legal battle and a regime change at Bellator MMA, Alvarez is finally free to make his debut. If you aren’t familiar with Eddie Alvarez, he is a multiple time Bellator MMA Champion who has fought the absolute best competition one can find outside the UFC. With an overall record of 25-3, Alvarez has proven his dominance and even avenged two of his three losses. Alvarez is a highly skilled boxer with excellent wrestling; his speed and footwork are on par with any lightweight on the UFC roster. In addition to that, Alvarez has proven that not only can he dish out a beating he can take one and keep on coming; with a reputation like that the UFC had no choice but to find an exciting matchup for him. Not many people would be raising their hand for a fight with Alvarez, but one person did and his name was Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Cerrone is a highlight reel machine and he just so happens to be a top five UFC Lightweight. Cerrone will be coming into this fight riding a four fight win streak that saw him earn fight night bonuses in each of those wins. If you were looking for a “Fight of the Night” candidate, this is it.

One last matchup that seems to have everyone buzzing is a Featherweight tilt between one of the hottest young stars in America, Dustin Poirier and one of the hottest young stars in the world, Connor McGregor. Connor McGregor is an Irishman who has captivated audiences across the globe with his flashy fighting style and his wildly entertaining post fight interviews. Since coming to the UFC a little over a year ago, McGregor has been dominant in his performances but hasn’t truly faced top-flight competition. A matchup with Poirier will test McGregor’s skills against a top five featherweight and will give him a chance to truly silence many of his remaining critics. In Poirier, McGregor will be facing a very well rounded mixed martial artist. Poirier has truly elevated his game since making a full time switch to Florida based fight camp American Top Team. With a UFC record of 8-2, Poirier would certainly be poised for a title shot if he can knock off the popular Irishman in spectacular fashion. Both McGregor and Poirier have legit knockout power; this is one bout that could end in the blink of an eye.

Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada the UFC will be putting on a show that might very well be the best card fight fans have seen all year. Even if you take away all three of the fights I just mentioned, you still have a card that is packed full of exciting and meaningful matchups. The women’s Bantamweight division for example will see the return of number one contender Cat Zingano, while the men’s Featherweight division will get a boost from former champ Dominick Cruz, who is coming back from a three year layoff. All in all, UFC 178 looks to be the real deal; if you’ve been looking for something to do on Saturday night, look no further.