UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez has destroyed every opponent he’s ever faced. He holds a record of 13-1, and has beaten the likes of former champions in Brock Lesnar, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Junior dos Santos. He is an intelligent fighter, whose superb boxing and endless cardio have driven him to become one of the UFC’s most popular combatants.
At UFC 180, Velasquez faces the formidable Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Fabricio Werdum. Provided the champion defeats his opponent on November 15, Velasquez’s competition will become few and far between. Given the quality of opponents on the UFC’s Top-10 list, accompanied by those who have already lost to the champion, a victory over Werdum would all but signify that Velasquez will have effectively cleaned out the heavyweight division.
Cain Velasquez’s Dominance
Velasquez sports an 85 percent knockout rate, defeating 11 of his 13 opponents in this manner. His boxing was greatly showcased during his matchup against Nogueira, as Velasquez became the first man to knockout his Brazilian foe. A wrestler by trade, Velasquez’s cardio is completely unparalleled, especially on the heavyweight level. In that, he specializes in wearing down his opponents, dominating them with ground and pound and securing the victory thereafter. The latter may be evidenced by the champion’s performance at UFC 155 and UFC 166, respectively.
Dos Santos knocked out and embarrassed then-champion Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1 in just 64 seconds. Velasquez returned at UFC 155, battering dos Santos, winning all rounds convincingly. Velasquez avenged his only loss and became a two-time heavyweight champion in the process.
Velasquez and dos Santos’ rubber match at UFC 166 appeared eerily similar to their second one. The champion utilized his cardio and boxing to hurt dos Santos on several occasions until the matchup was stopped in the fifth round. Regarding dos Santos’ beating at the hands of Velasquez, UFC President Dana White, according to Shaun Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting.com, stated:
I don’t want this to come out the wrong way, but I’m a believer. I always like to say that if anybody in his f–king corner cares about him, please, throw in that towel. I thought the fight was done in the third round. Is Junior dos Santos tough enough and does he have the heart to go through it? Yeah, but does that mean he should? If you look at the fight, it ended in the fifth. That guy took seven, eight minutes more punishment that he didn’t need to take until it ended.
Given dos Santos’ pair of one-sided losses against Velasquez at UFC 155 and at UFC 166, it doesn’t appear that the Brazilian will challenge for the title as long as Velasquez remains champion.
The State of the Heavyweight Division
At UFC 180, Velasquez faces Werdum, who is a multiple-time IBJJF and ADCC World Jiu-Jitsu champion. He has submitted the likes of Alistair Overeem, Alexander Emelianenko, and mixed martial arts legends in Nogueira and Fedor Emelianenko. In that, the heavyweight matchup between Velasquez and Werdum has all the trimmings to become one of epic proportions. However, a Velasquez win at UFC 180 sets up a possible dilemma regarding interest in the champion’s next opponent. A clearer picture of the heavyweight division is represented in the following:
1) Fabricio Werdum faces Velasquez at UFC 180.
2) Junior dos Santos lost to the champion twice (badly).
3) Travis Browne could possibly challenge for the title with a win over Brendan Schaub at UFC 181. However, given that Schaub is an unranked fighter, this may work against Browne’s cries for a title shot.
4) Mark Hunt is incredibly too slow and lacks the cardio to contend with that of Velasquez.
5) Stipe Miocic is scheduled to face dos Santos at UFC on Fox 13.
6) Josh Barnett is coming off a loss to Browne.
7) Andrei Arlovski is on a four-fight win streak. However, he is still most likely one or two fights out from challenging for the title.
8) Antonio Silva is coming off a knockout loss to Arlovski.
9) Roy Nelson is coming off a devastating loss to Hunt.
10) Ben Rothwell is coming off a win, but defeated a non-ranked opponent. He is also one or two fights away from a title shot.
At a glance, it appears that the dust must settle before Velasquez’s next opponent is disclosed. Irrespective of his next matchup, Velasquez’s supremacy over the heavyweight division remains impressive. Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report stated:
…he (Velasquez) is still the UFC heavyweight champion, and it is still difficult to look at the current heavyweight landscape and imagine anyone who can beat him. The reign of Cain could end up lasting a very long time.
In the end, considering those who are tied up with other fights, the lack of a dominant opponent, and Velasquez’s ability to make his foes appear amateurish in the Octagon, it would appear that the heavyweight champion will essentially clean out his division with a win at UFC 180.
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