UFC Fight Night 178: Cowboy Cerrone vs. Niko Price Preview, Odds, Prediction

Donald Cowboy Cerrone vs. Niko Price is one of the fights on the main card of the UFC Fight Night 178. the two guys are coming off losses in the previous match, and looking to bounce back. Cowboy is in crisis, and this bout is especially important to him. He wants to prove that there is still some fire left inside him. For Price, this one means life or death, because if he losses, his UFC future may not be that bright. After posting mixed results in the past, losing to a declining veteran would definitely look bad for his resume. 

Preview

Cerrone (+130) looked pretty bad in the last four events. In three, we saw him pretty beaten up, while in the fourth, he managed to stay on his feet until the end (against Anthony Pettis), but even then, he was outpowered pretty badly.

Tony Ferguson rearranged his face, and the doctors had to stop that one. In the next contest. Cowboy (36-15 MMA, 23-12 UFC) was bounced off the horse pretty quickly, as Justin Gathje knocked him out in the first round, being angry at the judge in the ring because he didn’t stop the fight earlier. Against McGregor, the battle lasted 40 seconds, and that was when he hit rock bottom.

After that came the match with Pettis. He was better than in previous bouts, but still way below how he needed to endanger his great rival. It seems that the years got Cerrone, who is slow and apparently has poor reflexes, because he doesn’t defend at all in certain situations. 

Niko Price (-160) is coming off a defeat against Vincent Luque, in a match that could easily end in his favor. If the Hybrid, which is his nickname, had a little bit more patience, there is no doubt that his chances for posting another big win would be much higher. In this case, the doctors stopped the bout because of his swollen eye that not only bothered him, but presented a danger for his sight. 

In the fight before, Price (14-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) knocked out James Vick, showing signs of improvement compared to his previous contests. However, we need to say that he still lacks tactical knowledge and doesn’t know when to stop and lay back. He wants everything and immediately, and we know how greedy guys end up in the UFC.

All of his power and strength are neutralized with bad decisions and choices during the match, and some of those poor assessments were obvious against Luque, for example. 

Prediction

Both fighters are among the middle tier of the welterweight division; some might say the lower part of that middle. Cowboy is old and washed out, while Price presents a raw talent who has power, and pretty much that is where his qualities end. 

However, we will go with his victory in this case, only because of the difference in age. Younger, healthier, and stronger Price has the edge over the legendary American who needs to think about the life following MMA, and he needs to do it fast. Otherwise, his stay in the UFC would only ruin the reputation he has.