Last Updated : 8th July, 2016 By Alex M

See Stats

UFC 200 Preview

UFC 200 is undoubtedly the biggest event in MMA history. The UFC have pulled out all the stops to make this a true milestone event, but it has hardly gone off without a hitch. In fact, this card has appeared to carry a curse from the outset.

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz were scheduled to have their eagerly anticipated rematch, but the biggest draw in the company - McGregor - decided he didn't want to adhere to all the media obligations. This scuppered Dana White's main event plans, but Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones were set for a light middleweight title fight to discover the undisputed champion in their second encounter.

However, once again, fate intervened. Jones - the victor of the first fight - tested positive for undisclosed drugs on Thursday and Anderson Silva has stepped into the breach at the definition of the last minute.

After all that shifting, let's have a look at the big money matchups and what we can expect on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Cain Velasquez Vs Travis Browne

The opening bout of the night features two 33-year-old heavyweights looking to position themselves as top contenders in the division. There's no question that Lesnar V Hunt is the real battle of the behemoths in Vegas, but it will be interesting to see how Velasquez comes back from his submission defeat to the ever dangerous Fabrício Werdum.

Browne is coming off a victory over Matt Mitrione in January where he won with a flurry of punches in the third round. Browne is more familiarly known as Ronda Rousey's boyfriend, but with 14 KO's in his 18 wins he is very dangerous in his own right.

Velasquez is a fighter who is constantly on top of his opponents and his relentless pressure should cancel out Browne's athletic style. Velasquez win.

Get odds of 1/3 with Betfair for Cain Velasquez to win (£30 free bet)

Jose Aldo Vs Frankie Edgar

Is Jose Aldo the same longest reigning champion in UFC history he was before Conor McGregor dealt with him so embarrassingly? The Irishmen got in his head long before they ever stepped inside the octagon, but this is a different kind of fight.

The winner of this bout will likely go on and face McGregor for the UFC featherweight title and Aldo must be desperate to right that major wrong. Edgar, on the other hand, has won his last five fights in a row and that includes and impressive first round KO over Chad Mendes last time out.

Aldo won the last time these two met back in 2013, but I sense Edgar has really found his stride and Aldo might not be the same fighter. Edgar win.

Get odds of 3/1 with Skybet for Frankie Edgar to win via decision or technical decision (£20 free bet)

Daniel Cormier (c) Vs Anderson Silva

Until literally two days ago, Daniel Cormier thought he was fighting Jon 'Bones' Jones. In quite bizarre and embarrassing fashion, that fight was inexplicably scrapped when Jones failed a drug test this week.

Cormier was once a very light and nimble heavyweight who was especially agile for that top heavy division. Since his move down in weight class, Cormier has tried to become more aggressive in his approach and he has had to accept he now rarely holds a speed advantage.

Silva is commonly regarded - alongside Jones, in fairness - as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all-time. But, let's look at this for a second: Silva had his gall bladder removed just two months ago, he is winless since 2012 - last succuming to Michael Bisping in England - and Cormier is the bigger man with a wrestling style Silva has historically struggled against. It's hard to make an argument for Silva, no matter how admirable his last minute guts are. But, what I will say is, every time Silva has climbed up to 205 lbs he has won with devastating effect. Cormier win.

Get odds of 7/4 with Skybet for Daniel Cormier to win via KO, TKO or DQ (£20 free bet)

Brock Lesnar Vs Mark Hunt

Finally, the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar returns to the octagon! He's been running riot in the WWE for the past four years and for all the accolades and titles he has amassed, that's essentially play fighting. This will be for real in more ways than Lesnar will care to remember.

Mark Hunt's strengths lie in his striking power. He can be beaten - as his 12 wins and 10 loss record would indicate - but a victory over Frank Mir last time out has done his credibility wonders, which also happened to come via a KO punch in the first round.

Hunt is a problem for Lesnar because of how hard he can hit. If he lands a clean shot on the WWE performer, history tells us Lesnar doesn't like to get hit. I mean, no one does, but for a man of his size he takes it especially poorly. Will Lesnar leave it all out there with a SummerSlam payday on the horizon in August? Should he get on top of Hunt, it will virtually be over. If Lesnar wrestles smart and picks his spots, he wins. One would assume Lesnar has thoroughly prepared himself for this bout and will have a plan. Lesnar win.

Get odds of 6/4 for with William Hill for Brock Lesnar to win (£20 free bet)

Miesha Tate (c) Vs Amanda Nunes

The main event! Nunes probably can't believe her luck here; she's gone from a talented 'keep your eye on this one' kind of contender to headlining UFC 200.

The problem for Nunes is she has no experience with five-round fights and has actually only fought into the third round three times in her career. She was only victorious once in those three occasions, and facing a technically sound, gutsy Miesha Tate isn't the recipe to remedy those lingering woes.

On the strength of that information, the longer the fight goes on the better for the champion. Really, someone who could stick to the outside and pick Tate off has a better chance of emerging victorious, but the champ is an excellent grappler and that should see her win late in the day. Rousey will be waiting. Tate win.

Get odds of 6/4 with Paddy Power for Miesha Tate to win by submission (£30 free bet)