An Early Look at Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos

[Elano]

(By: Oliver Saenz)

Junior dos Santos is finally going to be getting his shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship, and this match-up has the makings of one of the best fights of the last several years. Here are my early thoughts on what I just know will be an epic encounter.

Perhaps the craziest thing about this match is the realization that both men are so young both as human beings and as Mixed Martial Artists. Both men are in their twenties: Velasquez is 28 while Dos Santos is 26. Dos Santos has barely entered double digits in his MMA fights (he’s 12-1) while Velasquez’s fight with “Cigano” will be his first double digit fight (Cain is now 9-0). I think the one thing you can say for certain about this fight is that neither man is going anywhere anytime soon. Look for both fighters to remain in direct title contention for the foreseeable future, regardless of who wins the UFC Heavyweight Championship when the two meet in the Octagon.

Now, let’s focus on both men’s striking, because this is where it gets interesting. Both men seem to be very evenly matched in terms of striking power, Cain has huge power in his hands but Dos Santos is the definition of an explosive Heavyweight. Neither man has ever been knocked out, but let’s be perfectly honest here: Cain has come a lot closer to the land of dreams while in the middle of the Octagon than Dos Santos. Despite the incredible performance he put on last night, I just don’t think Cain Velasquez has the striking advantage over Junior dos Santos. Cain fights smart, picks his shots, and knows when to explode. Junior dos Santos does that, and I honestly believe that he does it better. But it’s going to be close. Very, very close.

It’s also going to be close on the ground for one simple reason: Junior dos Santos has shown complete disdain for the ground game and no one has ever been able to hold him on the ground for long. Then again, Junior dos Santos has never faced a high-level wrestler like Cain Velasquez. If Velasquez can get this to the ground and keep it on the ground, he’s got a massive advantage. I know that “Cigano” fans will counter this by saying that he trains with the Nogueira brothers, but let’s be perfectly honest here: we all know where he butters his bread, and the ground game is absolutely not Junior dos Santos’ strong point.

Right now I honestly believe it’s too close to call. But I can say one thing: even though I can’t pick a definitive winner, I know this fight is going to be amazing. Both men have proven themselves beyond a shadow of a doubt, and this fight has all the makings of an explosive, wildly entertaining encounter. If either man wins this one decisively and easily I’d be incredibly shocked. We’re in for a war with this one, and I can’t wait to see it happen.

[Elano]

This match will be amazing, Dos Santos is an animal!
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