Outside of the main event, what else are you anticipating on the UFC 202 card next Saturday night?
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST
The top three fights on the card are excellent. Those three fights alone make this event almost an essential watch halfway between UFC 200 (top) and UFC 201 (bottom) on the interest scale. Cody Garbrandt has a tough test against Takeya Mizugaki but I expect him to pass it in the same efficient manner Aljamain Sterling did at UFC on FOX 15 last year. Neil Magny vs. Lorenz Larkin should also be entertaining, but a slew of injuries and subsequent replacement with sub-standard debutants leaves little else to interest me.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. Glover Teixiera is my next most anticipated fight, as that should be a hard-hitting affair and I fully expect someone to get knocked out. I think Rumble takes out Teixiera in explosive fashion and makes a case for getting another title shot. Donald Cerrone vs. Rick Story is also a fight I’m looking forward to. I love watching Cerrone fight, and I’m interested in seeing if his move to welterweight continues to work for him
NICK GRINUPS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Oh man, I really like this card. Glover Teixeira vs Anthony Rumble is the #1 contender fight in the light-heavyweight division. Both fighters have excellent power and can end a fight at any moment. Neil Magny vs. Lorenz Larking is a sleeper on this card since it is on fight pass. This will be a very fun fight and is my pick for fight of the night. You also have Rick Story vs Donald Cerrone, a welterweight showdown that could push Cerrone into the top 10 with a solid win.
JOEL WIELENGA, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Any time Cody Garbrandt is involved in a fight I am looking forward to it. He puts on exciting fights and is most likely one win away from a title shot. Mizugaki will provide him a solid veteran for Garbrandt to prove himself against but if I am being honest I am looking forward to hopefully watch Garbrandt put him to sleep in fantastic fashion.
The other fight that I really am looking forward to is Rumble Johnson vs. Teixeira. It promises to be a war and there is a good chance that it does not go the full three rounds. This fight also has title implications as you would have to guess the winner is getting the next shot at Cormier. Either man winning would be exciting. If Rumble wins we get to see the rematch with Cormier and I think he would be better prepared and potentially get the belt. If Teixeira wins then we get to see a fresh match up for the strap, and I really think Cormier vs. Teixeira would be a hell of a fight.
MATTHEW PETERSON, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
The fight that has my eye most outside of the main event is the one regulated to headlining the Fight Pass prelims. Neil Magny has proven himself to be a top ten fighter at 170 and Lorenz Larkin seems to have found his stride after dropping down from middleweight. Larkin is an elite striker who has engaged in some epic battles and Magny is coming off a truly impressive win over Hector Lombard. It will be interesting to see if Larkin can keep it on the feet where he will have an advantage. Magny likes to use his range to pick at his opponents until he can work his takedowns and drag his opponents into grappling matches he rarely loses. I believe Magny will take the decision over Larkin, but I love to be surprised.
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
What else am I anticipating on the UFC 202 card? I’m anticipating about a dozen whisky sours at Casa De Penick. I bought last time, so I’m sure he will be a kind and generous and morally decent enough of a man to make sure that no matter how hard we try, we won’t drink his house dry.
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