Not all MMA rivalries are created equal—some are mild and fueled by ongoing verbal spats, whereas others arise as the result of top-tier athletes clashing inside the confines of the cage.
On Saturday October 19, Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will look to conclude their back-and-forth title exchange with a trilogy fight for the history books.
Believe the hype—this is the third (and possibly final) act to the most significant rivalry in UFC heavyweight history.
It wasn’t forged by crafty pre-fight salesmanship. Instead, the exciting history shared by these two men is punctuated by the respective skills, pedigree and raw performances that redefined the expectations of a No. 1 heavyweight facing off against No. 2.
Will dos Santos regain his former title with the same swiftness he exhibited in his first outing against Velasquez, or will he walk away even more battered and defeated than the last attempt?
There’s no denying that, thus far, they’ve split the fights evenly. But when the lights drops inside the Houston’s Toyota Center, MMA fans worldwide will bear witness to the rubber match of what is sure to become an iconic Octagon rivalry.
Just think, that’s the finale to a night prefaced with names like Daniel Cormier, Gilbert Melendez, Diego Sanchez and many more.
Just in case you’re not at the edge of your seat already, Bleacher Report has you covered with a dynamic guide to UFC 166‘s stacked fight card.