Another segment in the UFC’s continuing “Backstage Pass” video series showed a glimpse at how two heavyweights prepare backstage for a title fight.
Rolling on floor mats, hitting the mitts and going through a traditional ritual with Jacob “Stitch” Duran were all segments highlighted in the behind-the-scenes footage, going through the UFC 155 main event between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.
Despite the high-paced five-round battle, Velasquez notably had to endure several interviews immediately after the match, talking to outlets like ESPN and Fuel TV despite the fact that he was still bleeding from fresh cuts and wounds.
Velasquez even gave the UFC’s camera crew a short quip, saying that he did indeed exhaust himself against JDS, although he also stated that he purposely slowed down when he realized that he was in danger of punching himself out:
I was fit to be back here. It was a tough pace to keep. I was tired, man, and [Junior] dos Santos kept it.
This time, I was like, “I’m taking the fight to him. I’m throwing punches, I’m making him feel them and then I’m gonna look for that takedown.”
Often praised for his deep cardio—a bit of a rarity in the heavyweight division—Velasquez won every single round of the title fight, earning some extremely one-sided scorecards from the judges. It was also the first time a UFC heavyweight title fight had gone to a decision since UFC 68.
Velasquez reminded the crew that because his first knockout loss against JDS at the first UFC on Fox event was so quick, no one could really know anything about the rematch and sticking to his wrestling tactics changed everything.
Closing out the segment, a still-bloody Velasquez seemed to cry a tear as he thanked his Twitter followers and fans for their support and inspirational messages.
Velasquez will now have a bit of time to recover from his injuries, as the UFC 155 medical suspensions list will sideline the champion for a maximum of 45 days with 30 days of no-contact. His next challenger is expected to be former Strikeforce champion and current-top contender Alistair Overeem, provided that “The Demolition Man” defeats Antonio Silva at UFC 156 this February.
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