Author: Andrew Saunders

Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez: A Look at the FightMetric Numbers

Statistics can be an effective way of manipulating an audience into thinking something that you want them to. Unless you know what you’re looking at, statistics can be deceptive enough to convince you to believe something other than what you saw with y…

Statistics can be an effective way of manipulating an audience into thinking something that you want them to. Unless you know what you’re looking at, statistics can be deceptive enough to convince you to believe something other than what you saw with your own eyes.

At UFC 155, Cain Velasquez met Junior dos Santos in a five-round beatdown in which most statistics speak for themselves. However, if you’re a fight nerd like me, you’ll enjoy a look at the numbers.

The numbers show us some things that may have been missed. Most notable is the fact that Junior dos Santos actually averaged more than two significant strikes landed per minute of competition. He ultimately scored 57 strikes of this magnitude.

Another surprising statistic comes in the takedown department. With new champion Velasquez scoring an incredible 11 takedowns against Cigano, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Junior shrugged off twice as many.

As the fight went on, Cain began to tire as dos Santos got his second wind. This led to dos Santos being able to fend off attempts on seven of eight occasions. 

So what happened to Velasquez that showed a chink in his never-ending-cardio armor?

When we look at the numbers, we can see that the AKA fighter threw a total of 245 strikes in the first three rounds, as well as attempting 19 takedowns in the same period of time.

In terms of totals, one metric jumps out at me: significant strikes.

Over the course of five rounds, Velasquez nearly doubled the successful output of his opponent. Notably, he outscored Junior 42-17 in Round 1 and 24-2 in Round 2. 

But in the end, the most important numbers come in written form on the scorecards. Although each member of the panel had a different opinion as to how many 10-8 rounds took place, Velasquez won all five rounds according to each judge. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Dos Santos vs. Velasquez: Power Ranking the UFC’s 2012 Title Fights

While 2012 might be remembered as the year of the dreaded injury plague, there were lots of magnificent moments and tantalizing title fights to satisfy even the most stubborn of pessimists.At UFC 155, Cain Velasquez captured the UFC heav…

While 2012 might be remembered as the year of the dreaded injury plague, there were lots of magnificent moments and tantalizing title fights to satisfy even the most stubborn of pessimists.

At UFC 155, Cain Velasquez captured the UFC heavyweight championship when he soundly defeated champion Junior dos Santos in the final title fight of 2012. With all of the excitement surrounding the rematch, fans will talk about the contest for years to come.

But how does it match up with the other title fights of 2012? 

Here is a look at the UFC’s top 10 title fights of 2012.

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Best MMA Moments from 2012

For the world of mixed martial arts,  2012 has come and gone. Through the calendar year, titles changed hands, interim champions were crowned, an injury bug plagued the industry in a way that had never been experienced before, and we experienced s…

For the world of mixed martial arts,  2012 has come and gone. Through the calendar year, titles changed hands, interim champions were crowned, an injury bug plagued the industry in a way that had never been experienced before, and we experienced some of the greatest knockouts that the sport has ever witnessed.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. New organizations were founded, new divisions were created, big-name talent moved to different companies and new stars emerged in nearly every weight class.

From all of the groundbreaking news stories and major moments that occurred inside and outside the cage, Bleacher Report is proud to bring you a countdown of the 50 best moments that occurred this year.

Here is a look at the 50 best MMA moments from 2012. 

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UFC 155: What We Learned from Tim Boetsch vs. Constantinos Philippou

In a night that featured a trio of main-card fights in the middleweight division, fans witnessed a clash between two surging powerhouses when Tim Boetsch met Constantinos Philippou at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was a late change…

In a night that featured a trio of main-card fights in the middleweight division, fans witnessed a clash between two surging powerhouses when Tim Boetsch met Constantinos Philippou at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was a late change, as Philippou stepped in for injured Serra/Longo teammate Chris Weidman on short notice.

Boetsch has found much success since dropping down from the light heavyweight division and has picked up 2012 wins against world-ranked Yushin Okami and Hector Lombard. The victories moved his record to 4-0 in his new weight class,

Philippou is also 4-0 as a UFC middleweight, and his victories have also come against very game competition. In 2012, the Greek Cypriot won hard-fought decisions against Ultimate Fighter winner Court McGee and former DEEP middleweight champion Riki Fukuda.

In the third round, Boetsch was clearly incapable of continuing. We aren’t sure why, but Philippou had no problem taking advantage of the situation and won by TKO via ground-and-pound.

 

What We’ll Remember about This Fight

That something was wrong with Tim Boetsch. Nothing about his fighting style suggests that pulling guard is a tactic of choice. Between rounds, we heard his corner talking to Tim about an undefined injury that he was battling.

 

What We Learned about Tim Boetsch

That his chin is fantastic. Philippou scored an enormous uppercut in the first round. Shortly after, a flurry saw Boetsch eat three straight punches that would have left most middleweights in a temporary coma, yet “The Barbarian” stayed upright.

I don’t want to judge much else about Boetsch‘s performance, as something was clearly wrong after the first round.

 

What We Learned about Costa Philippou

That his takedown defense is very solid. Boetsch began looking for takedowns early and often in the first round but was unable to secure them. Boetsch did secure a double leg, but it was a well-timed counter while Costa was committed to a big punch.

 

What’s Next for Tim Boetsch

This was the second consecutive fight for Boetsch where he looked absolutely terrible. I’ll reserve judgement until after we find out what injury was plaguing him mid-fight, but it’s hard to forgive that type of performance from a man ranked within a division’s top five.

Boetsch should drop his level of competition tremendously. Give him a fight with someone along the lines of Rousimar Palhares or Tom Lawlor.

 

What’s Next for Costa Philippou

Costa Philippou has stepped in for a fight on short notice once again, and this time, he improved his UFC middleweight record to 5-0. Beating a top-five middleweight is a major step toward a title shot, but he shouldn’t be pushed too fast.

Another top-10 opponent is in order. Perhaps Hector Lombard or a debuting Luke Rockhold would make for a good matchup. I think the most likely opponent is Yushin Okami, who was also successful Saturday night.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 155 Start Time: When and Where to Watch UFC 155

Saturday night, the UFC returns for their fourth event of December, and boy, is it a doozie!  With heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos taking on former champion Cain Velasquez in the main event, the stakes couldn’t be any higher.Also competing …

Saturday night, the UFC returns for their fourth event of December, and boy, is it a doozie!  With heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos taking on former champion Cain Velasquez in the main event, the stakes couldn’t be any higher.

Also competing on the card are popular notables Chris Leben, Joe Lauzon and surging contenders like Tim Boetsch and Alan Belcher who are looking to lay claim on a middleweight title shot.

Unfortunately, if you don’t know how to tune in to the event, you’ll be unable to catch the action.

Never fear! That’s what we are here for.

Facebook Prelims

Once again, the UFC will return to its Facebook fan page to kick off an event. Featuring three bouts full of notables, UFC 155 might just be the best social networking offering to date. 

Tune in to the official UFC Facebook page at 6:30 p.m. EST to see the following fights:

  • Todd Duffee vs. Phil de Fries
  • Leonard Garcia vs. Max Holloway
  • John Moraga vs. Chris Cariaso

 

FX Prelims

The UFC has been known for delivering excellent fights for free, and the FX portion of UFC 155 is no exception. With surging contenders and big-named knockout artists in competition, the FX portion of the card is can’t-miss action.

Tune in to FX at 8 p.m. EST to see the following fights:

  • Melvin Guillard vs. Jamie Varner
  • Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland
  • Erik Perez vs. Byron Bloodworth
  • Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury 

 

Pay-Per-View

The PPV madness begins at 10 p.m. EST with five main card fights that are designed to generate in-cage excitement.

Fights include:

  • Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II
  • Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon
  • Tim Boetsch vs. Costa Philippou
  • Yushin Okami vs. Alan Belcher II
  • Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson

There are many options for viewing the fights. The PPV is available from major cable and satellite providers, as well as on UFC.com.

Some less conventional viewing methods include watching on the UFC’s Facebook page through Facebook Credits or ordering through the UFC app on Xbox Live. 

Looking for a less costly option? Many sports bars like Buffalo Wild Wings, Hooters or Applebee’s host the fights for their customers. For the price of a quesadilla appetizer and a beer, you get to watch a $54.99 PPV.

 

Attending the event live?

According to the arena website, Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena doors open at 2:45 p.m. local time, and the PPV main card kicks off at 7 p.m.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 155: Tim Boetsch and 9 Fighters Who Saved Their Career by Dropping Weight

On Saturday night, middleweights Tim Boetsch and Costa Philippou will do battle in a clash between fighters who are each pulling a freight train worth of momentum behind them. When competing at 185 pounds, the two have a combined record of 8-0 inside t…

On Saturday night, middleweights Tim Boetsch and Costa Philippou will do battle in a clash between fighters who are each pulling a freight train worth of momentum behind them. When competing at 185 pounds, the two have a combined record of 8-0 inside the Octagon.

But Boetsch hasn’t always been a middleweight. In fact, he fought six times in the UFC before making the much-needed move.

With a UFC record of 3-3, “The Barbarian” had suffered losses to Matt Hamill, Phil Davis and Jason Brilz. In each shortcoming, he lost to a larger man with a considerable wrestling background. So what chance would he have against the elite light heavyweights like Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson and Jon Jones who could each wrestle an elephant in their sleep?

Despite the need to lose 20 pounds, the muscled Boetsch did his homework and realized that a drop to middleweight was possible. It proved to be the best thing that ever happened to him, as he is ranked in the division’s top five and has wins over Yushin Okami and Hector Lombard.

Boetsch isn’t the only UFC star who has saved himself by cutting down to a smaller division. Here is a look at nine UFC fighters who saved their careers by dropping weight.

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