UFC 131: Kenny Florian vs. Diego Nunes Bleacher Report’s Dwight Wakabayashi:Kenny Florian will make his featherweight debut at UFC 131 in Vancouver on June 11, and I for one am looking forward to seeing it. Florian is dropping down after two legitimat…
UFC 131: Kenny Florian vs. Diego Nunes
Bleacher Report’s Dwight Wakabayashi:
Kenny Florian will make his featherweight debut at UFC 131 in Vancouver on June 11, and I for one am looking forward to seeing it. Florian is dropping down after two legitimate runs at the 155-pound title and will face tough Brazilian and WEC veteran Diego Nunes who is coming off his first win in the UFC.
It is always interesting when a fighter switches weight divisions and this is no different with Florian. It will be all about adjustments for him and I’m sure he will be in peak shape and ready to roll on fight night.
I am looking forward to this match-up big time and will be in the building that night, and when I zoom in on Ken Flo, I will be looking for some specific things that are questions in my mind in regards to his decision to drop down and his game in general.
Here are five things to watch for in Kenny Florian’s featherweight division debut.
5. Will he make this a stand up war?
Florian’s stand up—and Muay Thai in general—is well known and respected, yet that is also the base of Nunes’ game. Will Kenny look to out bang Nunes to try and make a point that he is the new big bully in town?
If so, we could be in for some fireworks here and I must take Florian to prevail on points.
UFC 131: Shane Carwin vs Junior dos Santos A look at the Main EventBleacher Report’s Mike Hodges:UFC 131 will be Carwin’s first appearance inside the Octagon since his loss to Lesnar last year at UFC 116, since then Carwin has spent a substantial amo…
UFC 131: Shane Carwin vs Junior dos Santos A look at the Main Event
Bleacher Report’s Mike Hodges:
UFC 131 will be Carwin’s first appearance inside the Octagon since his loss to Lesnar last year at UFC 116, since then Carwin has spent a substantial amount of time recovering from backs surgery.
Dos Santos has been on an impressive run since his debut in the UFC, recently defeating Roy Nelson at UFC 117.
The Brazilian has made his tenure in the heavyweight division look easy so far, picking up wins over some of the prominent fighters, including Fabricio Werdum, Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko Cro Cop.
Both men hold some notable victories over some the division’s top stars, and a win for either Carwin or dos Santos will guarantee a title shot against Cain Velasquez later this year.
Click here for a breakdown of Shane Carwin vs. Junior dos Santos.
UFC 131: UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez Sounds Off on the Carwin vs Dos Santos BoutBleacher Report’s Mike Hodges:After learning of Brock Lesnar’s illness, UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez has decided to switch strategies, in case he …
UFC 131: UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez Sounds Off on the Carwin vs Dos Santos Bout
Bleacher Report’s Mike Hodges:
After learning of Brock Lesnar‘s illness, UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez has decided to switch strategies, in case he is to meet the former heavyweight champion’s replacement, Shane Carwin.
Shane Carwin will be featured in the main event against Junior Dos Santos at UFC 131, after being notified from UFC president Dana White earlier this week via text message.
It is also confirmed that the winner between Carwin and Dos Santos will meet Velasquez later this year for the UFC heavyweight title.
Velasquez, who has been out of action since his title bout with Lesnar at UFC 122, acknowledged Lesnar’s absence but he said Carwin was a suitable replacement.
Velasquez, who is 9-0-0, will be paying close attention to this bout, as both Dos Santos and Carwin are two of the best strikers in the heavyweight division.
Carwin accepted the fight on a thirty-day notice, as he has been out of action since last year after undergoing neck surgery.
Meanwhile, Dos Santos has been nothing short of dominant, remaining undefeated during his tenure in the UFC. His most recent win was over Roy Nelson at UFC 117.
UFC 131: A look at the Middleweight Battle Between Demian Maia and Mark MunozBleacher Report’s Matt Juul:UFC 131 features two of the promotions best grapplers in the middleweight division, with former top contender and jui-jitsu ace Demian Maia set to …
UFC 131: A look at the Middleweight Battle Between Demian Maia and Mark Munoz
Bleacher Report’s Matt Juul:
UFC 131 features two of the promotions best grapplers in the middleweight division, with former top contender and jui-jitsu ace Demian Maia set to face NCAA all-American wrestler Mark Muñoz.
With both fighters riding a two-fight win streak coming into the June 11th event, this main card bout showcases the classic battle between Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling, with the winner possibly entering the discussion for a shot at the title.
Saturday night, June 11th, 2011 at The Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, top heavyweight contenders Junior Dos Santos and Shane Carwin will meet head to head to see who will be granted a shot to face current champion Cain Velasquez at a late…
Saturday night, June 11th, 2011 at The Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, top heavyweight contenders Junior Dos Santos and Shane Carwin will meet head to head to see who will be granted a shot to face current champion Cain Velasquez at a later date for the UFC Heavyweight Championship of the World.
This is a huge opportunity for Shane Carwin, who is fighting for the first time in 11 months due to back surgery. Carwin was originally slated to face Jon-Olav Einemo, but with Brock Lesnar having another bout of diverticulitus, he was then granted the chance to face Dos Santos for the No. 1 contendership.
Carwin has focused more on his strength and conditioning as well as his diet compared to past fights. He weighed in at 254 lbs and appeared to feel much better compared to his last fight against Lesnar. With this new diet plan and loss of weight, will this increase his stamina and boost his level of speed? That is the main question that will be answered tomorrow night.
Junior Dos Santos was originally supposed to face Velasquez for the championship, but since Cain is injured and will not be cleared to return until October, he decided to stay active and take a fight. This fight landed him a shot to be a coach on the Ultimate Fighter TV series and has really boosted his popularity amongst the American fanbase.
Dos Santos weighed in at 239 lbs, and he always appears to be in top notch shape. He is very good a pacing his punches so that he does not gas out in his fights. His fight with Carwin is a “who has a better chin kinda fight.”
Both men appear to be ready for the spotlight, but the big question is: Who has the best chance of defeating Velasquez?
Right now is the perfect time to be in the position that Dos Santos and Carwin are in. Not only do both men have an opportunity for a chance to face Velasquez for the title, but also Cain is coming off of a serious shoulder injury and he may not be 100 percent going into the title fight.
If Carwin defeats Dos Santos, this will be huge for him. He has a wrestling background, but prefers to stand and trade because well he has some very heavy hands. He cuts his opponents off and lands that big shot and usually when he does the fight is over in the next five seconds.
Does Carwin have a chance like that against Velasquez? In all truths, Carwin would have to be reserved in this fight. He would need to use his strength to his advantage, as well as his wrestling base. Would he try to wrestle with Cain? Odds are no, but it depends on how he wants to reserve his cardio and sometimes a take down is a must.
Carwin’s one-punch knockout power is what makes him stick out. It is not that he is technical, but it is the fact that he always finds a way to hit you. How good of a chin does Cain have? That is a big question, he was rocked in the third round by Kongo, and Carwin hits a lot harder than Kongo.
So, in honest truth, Carwin’s best chance against Cain is getting inside and landing one of those power shots. If that happens, then there is no question that Shane Carwin can defeat Cain Velasquez.
Junior Dos Santos is a very talented striker. His technicality plus power makes him really stick out when you watch him fight. His takedown defense appears to be very solid, but it has never been tested against a top notch wrestler. He is a BJJ Brown Belt under the Nogueira Brothers, so odds are on the ground he is no slouch.
On the feet, Dos Santos has the advantage, but Velasquez is also skilled on the feet. Dos Santos would win the exchanges, but odds are Velasquez would go for takedowns, and this is where we find out how good Junior’s TDD really is.
Velasquez has the advantage in the wrestling department, but in the jiu-jitsu realm, it is virtually even, with both having a brown belt.
So, what would it take for Dos Santos to defeat Velasquez? He would need to utilize the stand up and avoid Cain’s takedowns. This fight has all of the makings for a chess match, and in all truths, if Dos Santos can pick his shots, he could finish Cain.
So, now that being said: Who has the better advantage against Velasquez?
This is a tough one to call. In a short fight, Carwin has the clear advantage, but in the later rounds is where Dos Santos would shine.
The wrestling is what really sticks out when you think about this fight. That being said, Dos Santos is the better striker and has all of the tools to be the best heavyweight in the world. He can also end a fight at any moment, and it is hard to match up with his striking.
So Junior Dos Santos is the man to beat Cain Velasquez.
Prediction for UFC 131: Junior Dos Santos via second-round knockout.
Junior “Cigano” dos Santos stormed into the UFC heavyweight division with thunderous right hands and violently explosive left hooks.Leaving a path of destruction in his wake, JDS has compiled an undefeated 6-0 UFC record with five (T)KO’s.This Brazilia…
Junior “Cigano” dos Santos stormed into the UFC heavyweight division with thunderous right hands and violently explosive left hooks.
Leaving a path of destruction in his wake, JDS has compiled an undefeated 6-0 UFC record with five (T)KO’s.
This Brazilian wrecking machine has defeated the likes of Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, Gilbert Yvel, and Gabriel Gonzaga.
This Saturday, he will face his toughest challenge to date as he steps foot inside the famed Octagon against fellow hard-hitting heavyweight with dynamite in his punches, Shane Carwin.
Winner of the UFC 131 main event will be the No. 1 contender, next in line to face Cain Velasquez for the most coveted belt within all of mixed martial arts.
Please follow along as I provide Junior dos Santos’s 10 most decisive images on the internet.
