UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira Preview and Predictions | The MMA Corner

The UFC heads into Baltimore Arena with perhaps the greatest light heavyweight champion in MMA history atop the event card. UFC champ Jon Jones will put his light heavyweight title on the line against dangerous Brazilian striker Glover Teixeira.

Fighting out of the same gym as UFC Hall of Famer Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, Teixeira will look to use his thunderous knockout power to dethrone Jones. Teixeira comes into the fight riding a 20-fight winning streak. Jones, meanwhile, will look to make his sixth straight title defense.

The evening’s co-main event marks the return of Anthony “Rumble” Johnson to the Octagon. Johnson has won all six of his bouts since being released by the promotion after UFC 142. That run includes a win over former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski and devastating knockouts of Jake Rosholt and Mike Kyle. Welcoming Rumble back to the UFC will be former NCAA Division I wrestling champ Phil Davis. “Mr. Wonderful” is coming off the biggest win of his career against former UFC champion Lyoto Machida, but their bout was mired in controversy. Davis hasn’t been in the Octagon since. Now, he will look to stamp his own claim as a worthy title contender at the expense of the returning Johnson.

Also on the main card is a pivotal middleweight battle between former Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold and Tim Boetsch. Jim Miller was originally scheduled to face Bobby Green, but he will now fight Yancy Medeiros. And Max Holloway faces Andre Fili in a battle of featherweight prospects.

The prelims feature a slew of known fighters, including Takanori Gomi, former TUF competitor Jessamyn Duke and Joe Ellenberger, who makes his much-anticipated UFC debut. Also, Joseph Benavidez will face Tim Elliott in a clash of top-10 featherweights to cap off the prelim portion of UFC 172.

The action kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass with two preliminary card bouts. Then, it’s off to Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET for the remainder of the prelims. The main card airs live on pay-per-view beginning at 10 p.m. ET.

The MMA Corner’s Rob Tatum, RJ Gardner and Kyle Symes break down the entire fight card in this edition of the Round Table.