Belfort Vs. Johnson Prediction: Can Vitor Overcome Weight Difference?

Vitor Belfort and Anthony Johnson are both extremely skilled fighters, making it hard for many fans to make a prediction on their UFC Rio fight.

Now that Johnson has come in 11 pounds overweight, many are shifting the favorite title back to him. The decision (yep, it had to be intentional when you end up that overweight for a fight) to come in overweight by such a large number has irked many fans, especially Brazilians.

Johnson will be sure to hear many boos in Rio against Belfort, the home favorite, but the weight disadvantage will be hard for Belfort to overcome.

Belfort easily could have come in at a similar weight but now he will be staring down a much bigger man on Saturday, making it more likely that predictions will come into the sportsbooks in favor of Johnson now.

In the end, this will come down to Belfort's lightning quick hands versus Johnson's wrestling and varied striking game. Belfort will need to be careful not to eat another kick as he did against Anderson Silva.

While Belfort has a good shot to land that one big punch and take out Johnson, the weight disadvantage has me leaning toward predicting a win for Johnson at UFC Rio.

Belfort won't be able to swarm Johnson as he often does for fear of the takedown, and Johnson can bully him around the cage. In many ways, this fight reminds me of when Thiago Alves came in overweight and brutalized Matt Hughes.

Hopefully, if Johnson does win, he will be penalized by the UFC brass for his error and disrespect in coming in overweight.

For now, however, the prediction here for Johnson vs. Belfort at UFC Rio is a TKO in the second round in favor of "Rumble" in the middleweight division co-main event.