Here are four fighters poised to score upsets at UFC 199
The UFC returns to Los Angeles this weekend for another exciting pay-per-view as middleweight champion Luke Rockhold makes his first title defense against UFC veteran Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 199.
UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby did a bang-up job when they put together this event, which features two title fights and a main card with fighters ranked only in the top 15 of their respective division. But what would a well-structured card be without a few upsets?
Take a look at four UFC 199 fights that could see the underdog get his or her hand raised come Saturday night.
Throwing down in one of the most highly anticipated grudge matches of all time, Dominick Cruz puts his UFC belt on the line against Urijah Faber in the third meeting between the former WEC foes. The series, which dates back to 2007, is split 1-1, as Faber handed "The Dominator" his first career loss via first-round submission at WEC 26.
Cruz won the second matchup under the UFC banner in 2011, but injuries forced Cruz to the sidelines for almost three years. He's fought just twice since 2014. Since that 2011 fight, Faber has lost to only two men: Renan Barao and Frankie Edgar.
Faber, now 37, may have lost a step since the last time he faced the 31-year-old Cruz, but this rivalry has always brought the best out of both fighters, so this one could go either way.
Brian Ortega enters his matchup with unranked Clay Guida unbeaten in all three of his UFC appearance and touts a 10-0 professional record. He cracked the featherweight top 15 with a win over Diego Brandao at UFC 195 in January and is likely eager to continue rising through the ranks.
But opponent Guida is nobody's stepping stone. "The Carpenter" isn't afraid to stand and trade with anyone and will undoubtedly look to take the fight to the ground and smother Ortega with his world-class wrestling.
Ortega is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt but will be tested by Guida, and we wouldn't be surprised if "The Carpenter" grinded this one out.
It's unfortunate that Beneil Dariush's standing in the lightweight rankings is going to be short-lived. He entered the top 10 with a surprising split-decision over Michael Johnson but dropped after getting submitted by Michael Chiesa.
Vick, meanwhile, has been on an absolute tear since entering the UFC, winning all five of his fights, including a first-round submission of talented Australian prospect Jake Matthews and a beatdown of Gianco Franca at UFC 197 in April.
He enters the fight with a five-inch height advantage, a four-inch reach advantage and momentum on his side. Vick might not be unranked for long.
Andrade makes her UFC strawweight debut after spending the past three years fighting in the UFC's women's bantamweight division. The promotion did not do her any favors matching her up former title contender and sixth-ranked strawweight Jessica Penne.
Andrade enters the battle of the Jessicas at a two-inch height and five-inch reach disadvantage, but if there's anything her time at bantamweight taught her, it's how to fight as the smaller fighter. She showed at 135 pounds a distinct ability to work her way inside of larger opponents and is a brawler when she gets in the pocket, landing 5.66 significant strikes per minute compared to just 1.9 for Penne.
The Brazilian also is the better grappler, averaging two takedowns per fight at a 61.9 percent clip while fighting off 68 percent of the takedowns levied against her. And again, those numbers come against larger fighters.
Andrade could put the entire division on notice with a win over Penne on Saturday.
UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping comes your way Saturday, June 4 and is available exclusively on Pay-Per-View. Stick with UFC on FOX all fight week for news, analysis and exclusive interviews with the stars of the big event.