UFC 230: Cormier vs Lewis Fight Card, TV Facts, Predictions and More | Bleacher's report

The opportunities to watch Daniel Cormier 's bout are limited and one of those last few times will come face Derrick Lewis at the UFC 230 main event.

DC will defend its heavyweight title for the first time against the Black Beast at Madison Square Garden.

For Cormier, this is an opportunity to consolidate his legacy as a legitimate heavyweight champion and to star in the legendary New York arena. For Lewis, this is an opportunity to get the most out of his momentum with UFC 229.

All this is preceded by four fantastic encounters in the middleweight division, including Chris Weidman, from New York, the thrilling prospect Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier's middleweight debut.

Here is an overview of the complete information on the map and on television to make sure you do not miss the action.

Main card (PPV, 22h ET)

• Daniel Champion Cormier Derrick Lewis for UFC heavyweight title
• Ronaldo Souza vs Chris Weidman
  
• David Branch vs. Jared Cannonier
• Jack Marshman against Karl Roberson
• Israel Adesanya against Derek Brunson

Prelims (FS1, 8 pm ET)

• Jason Knight against Jordan Rinaldi
• Sijara Eubanks vs Roxanne Modafferi
• Julio Arce against. Sheymon Moraes
• Lyman Good against Ben Saunders

Preliminaries (Fight Pbad, 6:15 pm ET)

• Mast Frevola against. Lando Vannata
• Shane Burgos vs Kurt Holobaugh
• My telephone Jackson against Brian Kelleher
• Marcos Rogerio of Lima against Adam Wieczorek

predictions

DC carries Lewis

Daniel Cormier made some big decisions during his career.

In the end, Cormier does not have a remarkable defense. Despite all his abilities as a melee and field wrestler, DC was delighted by Anderson Silva, Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and even Jon Jones.

The good news is that it was only completed once and it's more the result of attrition against Jones, which was then reversed.

The fact is that DC has one of the best brains in the game and this is perhaps the most important feature he brings to the title defense against Derrick Lewis.

Fighting against Lewis appears to cross a crowded highway. It's not a question of whether you will be hit, but when and how much damage will be done.

Lewis is not the most technical fighter in the world, but when he connects, he is with bad intentions. Cormier's ability to cross some of these bombs to reduce distance and take control of the fight through melee or withdrawal will be essential.

Essentially, Cormier will have to do some testing, use his top cardio and exhaust Lewis. This is a strategy that he has used in the past with excellent results and most likely what is happening here.

Prediction: Cormier via TKO in the third round

Weidman makes a hard-fought decision

If you like high-level grappling, Weidman-Souza may be the highlight of the evening.

The two middleweight contenders are among the elite wrestlers in the division, but their styles are contrasted. Weidman relies heavily on his experience of wrestling and can pose vicious problems on the ground or choking. His three UFC submissions were strangled.

Souza is rather a practitioner of pure submission, accumulating 14 career victories via a video game with an badortment of armbands, chokes and kimuras.

In a battle of elite wrestlers, it will be difficult for one or the other man to lock something up. Souza is an elite bid artist, but he also recognized Weidman's skills on the field.

"I had to make some adjustments to my game," said Souza about a fit once he learned that he would not fight David Branch, according to MMAjunkie. "He's a great jiu-jitsu guy, a fighter, so I had to learn this part: the scrapping defense and jiu-jitsu, he has a great jiu-jitsu. Is a monster in the ground game. "

If neither man wants to engage in the fight out of respect for the other's game, it could go to the booth. Weidman's boxing could give him a slight edge in this department, and it could be the difference between which figures be a tight decision.

Prediction: Weidman via decision

Cannonier gets rude awakening at middle weight

Jared Cannonier continues to lighten up in the hope of succeeding at the UFC.

When the 34-year-old arrived at the UFC, he made his debut as a heavyweight. He fought in the 265-pound division twice before moving to light heavyweight for five fights. After going 2-3 to 205, he debuted at 185 pounds on Saturday night.

Unfortunately for Cannonier, the hospitality committee is not so welcoming.

The native of Alaska will draw David Branch on the main map. The former World Series of Fighting champion was supposed to see Jacare Souza, but an injury to Luke Rockhold caused a reshuffle of the card. Cannonier now finds Branch in the cage.

It's a stylistic nightmare for the old heavyweight. Cannonier's grounding defense has been notoriously fragile (31%, by FightMetric), and Branch has one of the division's best scorching games.

Cannonier's power gives him a chance, but it's usually not a good bet to bet.

It is more likely that it lies on the other end of a unilateral showcase of Branch's difficult prowess.

Prediction: Cannonier via a third round bid