10 reasons to watch UFC 172, including Teixeira's upset chances vs. Jones

Most people seem to have made up their mind about the outcome of UFC 172's top-billed fights, but in MMA, that’s a prime environment for a few surprises.

UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones is a 5-to-1 favorite to beat the 34-year-old Glover Teixeira, whose best days may have been fought in his native Brazil while trying to work out a dysfunctional visa situation. The interesting thing is, Teixeira isn’t the guy who’s going to go slow and steady. If he lands, he’s going to land big, and then we’ll find out if the mettle the 26-year-old Jones showed in a tough decision over Alexander Gustafsson is capable of withstanding the force. The champ has faced knockout artists before, and none have been able to connect. That could change Saturday night at Baltimore Arena in Maryland. It’s may not be likely, but it’s always possible.

The same thing goes for Phil Davis, who’s a 2-to-1 favorite to beat the returning Anthony Johnson, and Luke Rockhold, who’s an insane 9-to-1 favorite against Tim Boetsch. The underdogs, in this case, are all guys with documented fight-ending power in their hands and fists, and sometimes power can overwhelm finesse. Especially when four-ounce gloves are in play.

UFC 172's main card airs live on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Here are the 10 reasons to watch UFC 172:

1) Next!

Light heavyweight champ Jon Jones (19-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) wanted a new challenge rather than an old one in choosing Glover Teixeira (22-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) over Alexander Gustafsson. Can you blame him? Despite a unanimous decision over “The Mauler” at UFC 165, Jones took the biggest beating of his career. Is he delaying a rematch? Maybe. Eventually, though, the UFC is going to put them together again – that much is certain. The question now is whether that happens sooner rather than later. Teixeira is a potential wrench in the works, and Jones’ performance means a lot for the building of a highly hyped rematch.

2) More human than human

Hearing some of UFC 172's fighters weigh-in on the headliner, Jones is due for a walk in the park against Teixeira. Over and over, they said the champ’s reach and speed are too much for the challenger. But you don’t need to be a professional to see that Teixeira needs to get inside to land those big hooks or nab a takedown for top position. If he falls short of that goal, we’re in for another one-sided fight. If not, things could get interesting. It’s going to be a game of cat and mouse, and with Teixeira’s penchant for moving forward, a lively one.

3) Walk the walk

Light heavyweight Phil Davis (12-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is painting himself into a corner by making Jones the focal point of his UFC 172 buildup opposite Anthony Johnson (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC). Jones was right when he said earlier this week that Davis is going to look awfully stupid if he is taken out by a head kick. Can “Mr. Wonderful” back up what he’s saying and prove himself a worthy contender by dominating on Saturday night? He’ll end up in the headlines one way or the other, either as the guy who stepped into a spotlight he made for himself or a cautionary tale of overzealousness.

4) Better man

Middleweights Luke Rockhold (11-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Tim Boetsch (17-6 MMA, 8-5 UFC) previously were scheduled to fight at UFC 166, but Rockhold injured his knee, so Boetsch instead took on and beat C.B. Dollaway. Rockhold went on to stop Constantinos Philippou in a passionate and dominant performance. Is that what Boetsch missed the first time around? Rockhold got over the mental hump of returning to the cage after becoming victim No. 3 of Vitor Belfort’s head kick of doom, and now, he’s resumed his push toward a belt. Then again, Boetsch is also back, having outpointed Dollaway in his most recent outing. Rockhold’s rangy striking stills make him the favorite in the eyes of most, but Boetsch can turn it into a brawl up close and has the wrestling to potentially smother his foe. It might not be the blowout many are expecting.

5) Under-the-radar upset

Lightweight Jim Miller (23-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC) has the unenviable job of taking a new opponent on one week’s notice. Yancy Medeiros (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) is a heavy-handed striker who knocked out Yves Edwards in his most recent fight (though his win was denied when he later tested positive for pot). On the other hand, Miller is about as seasoned a vet as you can find in the division, and he has the wrestling skills to make this a one-sided affair. Were other fights not so lopsided in the odds, this might be the upset candidate of the night.

5) Can’t touch this

Standout featherweight Max Holloway (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) got a chance to reset his career after back-to-back losses, but he’ll get no breaks this time around. Following a win over Will Chope, he steps up to meet another young, highly touted fighter, Team Alpha Male’s Andre Fili (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who impressed in his octagon debut. In Holloway, Fili meets an opponent who’s an equally crisp striker, meaning this bout could be decided by the better grappler. Given Alpha Male’s reputation for turning wrestling aces into top MMA fighters, Holloway has his work cut out for him. This could easily be a “Fight of the Night” candidate.

6) Still pretty fly

Flyweight Joseph Benavidez (19-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has been here before. Beaten twice in the WEC by then-bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz, he ended his tenure in the now-defunct promotion as an also-ran, albeit perhaps the No. 2 guy at 135 pounds. After getting knocked out by UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson in his last outing, he’s not getting a title shot any time soon. The difference this time around is that he could get a third chance if he hangs around long enough. And even if he doesn’t, his exciting style will keep him employed as long as he wants. A bout against the scrappy Tim Elliott (10-4-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) should produce the frenetic fireworks of most 125-pounders, immediately relevant to the division or not.

7) Eligible for upgrade

Lightweight Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) told MMAjunkie he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face when he found out he wouldn’t be fighting Danny Castillo on UFC 172's prelims. Why? He’s now fighting Takanori Gomi (34-9 MMA, 3-4 UFC), who still retains his cool factor no matter how far he’s fallen as a serious contender. Vallie-Flagg stumbled against Elias Silverio, but he’s slowly improved in his later career and stands a good chance of making a name for himself. Gomi, meanwhile, is desperately in need of a win. He’s lost three of his last five, and that can’t bode well for his future, no matter how nostalgic he makes the fans.

8) It can only get better

Women’s bantamweight Jessamyn Duke (3-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) squeaked out a win in her pro octagon debut after a loss to Raquel Pennington scratched her from “The Ultimate Fighter 18.” She didn’t look good, however, in outpointing Peggy Morgan, who like her appeared not at all ready for primetime in the 15-minute fight. Since then, she’s taken up with champ Ronda Rousey, which hopefully will whip her into shape to beat the undefeated Bethe Correia (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who outpointed Julie Kedzie in her octagon debut. From what we’ve seen in the past, this looks like Correia’s fight. But however it shakes out, it should be a more technically sound affair.

9) Going headhunting

Before Donald Cerrone put a stamp on Edson Barboza, lightweight Danny Castillo (16-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC) did it in the first round of his fight with the Brazilian terror. While he wasn’t able to earn the triumphant finish of “Junior,” Castillo availed himself well and gets a chance to get back on track against Charlie Brenneman (19-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC). “The Spaniard,” a former welterweight, stumbled in his return to the UFC at lightweight, and is in danger of getting another pink slip if he can’t win. They share a wrestling background, but count on Castillo spending most of his time trying to knock off Brenneman’s block.

10) Feel-good comeback

Chris Beal (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) beat cancer to make it onto “TUF 18,” but was quick fodder for show winner Chris Holdsworth’s submission skills. Now he gets a real chance to show his stuff against newcomer Patrick Williams (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who’s got a penchant for not going the distance, win or lose.

For the latest on UFC 172, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.