A pair of rematches for the belt headline UFC 227, with Demetrious Johnson’s flyweight belt on the line as well as TJ Dillashaw’s bantamweight belt.
| Staff Writers | Santos vs. Holland | Viana vs. Aldrich | Swanson vs. Moicano | Johnson vs. Cejudo | Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heath Harshman (78-44) |  |  |  |  |  |
| Paarth Pande (80-48) | | |  | | |
| Eddie Law (68-43) | | | |  |  |
| Jesse Gillette (72-46) |  |  | | | |
| Dan Doherty (78-50) | | | | | |
| Josh Evanoff (31-20) | | | | | |
| Mike Straus (75-53) | | | | | |
| Jay Anderson (73-55) | | | | | |
| Gabriel Gonzalez (70-53) | | | | | |
| Mike McClory (61-58) | | | | | |
The main event of UFC 227 is the highly-anticipated grudge match between TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt. Their first bout 10 pay-per-views ago was one to remember, with Garbrandt knocking down Dillashaw in round one, then Dillashaw coming back to KO Garbrandt in the second. Eight of 10 writers believe history will repeat itself and picked Dillashaw.
Demetrious Johnson looks for yet another title defense in the co-main event when he takes on Henry Cejudo. Cejudo was able to take the champion down in their first bout, but Johnson used effective clinch striking to knock out the challenger in the very first round. Two writers believe Cejudo will dethrone the most dominant champion in the sport.
Cub Swanson battles up-and-comer Renato Moicano on the main card. Swanson flirted with other promotions after his last contract ran out, but ended up back in the Octagon and opposite Moicano tonight. Moicano is 4-1 in the UFC including a notable win over Jeremy Stephens and is currently the 10th ranked featherweight in the promotion. Swanson has a slight 6-4 edge according to Cageside Press.
Polyana Viana is on the main card taking on JJ Aldrich. The 10-1 Viana had an impressive promotional debut when she won by rear-naked choke in the first round back in February. Aldrich was on TUF 23, losing to eventual tournament winner Tatiana Suarez. Aldrich then fought her way to the UFC and is now 2-1 in the Octagon, riding a win-streak into tonight’s event. All but one writer picked Viana.
Opening up the main card is dynamic Brazilian Thiago Santos taking on Kevin Holland. Santos was on a four-fight KO streak before falling to David Branch in his last bout. Of the middleweight’s nine Octagon wins, eight have come by KO. Holland was 12-3 heading into his appearance on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, where he won via decision. All but one writer sided with the knockout artist Thiago Santos.
