The UFC has come from pay-per-view obscurity to the spotlight that now exists only on network television. The monumental deal that was struck just a few weeks ago between the mixed martial arts juggernaut and the sports giant in Fox has already produced some gems.
Officials announced earlier today that the first UFC on FOX broadcast will feature not only a fight that is truly main-event-worthy, but it’s for the heavyweight championship no less.
Junior dos Santos, a praised Brazilian striker who has demolished all opposition in his path towards the coveted title shot, will be meeting with perhaps the most dynamic man in the division in Cain Velasquez, the organization’s reigning titleholder.
The heavyweight tilt takes place on Nov. 12 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and though the rest of the evening’s bouts will be in the dark, fans around the world will be treated to a potential five-round battle between two of the best fighters in the most coveted division in combat sports.
Velasquez first entered the Octagon as a collegiate wrestler who packed a punch, having dismissed of weaker competition along the way before stepping up to the big leagues of the division with little to no issue, save for his bout with noted kickboxing standout Cheick Kongo.
Since then, his standup has improved by leaps and bounds to the point where it’s become his equalizer of sorts. Against both Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Brock Lesnar, both former world champions, Velasquez managed to dispatch of each man inside of the first round without having to really taste any danger on the mat where the two men hold a significant advantage over most.
For dos Santos, his progression throughout his MMA career has been just the opposite. Instead of developing a competent striking base, it’s Junior who has sought tutelage under the aforementioned Nogueira in order to hone his ground skills in an effort to play catch-up with his boxing, which has rendered eight men victim to some form of knockout throughout his 14-fight career.
So who holds the advantages? This is where it gets complicated.
Striking
The edge leans towards “Cigano.” He has a proven track record of making people go to sleep with his fists, often utilizing jabs and straights in order to control the distance before landing a telling blow that puts his opponents in danger.
Although Cain, a proud Mexican American, uses more kicks than dos Santos, Junior is more comfortable in settling into a rhythm with his strikes and finds his distance relatively quickly. Cain’s chin will be tested, but it’s nothing that a 6’4″ Frenchman hasn’t already done.
Grappling
The pendulum sways towards Velasquez, but just by a hair. Opponents have rarely been able to engage dos Santos for a takedown, because by the time they bring the fight to the floor, they are looking up at the lights wondering when the fight will start after it’s already reached it’s decisive ending.
Cain is unrelenting and if his takedown of Lesnar, a 265-pound-plus man is any indication of his repertoire, he should prove effective here. It’s his blend of striking and wrestling which makes him a cut above, almost Georges St-Pierre-esque, though Cain operates at a much more rapid-fire rate.
We’ve never seen dos Santos on his back yet, but don’t be surprised if he winds up there this time, which will hopefully spur some exciting moments on the ground since Junior has since acquired his brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the Nogueira brothers.
Conditioning
This is a no-brainer, as Velasquez has starched all of his opponents through his speed and relentlessness, thanks to his otherworldly work ethic which allows him to hold a scary pace once he steps into the cage. No man has been able to match him yet, and dos Santos will not be that guy. We’ve seen in his fight with The Ultimate Fighter alumnus in Roy Nelson, that when Junior has his man hurt, he goes in for the kill.
Cain will have some moments of vulnerability during the fight, but by no means will he be down and out. Opposite of Kongo, Velasquez was dropped multiple times, but still gutted out takedown after takedown, dominating the Wolfslair product en route to a decision win. He’ll be lumped up but there is hardly a bat thick enough to crack that thick head of Velasquez’, though if anyone can, it would be dos Santos, but he’s just not fast enough to keep up.
If there was ever a pick-’em fight, this is it. Noted oddsmaker Joey Odessa of MMAOdds.com has the champ a subtle -150 favorite over the challenger.
However this bout shakes out, for UFC president Dana White to choose this fight in particular for its Fox debut speaks volumes for the level of expectations that the company is hoping this bout will produce. Needless to say, neither Velasquez nor dos Santos have been in any bouts that have garnered jeers or boos from fans, so expect fireworks.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com