There are things fans want to see at UFC on FOX, but there are also things fans definitely do not want to see.November 12th marks the UFC’s debut on the FOX network and, if the right things happen, the UFC can be catapulted to the next level of popular…
There are things fans want to see at UFC on FOX, but there are also things fans definitely do not want to see.
November 12th marks the UFC’s debut on the FOX network and, if the right things happen, the UFC can be catapulted to the next level of popularity; UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos can become household names.
However, if the wrong things happen, the UFC will fall flat on its face and may well be doomed to forever remain a fringe sport.
These wrong things are the things that MMA fans (both new and old) do not want happening.
There is an epic matchup on the horizon in the UFC heavyweight division that could mark the beginning of a new era in mixed martial arts. The ingredients have come together to create the perfect recipe of action for a one-of-a-kind event. Never be…
There is an epic matchup on the horizon in the UFC heavyweight division that could mark the beginning of a new era in mixed martial arts. The ingredients have come together to create the perfect recipe of action for a one-of-a-kind event.
Never before in the history of MMA has a UFC event taken place on network television. Now this Saturday night, the UFC and FOX will showcase the UFC Heavyweight Championship free on live television for the entire world to see.
Heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez will look to defend his title against one of the most dangerous strikers the division has seen in quite some time, if ever. Junior Dos Santos is a wrecking machine with the heart of a saint, but a talent for war that makes him extremely lethal inside the Octagon.
Dos Santos is coming for the title secured tightly around the waist of Velasquez. It has become his life’s dream to attain it, and now this weekend he will have his chance. He will have his chance in a matchup that is extremely closely contested on paper.
These two heavyweights have unique skill sets yet share many similar qualities. Devastating striking, speed, agility, tremendous heart combined with equal desire to become or remain champion.
There are no “gimmes” in this matchup.
That is reflected heavily in the respect shared by American Kickboxing Academy teammates for the UFC No. 1 heavyweight contender known as “Cigano”. That respect was conveyed to Todd Jackson of Hurtsbad MMA when he sat down to speak with AKA head coach Javier Mendez.
Mendez spoke to Hurtsbad about exactly what he sees when he and his champion study Dos Santos, and how they think they can offset what he brings to the table on November 12th when the UFC heavyweight title will be contested on FOX.So what exactly does AKA’s Javier Mendez and Cain Velasquez see when they look across the Octagon at Dos Santos?
“I see an incredible challenge in front of Cain. And if we disrespect Dos Santos one bit we are going to end up in a bad situation,” Mendez told Hurtsbad.
That respect is reflected in the coaching staff and in the champion. That respect has become the platform for a specific game plan to retain that title. “There is no way in hell we are going to disrespect how great Junior Dos Santos is. Based on the fact that Cain respects him as much as we all do, we are going to have the right mind set and the right game plan to implement when the fight starts.”
One obvious threat that clearly must be accounted for is the precision and power striking of Dos Santos. Yet there is an unknown which is also on the minds of those prepping the champ. “He is definitely by far the best striker we have yet to face. The thing about Junior is because he has never been to the ground you don’t even know how good his ground game is.”
Javier sees potential for “Cigano” to perform where many might overlook possible strengths. “His ground game from what I hear is pretty decent. By pretty decent I’m talking about over a year ago. If you’re looking at it like Cain, a year from now if you’re training you’re a lot better than you were.”
Many would call Dos Santos a dangerous striker. But Javier sees more than that as far as what “Cigano” can threaten his champion with.
“I look at Junior as a total picture of an MMA fighter. He has got the heart and the desire to be a champion. It is just my opinion that having Cain ready for the challenge it is not going to be Junior’s day.”
Having Cain ready for the challenge is exactly what the staff at AKA have been working towards since his return from surgery earlier this year. They have been sharpening the edge of one of the most dangerous blades in the heavyweight division.
Cain Velasquez is as real as it gets, and Javier has no reservations whatsoever when describing exactly what he sees in his own student, a man he has honed into from rising star to UFC heavyweight champ.Javier told Todd Jackson, “You’re still looking at a kid who is improving vastly. He is improving all the time. And with Junior, you guys are going to see another Cain Velasquez, again not the best but a better Cain Velasquez than he has been in awhile because that is just the way it is with him.”
Mendez continually gave credit where it was due to the challenger. With a threat like Dos Santos, all bases must be covered, all scenarios planned for. But his pride and belief in Cain lies in the fact that he has watched this young fighter grow and evolve.
Simply put, Mendez does not see that this evolution has even come close to completion. So with all the threats that Dos Santos brings into the cage with him on fight night, Mendez feels that we are about to see a new Cain Velasquez, a sharper champ, a more lethal heavyweight on his way to even further greatness.
As unbelievable as that sounds, it is very very true if you know who to ask. And more so than that, it is extremely scary for any man walking this planet looking to earn that UFC heavyweight strap.
This article originally featured at Hurtsbad MMA. To hear this interview in its entirety visit The Truth Hurts Radio Show. Follow us on Twitter @hurtsbadmma.
One of the most important events in UFC and MMA history is only days away, which means it is time for UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos to make their final public statements before stepping into the Octagon for UFC on Fox 1….
One of the most important events in UFC and MMA history is only days away, which means it is time for UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos to make their final public statements before stepping into the Octagon for UFC on Fox 1.
The two elite heavyweights, along with UFC president Dana White, are scheduled to hold a press conference Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. The press conference will stream live from Nokia Plaza in Anaheim, Calif. on the above video player.
UFC on Fox 1 will take place at the Honda Center Nov. 12. The event will be the UFC’s first-ever appearance on network television. While the heavyweight title fight will be the only bout to air on television, all of the preliminary card bouts will be available on the UFC’s Facebook page or through FOX.com.
All eyes will be on two men this weekend when the UFC takes over Fox, and UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and No. 1 contender Junior dos Santos will be fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world.”This fight is going to be my toughes…
All eyes will be on two men this weekend when the UFC takes over Fox, and UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and No. 1 contender Junior dos Santos will be fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world.
“This fight is going to be my toughest fight ever,” said dos Santos, who beat Shane Carwin in June to solidify his spot as the top contender. “I think Cain Velasquez is the No. 1 heavyweight right now so it’s going to be a tough fight, but I’ll be ready for him.”
Velasquez won the championship when he defeated Brock Lesnar in Oct. of last year. He hasn’t fought since due to injury. He will enter the fight with a 7-0 record, including six knockouts.
“Cain Velasquez is a very complete fighter,” dos Santos continued. “He’s got good stand up skills. He got good jiu-jitsu, but I think what he got the best is his cardio. His cardio is very, very good for a heavyweight. He’s a complete fighter, and it’s going to be tough for me.”
Dos Santos is 13-1 in his career with seven of those victories coming inside the Octagon. His wins include those over Carwin, Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson, Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Cro Cop, Gilbert Yvel and Stefan Struve.
“I think if Cain Wants to fight standing with me, it’s going to be a great fight because he has good speed, good footwork and pretty good skills in fighting stand-up,” dos Santos said. “Someone’s going to get knocked out.”
The fight will be broadcast live on Fox, Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m ET. Preliminary bouts can be seen on Facebook.
(“Brock Hunt,” the latest piece of brilliance by notlookoutawhale. I don’t like muskmelon; put that in your little notebook.)
This week’s featured stories…
– Divine Inspiration: Interview Exclusive With UFC Middleweight Contender Chael Sonnen (MMA Mania)
“Let me ask you something: when you have a big project or plans for a big goal, do you let yourself get derailed by a whiny coworker that always finds an excuse to shovel work on someone else? NO! You do your work, you beat your obligations senseless, you shine like a pagan sun god, you make that whiny prat look foolish, you take their job, you laugh as they leave with a box of their effects, and you comfort their obviously unsatisfied wife by taking her out to dinner. I’m not cooling my heels just because Anderson’s are kicked up on the sofa.”
– Despite Large Audience Expectations, UFC on FOX Debut Will Be Money Loser for UFC (MMAFighting)
“It’s an investment in the company,” Dana White recently said. “In no way, shape or form do we come anywhere close to making our money back. You don’t go on free television and make your money. That’s just not how it works. We’re going to get smashed on this fight, but it’s an investment in the future of the business.”
– 15 Worst One-Sided Beatdowns Ever Witnessed in MMA (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
“Kazushi Sakuraba and Wanderlei Silva fought against one another on three separate occasions in fights that should have never happened. The Japanese great never made it to the final bell against the heavy-handed striker in Silva. In the end, Silva was always the victor at the expense of Sakuraba, who always left their outings a bludgeoned mess, resulting in some of the worst performances of his career.”
– Brock Lesnar: Alistair Overeem Is Unfortunate to Fight Me in His UFC Debut (Lowkick.Blitzcorner.com)
“For two years I had to lie to myself and all of my fans. I had to get up every morning and say, ‘you feel good today,’ and I didn’t. I had the surgery, it’s out of my life and I’m back and that’s a damn good feeling for me and it’s bad for everybody else.”
(“Brock Hunt,” the latest piece of brilliance by notlookoutawhale. I don’t like muskmelon; put that in your little notebook.)
This week’s featured stories…
– Divine Inspiration: Interview Exclusive With UFC Middleweight Contender Chael Sonnen (MMA Mania)
“Let me ask you something: when you have a big project or plans for a big goal, do you let yourself get derailed by a whiny coworker that always finds an excuse to shovel work on someone else? NO! You do your work, you beat your obligations senseless, you shine like a pagan sun god, you make that whiny prat look foolish, you take their job, you laugh as they leave with a box of their effects, and you comfort their obviously unsatisfied wife by taking her out to dinner. I’m not cooling my heels just because Anderson’s are kicked up on the sofa.”
– Despite Large Audience Expectations, UFC on FOX Debut Will Be Money Loser for UFC (MMAFighting)
“It’s an investment in the company,” Dana White recently said. “In no way, shape or form do we come anywhere close to making our money back. You don’t go on free television and make your money. That’s just not how it works. We’re going to get smashed on this fight, but it’s an investment in the future of the business.”
– 15 Worst One-Sided Beatdowns Ever Witnessed in MMA (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
“Kazushi Sakuraba and Wanderlei Silva fought against one another on three separate occasions in fights that should have never happened. The Japanese great never made it to the final bell against the heavy-handed striker in Silva. In the end, Silva was always the victor at the expense of Sakuraba, who always left their outings a bludgeoned mess, resulting in some of the worst performances of his career.”
– Brock Lesnar: Alistair Overeem Is Unfortunate to Fight Me in His UFC Debut (Lowkick.Blitzcorner.com)
“For two years I had to lie to myself and all of my fans. I had to get up every morning and say, ‘you feel good today,’ and I didn’t. I had the surgery, it’s out of my life and I’m back and that’s a damn good feeling for me and it’s bad for everybody else.”
Pablo Garza isn’t a household name among UFC fans, but if you bring up who was the guy who did the flying triangle at UFC 129 in Toronto, then the name rings a bell. That is nothing new for Garza (11-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) as he faces Dustin Poirier (10-1 MMA…
Pablo Garza isn’t a household name among UFC fans, but if you bring up who was the guy who did the flying triangle at UFC 129 in Toronto, then the name rings a bell. That is nothing new for Garza (11-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) as he faces Dustin Poirier (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on the preliminary card of UFC on Fox 1, which takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The card streams live on Facebook while a main event pitting heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez against challenger Junior Dos Santos airs live on FOX.
The flying triangle choke on Yves Jabouin at UFC 129 which netted Garza submission of the night, was something Garza said was never really practiced and likes to try new things.
I didn’t practice that at all. It’s a move that after jiu-jitsu classes, me and a couple friends will stick around and try these like crazy moves. It’s kind of like after basketball practice, you go to the halfway line and starting to launch balls to see if you can make it. That’s like the equivalent of what we do every once in a while. Hey let’s try this crazy move, or look at this crazy move I saw on YouTube and that’s the extent of practicing it. I’ve done it in jiu-jitsu tournaments. I’ve done flying triangles before, it’s a lot easier with a gi on.
For his submission of the night victory at UFC 129, Garza got received a $129,000 bonus which is the largest bonus ever given out at a UFC event. You would think Garza would have lived it up, but that wasn’t the case for the North Dakota native.
People think I went out and bought a Mercedes or some awesome car or something. That’s definitely not what I did. It took a lot a of sacrifice to get to the UFC. It took a lot of not paying bills and just getting really in major debt. So I ended up being smart about it and paid off my debt. I went off and used some of the money to buy a house now.
Garza struggled a lot to get this point mentally and financially and has advice for the guys who are trying to make to the UFC.
Just keep going, especially when can’t go anymore. When you absolutely think you have to quit, keep going. Sometimes you get that big break. There’s been two or three times when I told my coach, ‘you know, I’m done, I can’t do this anymore. I’m done trying to be a professional fighter.’ Then we made a deal, ‘you stick around for one more year and if nothing happens in that year, I’ll let you quit.’ That’s what my coach told me. Within that year, I got onto The Ultimate Fighter, got into the WEC, got into the UFC and have had two UFC fights since. Got real lucky.
Garza and Poirier are 2-0 this year and looking to cap their years undefeated. Garza has great respect and admiration for Poirier.
Very impressive, he’s a really tough guy. Really great striker, top contender, legitimate fighter. I have a lot of respect for him. I think it’s going to be a great fight for the fans to see, can’t wait.
The Garza-Poirier scrap was the first announced for the Fox show when the UFC and Fox agreed to a deal a few months back. Garza is really honored he was a part of the first fight announced and wants to put on a show on quite arguably the biggest day in the history of the sport.
I couldn’t believe I was chosen to be on that show. It’s the first time in history the UFC is going to be on Fox. I just felt really honored that the UFC thought I would be a good fight on there and could perform. I’m sure they are expecting they want people who are going to perform and have really good fights. So for them to have faith in me, to do that meant a lot. Gonna try and not disappoint.
To listen to the entire interview with Pablo Garza listen here.
There is an epic matchup on the horizon in the UFC heavyweight division that could mark the beginning of a new era in mixed martial arts. The ingredients have come together to create the perfect recipe of action for a one-of-a-kind event.