UFC 192: Cormier vs Gustafsson Preview and Picks

The UFC heads to Houston Texas this weekend for UFC 192. A Light Heavyweight Title fight that seemed unimaginable 18 months ago will be contested as well as a top contender match in the 170 pound division. It’s a pretty stacked card compared to the snoozer at UFC 191.

Let’s take a look at the full card and what could play out Saturday night.

UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson
Date: October 3, 2015
Time: 10 pm ET
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today

Main Card (10 PM ET, PPV)

Daniel Cormier (16-1-0): -310
Alexander Gustafsson (16-3-0): +260

Daniel Cormier makes his second Light Heavyweight Title defense on Saturday night against Alexander Gustafsson – the same guy that gave Jon Jones fits en route to a tough decision loss a couple of years ago. Gustafsson is coming off a brutal KO loss at the hands of Anthony Johnson but still gets a shot at the belt due to his past success in big fights.

Saturday’s main event is a classic contrast in styles – Cormier brings a terrific wrestling pedigree and emerging standup game into the Octagon while Gustafsson is a tall, rangy fighter that likes to keep his opponent at a distance. Both men went the distance with Jon Jones and will be eager to earn yet another shot of the soon-to-be-returning former champ.

This fight plays right into the hands of Cormier unfortunately for Gustafsson. Cormier has an ability to cut off the Octagon, stock his opponents and drag him into a grinding type of fight – I think that is exactly what happens here. Look for the Swede to spend much of the bout with his back to the cage with Cormier leaning on him and grinding him down. Gustaffson won’t be able to peck away at his opponent from the outside – he will be defending rather than being the one on the attack.

Cormier is an absolute nightmare inside the Octagon – his size, his strength and his ability to dictate exactly where a fight goes has me leaning the Champ’s way. It won’t be pretty folks but Cormier will defend his Title Saturday night.

MMA Betting Pick: Daniel Cormier -310

Johny Hendricks (17-3-0): -300
Tyron Woodley (15-3-0): +250

An intriguing Welterweight battle is second to last on the card Saturday night when Johny Hendricks and Tyron Woodley meet for a Title shot in the Welterweight Division.

Hendricks, a former champ will be eager to bounce back after an ugly title defense against Robby Lawler in which he was beaten soundly while Woodley will be trying to build upon a ho-hum split decision win.

At the end of the day Hendricks is the superior fighter in every aspect of this match. He has taken on and beaten the best the UFC Welterweight Division has to offer. He is a top 2 guy on the planet while Woodley is certainly a top 10 guy but nowhere close to the class of Hendricks.

This looks like an easy win to Hendricks for me.

MMA Betting Pick: Johny Hendricks -300

Ryan Bader (19-4-0): +140
Rashad Evans (19-3-0): -160

Welcome back Rashad Evans. After two years away from the sport, the former Light Heavyweight champ returns to the Octagon against Ryan Bader. Before Evans injury he was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde fighter – so good sometime and so bad at others. It’s a bit hard to predict which Rashad Evans that we’ll see Saturday night. My guess is that a rusty, aging Evans has a difficult time in his return.

Bader enters on a four fight win streak although none of his wins have come against top caliber guys. That said – he’s a tough guy and he’s on a roll unlike Evans. Father time, injuries and a questionable 2-2 record in his last four fights overall have me skeptical of Evans indeed.

I’m taking Bader to make Evans rethink his comeback aspirations.

MMA Betting Pick: Ryan Bader +140

Ruslan Magomedov (13-1-0): -145
Shawn Jordan (18-6-0): +125

Intriguing up-and-coming Ruslan Magomedov looks to keep his momentum going when he takes on the tough Shawn Jordan in Heavyweight action.

This is a pretty tough fight to call – Magomedov hasn’t faced anything like Jordan in the past but Jordan isn’t exactly an elite talent.

Nothing about the Russian tells me that he is quite ready for a tough UFC vet like Jordan. I think the underdog welcomes the newcomer into the UFC rather unceremoniously.

MMA Betting Pick: Shawn Jordan +125

Jessica Eye (11-3-0): +200
Julianna Pena (6-2-0): -235

The Ultimate Fighter prodigy Julianna Pena looks to take another step closer to a Title shot in the Women’s Bantamweight Division when she takes on veteran Jessica Eye.

Simply put Pena is superior in every aspect of this fight. Eye figures to be a good test but will likely not be able to handle the ferocity of the younger fighter. Consider the average Eye a stepping stone for Pena in this one.

MMA Betting Pick: Juliana Pena -235

Preliminary Card (8 PM ET, FS1)

Ali Bagautinov (13-3-0): +260 vs. Joseph Benavidez (22-4-0): -310
MMA Betting Pick: Joseph Benavidez -310

Daniel Hooker (12-5-0): +205 vs. Yair Rodriguez (5-1-0): -240
MMA Betting Pick: Yair Rodriguez -240

Alan Jouban (12-3-0): +170 vs. Albert Tumenov (15-2-0): -200
MMA Betting Pick: Alan Jouban +170

Angela Hill (2-1-0): +210 vs. Rose Namajunas (2-2-0): -245
MMA Betting Pick: Angela Hill +210

Preliminary Card (6 PM ET, Fight Pass)

Islam Makhachev (12-0-0): -110 vs. Adriano Martins (27-7-0):-110
MMA Betting Pick: Adriano Martins -110

Chris Cariaso (17-7-0): +155 vs. Sergio Pettis (12-2-0):-180
MMA Betting Pick: Sergio Pettis -180

Derrick Lewis (12-4-0): +120 vs. Viktor Pesta (10-1-0): -140
MMA Betting Pick: Derrick Lewis +120

Sage Northcutt (5-0-0): -325 vs. Frank Trevino (12-1-0): +275
MMA Betting Pick: Sage Northcutt -325

Check out our Updated UFC 192 Odds.