The second UFC on Fox event of 2015 promises to be a great show. Headlined by a #1 contender bout for the middleweight title, the card also features many other relevant and interesting matchups, with several up-and-comers facing seasoned veterans and looking to break through to the next level. Of course even this card was not spared by the injury curse: the scheduled co-main event fight between Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza and Yoel Romero was the fight I was looking forward to the most on this line-up, and just last week Romero pulled out of the bout with an injury. This is the second time this match up has been scrapped; it was initially slated for UFC 184 but that time Souza came down with a bout of pneumonia. Maybe this fight was just not meant to be… or maybe the third time will be a charm? Anyhow, I am not too mad about losing this fight, considering how stacked the rest of the card is. In fact it’s so good that even the prelims will be broadcast on Fox instead of the usual Fox Sports 1 (save for the three fights relegated to Fight Pass).
Main Event: [#2 MW] Lyoto Machida vs [#6 MW] Luke Rockhold
Worth: $20
Why: While fans might be upset about Souza-Romero dropping off the card, Rockhold and especially Machida are probably elated about it. After all, any of these four could have been the next contender, depending on which winner of the two fights was more impressive in his performance. Machida has faced the champion Chris Weidman in Weidman’s first title defense, and if Lyoto were to beat Rockhold and Weidman retains his title against Vitor Belfort, the winner of Souza-Romero would likely jump the line to avoid having Weidman-Machida II so soon. Now, the winner of this fight is virtually guaranteed the next shot, no matter who the champion is at the time and even if this fight ends up a total snoozer. I’m a bit surprised by Rockhold being a slight betting favorite against Machida. Either way, it’s a very solid main event to cap off a night of free fights.