UFC 186 matchups

UFC 186 MATCHUPS

A breakdown of the fights on the main card of UFC 186 today at Bell Centre in Montreal:

Demetrious Johnson (21-2-1) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (15-1)

■ CLASS: For Johnson’s flyweight title

■ LINE: Johnson -900

■ STORYLINE: The story stays the same with Johnson. He just keeps winning, but can’t seem to gain a foothold with fans in terms of popularity. It’s a shame. Johnson is a dynamic athlete who is laying waste to the division. He might need to find one true rival who can help take him to the next level. While Horiguchi might have the ability to compete with Johnson, he’s not likely to emerge as that needed foil. Despite Horiguchi’s gaudy record, which includes a 4-0 run since signing with the UFC, he hasn’t made much of a dent in the public’s consciousness. An upset of Johnson would change that. It won’t be easy. Horiguchi possesses a great deal of knockout power for the division, but Johnson isn’t easy to hit. Horiguchi is a very good fighter who lacks that one particular standout skill that can put Johnson in trouble. Expect a repeat performance of most of the champion’s previous title defenses.

■ PICK: Johnson by decision

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32-10) vs. Fabio Maldonado (22-7)

■ CLASS: 215-pound catchweight

■ LINE: Jackson -280

■ STORYLINE: Rampage is getting exactly what he wants. He’s happy with his new deal to return to the UFC and even more excited to be matched up against an opponent who is likely to stand up and fight him on the feet. It’s not all good news, though. Jackson was pulled from this fight 18 days ago because of a court order stemming from a contractual dispute with Bellator MMA. The injunction was thrown out Tuesday, clearing the way for Jackson to fight, but the legal battle had to be a giant distraction. Regardless of the style matchup, there is no way Jackson should be this big of a favorite under these circumstances. Though he won all three fights while competing in Bellator, he still has lost three straight in the UFC. Maldonado is a capable striker and represents an enormous amount of value for those looking to bet the card.

■ PICK: Maldonado by decision

Michael Bisping (26-7) vs. CB Dollaway (16-7)

■ CLASS: Middleweight

■ LINE: Bisping -145

■ STORYLINE: Bisping has alternated wins and losses over his last eight fights and is coming off a loss so he obviously will get back on track. That’s not a very scientific analysis, but this is a pretty evenly matched fight so it might be as close to an edge as one will find. Dollaway’s advantage is clearly in the wrestling department. While Bisping doesn’t have anywhere near the credentials of Dollaway as a wrestler, the veteran has become more proficient in preventing takedowns and keeping the fight in his comfort zone. He should be just fine as long as he can make this a boxing match. The biggest concern might be Bisping’s eye, which has become a consistent issue. He’ll need to avoid taking big shots in order to protect the eye, which could make him fight more cautiously than he would like.

■ PICK: Bisping by decision

John Makdessi (12-3) vs. Shane Campbell (11-2)

■ CLASS: Lightweight

■ LINE: Makdessi -170

■ STORYLINE: This has the potential to be a fun fight as two kickboxers go head to head. It probably won’t be the explosive matchup some fans are hoping for, however. Makdessi has put together a nice highlight film of flashy strikes, but there were a lot of jabs and set-up shots that put him in position to land the more exciting stuff. Campbell, a highly decorated muay Thai champion, is very technical in his approach. He makes his UFC debut against an opponent that isn’t likely to try to make him fight on the mat, and that suits Campbell just fine. As long as he can avoid the dreaded “Octagon jitters” as he competes in the organization for the first time, he should be able to stay patient and find opportunities to attack.

■ PICK: Campbell by third-round knockout

Yves Jabouin (20-9) vs. Thomas Almeida (18-0)

■ CLASS: Bantamweight

■ LINE: Almeida -450

■ STORYLINE: Almeida has the makings of a star, and UFC matchmakers have placed him in a prime position to show why in the first bout of a pay-per-view card. Almeida is the rare combination of a technical striker with a great deal of power. He had finished each of his first 17 opponents before settling for a decision victory over Tim Gorman in his UFC debut back in November. Chalk that up to the aforementioned nerves of a fighter’s first UFC appearance. Almeida very well may be the real deal and Jabouin is a perfect test. The veteran is a solid fighter who will make him work, but won’t take Almeida out of his comfort zone.

■ PICK: Almeida by second-round knockout

ADAM HILL/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL