The longest undefeated streak in the UFC’s heavyweight division came to an end at UFC 155 last night after champion Junior Dos Santos had his belt viciously taken from him by the hands of Cain Velasquez.
No one expected the fight to go the full five rounds, but knockout artist Dos Santos stayed in the match until the bitter end as Velasquez pushed and pressed him and threw him around like a rag doll.
No one expected it to be that one-sided, either, as the fight played out as differently to the pair’s first contest as possible. This time Velasquez didn’t give his dangerous Brazilian opponent the space or the time to land a wild, reaching shot to put his lights out.
That must have been the most disheartening thing of all for Dos Santos, with the one-sided beating demonstrating what a gulf there really is between him and the new champion.
After his undefeated run in the UFC came to an end at the hands of Dos Santos last year, Velasquez was philosophical; brushing himself down and coming straight back into the title picture with a devastating win over Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in May and then the win last night.
Dos Santos will be looking for an equally quick turnaround.
The series is leveled 1-1 between Velasquez and Dos Santos, and there is already talk of a rubber match to settle the score.
But that may be premature at this stage. Dos Santos didn’t do enough to earn an immediate rematch, and Velasquez had to fight another fight before he could prove himself No. 1 contender when he lost to the Brazilian. Dos Santos will likely have to do the same in the stacked heavyweight division, and win convincingly.
Talk of a fight between him and Alistair Overeem has been percolating for some time, and the bad blood between the two does make an eventual meeting between the two necessary. However, Overeem must first take on Bigfoot at UFC 156 next month. If he gets past him, the Dutchman will likely look for a title shot rather than waste his time with Dos Santos.
Overeem was promised a title shot last year, until a failed drug test ended his hopes of facing Dos Santos for the belt last May. That means Dos Santos could be given the loser of the Overeem/Silva match first, before he’s given another chance at Velasquez.
In the meantime, Dos Santos will likely be facing a lengthy medical suspension after his beating at the hands of Velasquez, although reports that he suffered a broken jaw in the contest have now been denied.
This gives him plenty of time to consider his next move and see how the heavyweight division shakes out over the coming months before jumping in the cage once again.
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