By TXMMA STAFF | Photos by Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jon Jones makes 7th title defense versus surging challenger Glover Texeira; Top contenders Phil Davis and Luke Rockhold also look to climb at UFC 172
Also on the UFC 172 fight card is top-five light heavyweight contender Phil Davis looking to make a case for his own title shot against. He’ll be taking on a returning Anthony Johnson who makes his way back following a stint in WSOF.
The PPV main card also features a top middleweight in Luke Rockhold as he takes on “Barbarian” Tim Boetsch. The winner of this card should make a strong case to join Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida in title talks for this division.
The PPV features two more fights in the lighter divisions as well with Jim Miller fighting late replacement Yancy Medeiros and Team Alpha Male’s Andre Fili taking on fellow featherweight Max Holloway to open the UFC 172 main card.
UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira – Quick Card
Main Card (PPV)
205 lbs.: Jon Jones (19-1) vs. Glover Teixeira (22-2)
205 lbs.: Phil Davis (12-1, 1 NC) vs. Anthony Johnson (16-4)
185 lbs.: Luke Rockhold (11-2) vs. Tim Boetsch (17-6)
155 lbs.: Jim Miller (23-4, 1 NC) vs. Yancy Medeiros (10-1)
145 lbs.: Max Holloway (8-3) vs. Andre Fili (13-1)
Prelims (Fox Sports 1)
125 lbs.: Joseph Benavidez (19-4) vs. Tim Elliot (10-4-1)
155 lbs.: Takanori Gomi (34-9, 1 NC) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-4-1)
135 lbs.: Jessamyn Duke (3-0) vs. Bethe Correia (7-0)
170 lbs.: Danny Castillo (16-6) vs. Charlie Brenneman (19-6)
Prelims (UFC Fight Pass)
135 lbs.: Chris Beal (8-0) vs. Patrick Williams (7-3)
UFC 172: Jones vs Teixeira – Main Card Preview and Predictions
205 lbs.: Jon Jones (19-1) vs. Glover Teixeira (22-2) 
The main event of the evening should be a tenuous one with P4P top fighter Jon Jones taking on a scary opponent Glover Teixeira. Like the champion, the Brazilian is on an impressive winning streak of his own and hasn’t lost since 2005. That’s 20 fights without a loss. No need to expound on the champion’s stats but let’s just say he doesn’t have a legitimate loss in 20 fights of his own, a record marred only by a DQ once upon a time to Matt “The Hammer” Hammil.
Jones has length, speed, athleticism, and wrestling prowess on his side. He’s also an exceptionally creative fighter who’s managed to find all types of angles to strike his opponents. And when he takes the fight to the floor he’s deadly with his ground and pound. Meanwhile Glover is known as a massively powerful striker, an attribute that’s saved him on occasion including in his last win versus Ryan Bader. He’s also a BJJ black belt who can hold his own against the best takedown artists and grapplers.
So how does this fight play out? Well it does look like Glover has upset potential and is certainly dangerous but the likelihood is that Jones will be able to use his physical attributes to effectively manage the distance and not put himself in too much trouble. Put cardio into play and he may even finish this one before the final bell.
Prediction: Jon Jones over Glover Teixeira by TKO, RD4
205 lbs.: Phil Davis (12-1, 1 NC) vs. Anthony Johnson (16-4)
Anthony Johnson arrives back into the UFC six years and 35 pounds north of when he left. Unfortunately for him, he’s also coming back against a tough matchup in former NCAA All-American wrestler Phil Davis. Johnson is as powerful a striker as they come but Davis has been in there with better fighters and lived to tell the tale. We’re talking wins over Alexander Gustaffson and Lyoto Machida just for starters.
In order for Johnson to be succesful he’s got to do it off his back as Davis will likely test him on the mat. Phil is looking to show the UFC brass that he deserves a shot at the belt and was already prodding at champion Jon Jones earlier this week. He doesn’t need to look past Anthony Johnson by any means so there’s some concern there but he should have the requisite skill set to expose the holes in his opponent’s game. Look out for another slick submission from Mr. Wonderful here.
Prediction: Phil Davis over Anthony Johnson by submission, RD2
A former Strikeforce champion, Luke Rockhold has been looking to make waves in the UFC ever since he came over. With wins over Tim Kennedy and Jacare Souza earlier in his career, it’s evident Luke has the talent to contend for the title but his train was delayed courtesy of a KO loss to Vitor Belfort last May. He’s beaten Costas Philippou since then and now looks for his second in a row against Tim Boetsch. A gritty grinder, “The Barbarian” (Boetsch) is also looking for his second straight win here.
Boetsch is a big middleweight and has decent power to go along with his wrestling but Luke is the more dynamic fighter. He’s got a well-rounded striking arsenal, as evident by his dropping Costas with a body kick in January. He’s also got black belt level grappling and was able to get the better of Jacare on the ground. That’s saying a lot. In fact, that’s saying he wins this fight short of being hurt and put away by Tim, something not likely to happen.
Prediction: Luke Rockhold by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Jim Miller (23-4, 1 NC) vs. Yancy Medeiros (10-1)
Jim Miller takes on late replacement Ynacy Medeiros following an injury to his original opponent, Bobby Green. Miller has been around for years and has always been known as one of the tougher fighters in his weight division. He’s never quite made it to the top level though so he’s increasingly become known as a high level gatekeeper. In truth he’s worthy of more distinction of that. A convincing win against Medeiros here will validate that opinion. Yancy has a lot of power but he was also outgrappled by Rustan Khabilov in his first career loss. Miller also has great grappling and that’s not a good sign for him, especially not after taking this fight on short notice.
Prediction: Jim Miller by submission, RD2
145 lbs.: Max Holloway (8-3) vs. Andre Fili (13-1)
The PPV portion of the UFC 172 fight card kicks off with an exciting bout pitting strikers against each other in Max Holloway and Andre Fili. Both are coming off TKO victories in their last fight so this one will further propel whoever gets the W.
Andrew Fili in particular is hot following a first round TKO win in Houston in his debut. He’s also a member of the same Team Alpha Male camp that’s home to Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, and others so you know he’s well trained. Max Hollaway on the other hand was once thought of as a future star in this division but hasn’t quite fulfilled that promise over the past two years, losing to Conor McGregor and Dennis Bermudez to put a stop to that hype for now.
This bout should be a close. Both fighters have the skills to win a standup war, something this will likely be. We’ll see who wants it more on Saturday night but the crystal ball indicates Fili will pull off the decision.
Prediction: Andrew Fili by unanimous decision
UFC 172: Jones vs Teixeira – Prelim Preview and Predictions
125 lbs.: Joseph Benavidez (19-4) vs. Tim Elliot (10-4-1)
Once thought off as the heir apparent to the flyweight division, Joseph Benavidez was unable to fulfill his destiny after running into Demetrious Johnson twice and coming up short. In his whole career he’s only ever lost to “Mighty Mouse” and 135 champ Dominick Cruz, also twice. Aside from that he’s beaten everybody else.
His opponent Tim Elliot arrives into this one with a 2-2 UFC record but doesn’t have a finish in the octagon yet.
Tim Elliott is a gritty and durable fighter but Benavidez should be better than him where it counts. He’s faster, better on his feet, and holds a big wrestling advantage. Not sure if Joe finishes him but he’s definitely got what it takes to win this fight handedly.
Prediction: Benavidez by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Takanori Gomi (34-9, 1 NC) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-4-1)
“Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi will retire a legend but he’s been pretty mediocre since arriving into the UFC. He’ll go into this fight with Isaac Vallie-Flagg clearly in the later stages of his career and following a one-year layoff.
This one should prove to be an entertaining fight given both fighter’s propensity for moving forward. Gomi’s power hasn’t gone yet and neither has his chin but there’s something to be said for being the fresher fighter. Isaac is actually a little older than Gomi but he hasn’t been through those same wars that take years off a fighter’s career. This should be a close one.
Prediction: Isaac Vallie-Flagg by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Jessamyn Duke (3-0) vs. Bethe Correia (7-0)
A veteran of TUF, Jessamyn Duke remains close with her season coach Ronda Rousey. The rangy kickboxer defeated Peggy Morgan in her UFC debut and it will be interesting to see how she’s grown since then. She’s a lot taller than her opponent Bethe Correia but the Brazilian is a mean fighter in her own rite. Both fighters like to take the fight to their opponent so this one has the potential for fireworks. Duke should have the advantage if this fights stays on the outside with her 7″ reach advantage but there’s no telling if it does in fact stay there. It’s anybody’s ballgame.
Prediction: Jessamyn Duke by split decision
170 lbs.: Danny Castillo (16-6) vs. Charlie Brenneman (19-6)
Danny Castillo has been around since the WEC days but is still toiling around in the middle of the pack in his division. He does have wins over guys like Dustin Poirier and Tim Means so he’s no scrub. Charlie Brenneman has been the same type of fighter, good enough to beat most of the roster but not quite at that top level.
These guys are similar fighters. Unfortunately for Brenneman, everything he does Castillo does a little bit better. And “Last Call” (Castillo) is way harder to put away. If Brenneman doesn’t finish, the likelihood of him winning a decision is slim.
Prediction: Danny Castillo by TKO, RD2
135 lbs.: Chris Beal (8-0) vs. Patrick Williams (7-3)
In the opening fight of the night scheduled for UFC Fight Pass, TUF 18 veteran Chris Beal takes on debuting fighter Patrick Williams. Beal is currently undeated at 8-0 but Williams will be a game opponent considering he came out of the same ASU wrestling program as C.B. Dollaway and Cain Velasquez. A little hard to predict to this fight without seeing either’s total body of work but Williams should have the edge even though the betting boards have Beal as the favorite.
Prediction: Patrick Williams by TKO, RD2