UFC 186 can be added to the number of events that have been hurt by the injury bug in recent years. The marquee that was once anchored by a rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Renan Barao is now headlined by Demetrious Johnson and Kyoji Horiguchi.
But the lost luster doesn't mean it's a lost cause.
Oftentimes, it's the cards with the least amount of star power that wind up providing exciting fights. With a slew of up-and-comers and familiar veterans on the docket, the night should still wind up being filled with exciting bouts for those in attendance at the Bell Centre.
Here's a look at all the vital information surrounding the card as well as a look ahead at the biggest storylines to watch for on Saturday.
When: Saturday, April 25
Start Time: Fight Pass prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET (subscription required); Fox Sports 1 prelims at 8 p.m. ET; main card pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Live Stream: UFC.tv
Just How Good is Thomas Almeida?
Leading off the pay-per-view card is a classic prospect-vs.-gatekeeper matchup with 23-year-old bantamweight Thomas Almeida in line to fight 35-year-old Yves Jabouin.
Jabouin is a veteran of the UFC, having stepped in the Octagon eight times since joining the organization in 2011. However, none of the five opponents he's beaten are still fighting under the Zuffa banner.
Almeida—on the other hand—appears to be just getting started. He's 18-0 and coming off his first win in the UFC. And even with just one fight under his belt on the biggest stage in MMA, he's already drawing comparisons to professional kickboxers, via Patrick Wyman of Sherdog.com:
With 13 of his 18 wins coming by way of knockout and Jabouin losing two of his last three fights by knockout, everything points toward a highlight finish for Almeida.
Do Michael Bisping and Rampage Jackson Have Anything Left in the Tank?
The card may start with some future contenders in Almeida and Shane Campbell, but it'll be kicking it old school in the lead-up to the main event. Both Michael Bisping and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will be making their returns to the Octagon.
Bisping will be the first up on the senior circuit when he takes on C.B. Dollaway in middleweight action. Despite losing two of his last three fights, the British fighter is confident he can not only beat the Doberman but also challenge for the title.
"Luke Rockhold is going to beat Weidman later in the year. I’ll beat someone in summer, and then I’ll get my rematch with Rockhold," Bisping told Rick Lee and John Morgan of MMAJunkie. "He head-butted me in that fight, and then this time next year, I’ll be the champion. There you go."
Those comments aren't surprising given The Count's reputation for bravado. Still, it's lofty talk for a guy who is 3-4 in his last seven fights. Lyoto Machida recently dominated Dollaway, but the latter won back-to-back fights prior to the loss. He'll be a game opponent to see where Bisping is truly at in the hierarchy.
While Bisping is one of the bigger names on the card, there's no denying that the return of Rampage is one of the biggest storylines. Dana White even tweeted out a short hype video pumping up the former champion's return from Bellator:
Here's the biggest question, though. Can Rampage, a fighter who left the UFC in 2013 on a three-fight losing streak, still really be relevant?
Well, just the fact that he's fighting for the UFC again is relevant in its own right. The announcement that an injunction linked to his contract with Bellator would be lifted and that he would be on the card was only announced five days before the fight, per Nancy Gay of UFC.com.
With the legal issues settled for now, Rampage actually has to go out and perform. With his history of motivation issues, one has to wonder if Fabio Maldonado might be coming into this bout a little more prepared than his celebrity opponent.
How Will Mighty Mouse Win?
Unless Kyoji Horiguchi can channel a T.J. Dillashaw- or Rafael dos Anjos-type performance that no one sees coming, Demetrious Johnson is walking away from UFC 186 with the flyweight title firmly around his waist. He's reached the level where we can assume the crown is his until someone special comes along.
The real question is how he'll have his hand raised.
Early in Mighty Mouse's career, he had to face allegations of being a decision machine. The technical juggernaut saw his first seven UFC bouts end by decision. But lately that's changed.
Whether it's due to a progression of skills or simply fighting a more aggressive style, Johnson is no longer a guy who outpoints opponents. He's ended three of his last four bouts.
He has more than one way to skin a cat, too. He finished Joseph Benavidez via first-round knockout but submitted both John Moraga (armbar) and Chris Cariaso (kimura).
With his recent penchant for finishing fights, it'll be interesting to see how he chooses to handle Horiguchi and his unique striking style. The safe bet is that he'll find a way to end it on the ground by relentless ground-and-pound or another slick submission as he ends his night early.
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