Tag: Preview/Prediction

UFC 131: Antonio Nogueira Says Shane Carwin "Will Be Easier" for Dos Santos

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Feels Training Got Easier With Carwin in for LesnarBleacher Report’s Mike Hodges reports:It appears that not everyone associated in mixed martial arts was aware of Shane Carwin stepping in to replace Brock Lesnar at UFC 131, in…

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Feels Training Got Easier With Carwin in for Lesnar

Bleacher Report’s Mike Hodges reports:

It appears that not everyone associated in mixed martial arts was aware of Shane Carwin stepping in to replace Brock Lesnar at UFC 131, including UFC heavyweight, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. 

Nogueira, who is a mentor and training partner to Junior dos Santos, will watch his protege square off against Carwin, with the winner promised a title shot at UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. According to FightersOnly.com, Nogueira was in the middle of conducting an interview when he heard about the news. 

“Is Lesnar out? Is this a lie? Are you speaking seriously!?,” he said.

The addition of Carwin sets up an interesting bout between two of the top heavyweight strikers. While the sudden replacement only gives dos Santos a limited amount of time to prepare, Nogueira said it won’t be an issue.

“I think the change is good and will help us in Cigano’s training. He was very much focused into boxing and a little without wrestling. The fight will be easier for him for sure.”

UFC 131 Fight Card: Cain Velasquez on Shane Carwin: "I Think It Was a Good Call"

UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez Thinks Moving Shane Carwin to Main Event was the Right MoveBleacher Report’s Mike Hodges Reports:After learning of Brock Lesnar’s illness, UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez has decided to switch strategi…

UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez Thinks Moving Shane Carwin to Main Event was the Right Move

Bleacher Report’s Mike Hodges Reports:

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. 

“I think (they made the right call), yeah,” Velasquez told MMAFighting.com.

“He was next in line, for sure. He’s a tough guy. I think it was a good call.”

Must Read: UFC 130 Results: 10 Burning Questions Heading into UFC 131

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 Fight Card: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown of Junior Dos Santos vs Shane Carwin

UFC 131: Pre-Fight Analysis of the Junior dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin FightBleacher Report’s Dale De Souza:It’s a bout that we all wanted to see happen for a long time, ever since Shane Carwin earned his crack at Brock Lesnar with his UFC 111 win ove…

UFC 131: Pre-Fight Analysis of the Junior dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin Fight

Bleacher Report’s Dale De Souza:

It’s a bout that we all wanted to see happen for a long time, ever since Shane Carwin earned his crack at Brock Lesnar with his UFC 111 win over Frank Mir, to be exact.

But it’s a bout that we all thought would stay a fantasy and never truly surface as a legitimate fight, especially when Lesnar came off of a hard-fought split decision win in a bout with diverticulitis to survive a fatal and unquestionable 8-10 first round and submit Shane Carwin with a second-round “Death-Clutch” Arm Triangle choke at UFC 116.

Unfortunately for fans of the former WWE Champion, 2002 WWE King of The Ring, and former UFC Heavyweight Champion, MMA Junkie reports that diverticulitis has engaged in a rematch with the Minnesotan, and thus Lesnar will not be able to face fellow TUF 13 coach Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos at UFC 131.

Must Read: UFC 130 Results: 10 Burning Questions Heading into UFC 131

Stepping in for Lesnar is one of the only two men that fans legitimately believe can and definitely could knock Dos Santos out, and with UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez sidelined until the still-TBA UFC card slated to take place in Houston, that man is none other than Shane Carwin, who will be revamping his game plan to prepare for Dos Santos in lieu of a young and hungry Jon Olav Einemo.

It’s the bout we were close to never actually seeing, and since we now know that it will indeed happen, it’s about time for Yours Truly to run it down from top-to-bottom: this is the head-to-toe breakdown of Junior Dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin!

UFC 131: Breakdown and Predictions for the Entire Card

UFC 131: A Look at Each of the 12 Fights on the CardBleacher Report’s Vince Carey:It’s easy to completely write off UFC 131 now that Brock Lesnar has been forced out due to injury. The main card isn’t as good as one would expect from the UFC, and …

UFC 131: A Look at Each of the 12 Fights on the Card

Bleacher Report’s Vince Carey:

It’s easy to completely write off UFC 131 now that Brock Lesnar has been forced out due to injury.

The main card isn’t as good as one would expect from the UFC, and it lacks a true co-main event, but overall, the card is still worth the $60 you know you’ll end up spending on it.

Making predictions for any sport is tough, but it’s even harder in MMA due to its unpredictable nature. I only bring this up because if you use these picks and lose some money, I can say, “I told you so.”

Nate Marquardt vs. Anthony Johnson: An Early Head To Toe Breakdown

In the Main Event of UFC on Versus 4 Nate Marquardt and Anthony Johnson will square off.  This will be Marquardt’s debut at 170 pounds.He is also coming off of a win at 185 pounds against Dan Miller. Johnson is coming off of a win over Dan Hardy.N…

In the Main Event of UFC on Versus 4 Nate Marquardt and Anthony Johnson will square off.  This will be Marquardt’s debut at 170 pounds.

He is also coming off of a win at 185 pounds against Dan Miller. Johnson is coming off of a win over Dan Hardy.

Now let’s break down this fight with punches, kicks, wrestling, submissions, quality of opponents and intangibles.

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UFC 131 Main Event: 5 Questions Heading into Junior Dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin

By now, word of Brock Lesnar’s return bout with diverticulitis has surely reached any and all segments of the global population interested in receiving such news. And while it’s certainly reasonable for fans to lament his absence and wish for his retur…

By now, word of Brock Lesnar‘s return bout with diverticulitis has surely reached any and all segments of the global population interested in receiving such news. And while it’s certainly reasonable for fans to lament his absence and wish for his return to the Octagon, it is also a reasonable to push forward and look toward the new fight: Junior Dos Santos versus Shane Carwin.

Whether the new matchup is an upgrade over Lesnar-Dos Santos is obviously pure conjecture, the fact that it can even be a debate is encouraging. In examining the careers of these two heavy hitters, the fight seems almost too close to call. Here are five key questions that should help shape the discussion, not to mention the fight itself.

Stay with Bleacher Report for more UFC 131 news and analysis.

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