If a picture is worth a thousand words, the image of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos is worth five volumes’ worth of MMA history.The Terminator and Cigano are seen as the No. 1 and No. 2 heavyweights in the post-Fedor-and-…
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the image of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos is worth five volumes’ worth of MMA history.
The Terminator and Cigano are seen as the No. 1 and No. 2 heavyweights in the post-Fedor-and-Couture era of the sport, but some argue the UFC 141 headliners Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem are in the mix with dos Santos in an underrated heavyweight pack.
Many have questioned whether the card would deliver, considering that the heavyweight championship bout is the only bout televised on FOX, especially with a deserving lightweight title eliminator between Ben Henderson and Clay Guida on this card. However, when the ZUFFA brass has put on fight cards with such long-term significance as the one this card holds, it very seldom underwhelms.
With fights such as DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyenoyama, Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza, and Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo—among others that will lead up to the monumental main and co-main event of the evening—this card has the definite potential to bat 5,000 without striking out once.
All these fights, plus celebrity sightings, Big John McCarthy and hopefully Brittany Palmer are all here, as this is the MMA landmark night in Anaheim, California.
This is UFC on FOX 1, live and direct on Bleacher Report MMA!
Parents (probably just moms) are pissed because Sasha Grey read to Elementary School kids. I don’t see why… She looks perfectly innocent in the pic [above]. Hmmm… Maybe parents thought she was reading like this:.
Parents (probably just moms) are pissed because Sasha Grey read to Elementary School kids. I don’t see why… She looks perfectly innocent in the pic [above]. Hmmm… Maybe parents thought she was reading like this:
or maybe this:
Sasha Grey is a legitimate actress these days and parents shouldn’t be quick to judge who they let near their kids. Up until last week, we bet most parents wouldn’t have had any trouble with Jerry Sandusky reading to a classroom. Just sayin’… Don’t judge a book by its cover…unless it’s the Jerry Sandusky biography, which [for realz] is titled, “Touched”.
Forrest Griffin apologizes for “rape” tweet and donates to a Rape Crisis Center: here.
Ariel Helwani talks UFC going mainstream to celebrities like the Cookie Monster, Michael Jackson (who clearly does not sound like MJ), a giggling dude called “Mr. Muscles”, and Jack in the Box…(WTF! LA is so strange!) on the streets of Hollywood: here.
Bringing out the biggest stars in UFC, Dana White announces Brock Lesnar will be a commentator for UFC on Fox 1: here.
Watch Gina Carano‘s “Haywire” movie trailer: here.
Watch UFC on Fox 1 weigh-ins today at 7pm ET (4pm PT): here.
Place your bets for UFC on Fox 1 by clicking the icons to the online sports books in the Odds Side Bar to the right of our page!
Happy Early Birthday to Arianny Celeste who turns twenty—something on Saturday!
A convincing argument could be made for JDS boasting the single most remarkable contender streak in UFC history. If you’ve failed to be impressed by Junior’s seven consecutive triumphs since entering the UFC back in October 2008 — and the level of competition they came against — then you’re evidently not a very excitable person. In fact, it’s likely that you possess the same stoicism characterised by “Cigano’s” adversary this weekend, Señor Velasquez.
You see, unbeaten runs aren’t common in the UFC. This isn’t the world of boxing, where fighters are fed 20 journeymen before they get thrown to the lions. And that’s precisely why the MMA community purrs over such immaculate resumes. So which UFC fighters built up the most impressive win streaks en route to their first title shot? These five come to mind…
A convincing argument could be made for JDS boasting the single most remarkable contender streak in UFC history. If you’ve failed to be impressed by Junior’s seven consecutive triumphs since entering the UFC back in October 2008 — and the level of competition they came against — then you’re evidently not a very excitable person. In fact, it’s likely that you possess the same stoicism characterised by “Cigano’s” adversary this weekend, Señor Velasquez.
You see, unbeaten runs aren’t common in the UFC. This isn’t the world of boxing, where fighters are fed 20 journeymen before they get thrown to the lions. And that’s precisely why the MMA community purrs over such immaculate resumes. So which UFC fighters built up the most impressive win streaks en route to their first title shot? These five come to mind…
1. Junior Dos Santos
Since he burst onto the global MMA scene with an emphatic knockout of Fabricio Werdum at UFC 90 in October 2008, Junior “Two Saints” has blitzed his way through the heavyweight division with consummate ease. Four of his seven UFC scraps have concluded via first-round T/KO, with Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga feeling the full force of Cigano’s fury.
He also made Mirko Cro Cop cry uncle, and most recently dominated Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin, who both withstood an inhumane amount of punishment in their one-sided decision losses. Lesser men (i.e. you or I) would have succumbed to Junior’s pre-fight gaze, never mind his onslaught of significant strikes. What renders Dos Santos’s UFC tenure so incredible is the fact that he seemingly hasn’t been troubled in the slightest. He has dominated a “who’s who” catalogue of the division’s most dangerous challengers and decorated veterans without losing a single round.
2. Cain Velasquez
Cain’s contender run leading up to his UFC 121 title match against Brock Lesnar last year was also extraordinary, perhaps only marginally less so than Junior’s, owing to the calibre of victims on his professional MMA resume. Six straight victories in the UFC is no joke, even if you’re defeating fighters that are languishing in the lower echelons of the division. Velasquez clinched his title shot with a first-round steamrolling of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110. Before that, he scored notable wins over Ben Rothwell and Cheick Kongo. But unlike Junior, Cain has at least been hurt momentarily in the UFC, getting dropped twice by Kongo at UFC 99, the sole evening on which Velasquez has been made to compete for three full rounds.
Jon Fitch is simultaneously the most overrated and underrated fighter in the UFC. While that’s clearly an oxymoron, you understand my sentiment. He employs a “style” of fighting that gets fans cheering — for referee standups.
But whether you love the Vegan mean-mugger or not, the one thing you absolutely cannot refute is his unerring capacity to grind out results, as attested to by his phenomenal Octagon record both before and after his UFC 87 title shot against Georges St. Pierre in August 2008. Quite simply put, unless your initials are GSP, you ain’t emerging from the Octagon victorious against Monsieur Fitch.
After joining the UFC in late 2005, Fitch amassed a staggering eight-straight wins (including the scalps of Thiago Alves and Diego Sanchez) within a two-and-a-half year period, earning a shot at GSP’s coveted title, but as anticipated, Fitch suffered a humbling one-sided loss to “Rush.” Had Fitch prevailed, he would have surpassed Royce Gracie’s streak of eight straight wins (a record that has since been broken by Anderson Silva, currently on fourteen as of November 2011).
But a true champion is one who can rebound from a defeat. And rebound is exactly what Fitch has done, subsequently embarking on a six-fight unbeaten streak which has captured the attention (if not the imagination) of most except the most important man in the business, Uncle Dana. The problem with Fitch 2.0 is that he appears even fonder of the decision victory. Prior to the GSP affair, he actually finished 50% of his fights. Following the GSP loss, this percentage has plummeted to 0%.
On the next page: Our picks in the lightweight and light-heavyweight divisions…
LOS ANGELES – When the UFC started promoting Brock Lesnar versus Cain Velasquez for the UFC heavyweight title, the phrase “Mexican-American” was used in the campaign with little hesitation. In fact, it was the biggest tool to advertise the now-UF…
LOS ANGELES – When the UFC started promoting Brock Lesnar versus Cain Velasquez for the UFC heavyweight title, the phrase “Mexican-American” was used in the campaign with little hesitation. In fact, it was the biggest tool to advertise the now-UFC heavyweight champ.
This was met with some controversy. Some of the ads praised Velasquez as attempting to become the first “Mexican heavyweight champion” when Ricco Rodriguez—a fighter with Mexican and Puerto Rican roots—already held the UFC heavyweight title years prior.
Eventually, people moved on from the controversy and Velasquez welcomed the label given to him by the UFC’s marketing team.
More than a year later, things haven’t changed much for the heavyweight champion. He’s more than happy to represent the Mexican people while he’s in the Octagon.
Like he said during UFC on Fox fight week, he fights for “la raza.”
“I’m happy to be that person for the Mexican people,” Velasquez said at the UFC on Fox open workouts. “I’m proud to be Mexican and be a role model for some people.
“I’m glad I’m in this position.”
And the marketing has worked, according to Velasquez. He’s visited south of the American border and has seen the rise in popularity of the UFC. Clearly, with Velasquez’s help, the Hispanic population has turned their attention to a sport that didn’t get much of any a decade ago.
But the sport’s ability to appeal to a wide audience reaches beyond Mexico’s borders. Mixed martial arts has become a world-wide phenomenon because anyone, no matter where they’re from, can watch and enjoy the sport, according to the heavyweight champ.
“Every time I go to Mexico, it seems like the sport’s getting bigger and bigger,” he said. “I’ve definitely seen a rise. It’s a good thing. Anybody around the world can just watch the sport without even knowing the rules, so it’s no surprise that it’s grown that big.”
Since winning the title, Velasquez has been recovering from a shoulder injury. This Saturday, however, he’ll finally get a shot at defending his belt when he faces No. 1 heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos.
Like before, the Hispanic population is behind Velasquez as he prepares to fight in Anaheim’s Honda Center. Expectations remain the same for the Mexican-American champ. Velasquez’s fan support is as strong if not greater than the last time he ventured to Southern California for a title fight.
“It feels good just [have] the people that I had behind me,” Velasquez said of the support he gets from fans. “I expect the same and it’s good to have [those] people behind me.”
Velasquez said he anticipates his fight with dos Santos to go the full five-round distance. The idea of a heavyweight title fight going five rounds is considered laughable to some because heavyweights don’t typically go the distance, but that idea doesn’t cross the champ’s thoughts.
Admittedly, keeping the frame of mind of a five-round war encourages harder training and helps with focus. All the better when preparing for dos Santos in what UFC president Dana White is calling the biggest night in UFC history.
“This is a great opportunity for MMA as a whole [with this] great exposure,” Velasquez says. “I’m happy to be part of it.”
Erik Fontanez is a senior writer and reporter for MMAWeekly.com.
It finally happened. The UFC will finally air their first event on national television on Saturday, when Cain Velasquez meets Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight title on Fox.UFC 1 on Fox is the first of many UFC events on the television powerhouse’s…
It finally happened. The UFC will finally air their first event on national television on Saturday, when Cain Velasquez meets Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight title on Fox.
UFC 1 on Fox is the first of many UFC events on the television powerhouse’s channel, with The Ultimate Fighter set to air on FX starting next fall and many other cards expected to be broadcasted as well.
So, here it is. One of, if not the biggest fight since Forrest Griffin fought Stephan Bonnar for the TUF 1 crown.
Velasquez and dos Santos won’t disappoint in this heavyweight battle. Both fighters bring the pain and both fighters bring stellar knockout power along with stellar striking.
No matter how long this fight goes, fans won’t be disappointed and new fans might find themselves wanting more.
Along with the heavyweight clash of the titans, Clay Guida meets Ben Henderson on the undercard—live on Facebook and FoxSports.com—for what could be a No. 1 contenders’ bout to see who the next fighter to face Frankie Edgar will be.
All in all, Anaheim is set to host the biggest UFC event in recent memory.
Check back here with Antwyn Jackson and Sal DeRose for the latest results and reactions to the first UFC on Fox weigh-ins starting at 7 pm EST.
This Saturday night marks a pivotal achievement in the UFC’s continued conquest for mainstream acceptance. For the first time in the promotion’s history, the UFC will begin its primetime television deal with Fox by showing a marquee matchup…
This Saturday night marks a pivotal achievement in the UFC’s continued conquest for mainstream acceptance. For the first time in the promotion’s history, the UFC will begin its primetime television deal with Fox by showing a marquee matchup between heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and No. 1 contender Junior Dos Santos for the wonderful price of free.
Dana White is living his boyhood dream, bringing a heavyweight championship bout to free TV, reminiscent of the earlier golden years of boxing.
Nostalgia aside, this fight is arguably the UFC’s most intriguing, evenly matched title fight available in any division—a contest that has been in the making for the last couple of years. Now that this historic fight is finally coming to fruition, how does it really boil down, and what is the key factor in this closely contested pick ‘em fight?
The real UFC on Fox headliner is Velasquez’ chin versus Dos Santos’ takedown defense. It’s always been about these two disputed areas of their respective games; even back when these two should have went to war for No.1 contender status, when Brock Lesnar held the belt.
In reality, against any other opponent, either one of these guys matches up advantageously with a near perfect skill set—which makes it so difficult to pick a victor as they come close to scheduled blows at UFC on FOX.
Both possess high caliber striking—Dos Santos nurtured in the art of boxing and Velasquez in Muay Thai—capable of cutting the power off in any foes’ lighthouse. Also, unlike a good portion of heavyweights, these two competitors have displayed impressive cardio for guys their size.
Both are younger men, with tenacious will and unwavering determination, who are simultaneously peaking at the same time as the legitimate best in their division.
Furthermore, neither man has tasted defeat in their UFC careers, nor have they truly experienced troubling opposition—like they will when they face each other.
So, what separates them in the octagon?
What makes the outcome of this fight a little more than a shot in the dark is the champ’s chin and the challenger’s wrestling defense. Each of these problem areas will more than likely determine who holds heavyweight gold when Joe Rogan starts his post-fight interview, depending on who can exploit the other’s weakness and impose his own strengths.
There’s no doubt that the window of opportunity is small for each fighter, but their respective camps will have revolved their strategies around these two points of contention. It shouldn’t be too surprising either, considering both Velasquez and Dos Santos’ previous performances in the UFC.
At UFC 131 this past June, the Brazilian’s takedown defense exceeded expectation against one of the division’s premiere wrestlers in Shane Carwin. After successfully sprawling against Carwin’s takedown attempts, Dos Santos was able to utilize his devastating boxing for five rounds, battering his opponent’s face into a bloody mess for a unanimous decision victory.
Needless to say, this performance silenced critics and proved to the world that Dos Santos has answers when paired up with an elite wrestler (admittedly, there’s not enough empirical evidence to prove he has answers from his back once a wrestler succeeds and uploads vicious ground and pound).
On the other hand, Velasquez stood with Kongo—the last dangerous striker on his record— long enough at UFC 99 to get wobbled and rocked by two hard shots. To the champ’s credit, his recovery was impeccable, allowing him the opportunity to immediately resort to his takedowns.
When comparing these two battle-tested warriors, Dos Santos clearly emerges the better man. Granted, this observational critique of Velasquez is based on an older version of what he has become after dominating his following opponents: Ben Rothwell, Antonio Nogueira and Brock Lesnar. But, until the fight happens, the proof is still in the pudding.
As a consequence to how evenly matched these guys will be on fight night, this is by far the most exciting fight the UFC could have orchestrated for such an important event.
Luckily for everybody involved—fighters, fans and promoters— this fight has no real losers, especially the fight fans.
From a fan’s perspective, watching two guys in their prime fighting on the grandest stage for the greatest prize, reaches the pinnacle of all expectation, sealing the strong bond between spectator and sport.
Assuming the night will be injury free and full of level-headed refereeing, there is no bad outcome to this main event.
Come one, come all: Mixed martial arts is being taken to the next level.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the image of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos is worth five volumes’ worth of MMA history.
