The Cut List - UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi

UFC 186 is definitely not a strong pay-per-view, even with the re-insertion of Quinton Jackson into the lineup. Oddly enough, however, there are no fighters on the card who are on losing streaks, so this week's edition of The Cut List won't feature too many combatants whose UFC rosters spots are in jeopardy.

Likely cut with a loss

Joe Riggs (40-15, 1 NC MMA; 5-4 UFC). I honestly still cannot believe he's back in the UFC, but his Octagon stay will almost surely be a short one if he loses to Patrick Cote.

Jessica Rakoczy (1-4, 1 NC MMA; 0-1 UFC). Could you imagine a world where the UFC has a 1-5, 1 NC fighter on its roster? Because Rakoczy, the TUF 18 runner-up, would have that unenviable record with a defeat to Valerie Letourneau. Rakoczy has dropped two weight classes to 115 lbs for this one, and if her strawweight debut isn't successful then I reckon it's off to Invicta FC for her.

Possibly cut with a loss

Yves Jabouin (20-9 MMA, 5-3 UFC). Defeat against Thomas Almeida would put him at 2-3 in his last 5, with uninspiring wins over the since released Dustin Pague and Mike Easton keeping him afloat. Jabouin turns 36 next month and lighter weight classes are not the place to be for aging fighters, so there's a slight chance that he may get bounced just on a combination of his recent form and his age.

David Michaud (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC). Since the UFC has resorted to expanding its roster and number of shows, I cannot recall too many instances of fighters being cut after a 1-2 record, but Michaud hasn't really shown anything dazzling in either of his first two bouts, so it's not out of the question for him to be dropped if he falls flat against Olivier Aubin-Mercier on the prelims.

Likely safe regardless of outcome

Demetrious Johnson (21-2-1 MMA; 9-1-1 UFC), Kyoji Horiguchi (15-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC). Obviously the championship headliners aren't in any danger.

Quinton Jackson (35-11 MMA, 7-5 UFC), Fabio Maldonado (22-7 MMA, 5-4 UFC). While Rampage may not necessarily be fighting in the UFC again after Saturday, it has nothing to do with performance and everything to do with the court battle between him and Bellator. As for Maldonado, he'll fight anyone at any time, and the UFC loves fighters like him. He's won 4 of his last 5 and will be sticking around for awhile.

Chad Laprise (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Thomas Almeida (17-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Bryan Barberena (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Nordine Taleb (10-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Chris Clements (12-5, 1 NC MMA; 1-1, 1 NC UFC) Olivier Aubin-Mercier (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) . Laprise is an undefeated TUF Nations winner, while Almeida is an undefeated top bantamweight prospect out of Brazil. Barberena did well in his UFC debut and faces Laprise next. Taleb is in his 30s and is no spring chicken, but he's unbeaten in the UFC and faces Chris Clements, who is accepting this bout on short notice. Lastly, Aubin-Mercier lost to Laprise on TUF, but the Quebec native is an intriguing prospect whose last outing ended in a dismantling of Jake Lindsey.

Patrick Cote (20-9 MMA, 7-9 UFC). George Sotiropoulos was cut just one fight after coaching on TUF, but he was already on a bad losing skid. Prior to losing to Stephen Thompson, Cote did manage 3 straight wins (albeit with the help of a rare DQ win and an iffy decision vs. Bobby Voelker), so he probably can skate by for a few more fights until he hangs them up or he has yet another lengthy stretch of losses.

Shane Campbell (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Amazingly, he's the only debuting fighter on the card tomorrow night. His fight with John Makdessi has high potential to be the most entertaining one of the evening.

Michael Bisping (25-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC), C.B. Dollaway (15-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC), John Makdessi (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC). Your trio of main carders coming off of losses. Bisping is basically a company man for life, and he'll likely retire in the UFC when he decides to call it a career. Dollaway was on a hot streak before losing to Machida, so he's safe. Makdessi is somewhat inconsistent, but at his best he's an exciting kickboxer in the lightweight division so his job security should be fine.

Aisling Daly (15-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Sarah Kaufman (17-2, 1 NC MMA; 1-0, 1 NC UFC), Valerie Letourneau (6-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC). Daly is coming off a win and is ranked 10th at women's 115 lbs. Kaufman dispatched Leslie Smith in her last fight and is one of the best fighters at women's bantamweight, and Letourneau, who won her Octagon debut at 135 lbs, is making her first appearance at strawweight.

Alexis Davis (16-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Randa Markos (4-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC). It's Davis' first fight since losing her title fight vs. Ronda Rousey, who is the only fighter to beat her inside the Octagon. Meanwhile, Markos did lose to Jessica Penne on the TUF 20 Finale, but she's ranked #6 at women's 115 lbs and I imagine they'll want to keep the top TUF performers for as long as possible as they build up the division.