Cain Velasquez versus Junior Dos Santos on FOX signals new era for MMA heavyweights on free television
I'm indepted to friend and fellow journalist Dan Rafael of ESPN for digging up the fact that, to the best of our knowledge, the last heavyweight title bout on American free network television was Larry Holmes vs. Carl Williams on NBC in May 1985 (I'm discounting the heavyweight boxing title match on Fox for the vacant IBF title between Michael Moorer and Axel Schulz in 1996. Not a major title). A quarter of a century has passed…
Given the backdrop this week of Joe Frazier’s early and saddening death, and widespread discussion about the state of the heavyweight scene in boxing, there is clearly a bare cupboard a present in the noble art. MMA, meanwhile, is full of heavies, and it genuinely does feel like the dawning of a new era in the heavyweight division as FOX airs the Cain Velasquez v Junior Dos Santos UFC heavyweight title fight from Anaheim, Cal. on Saturday early evening.
The lions of the old boxing heavyweight division – Frazier, Ali, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, George Chuvalo, Jerry Quarry, Ken Norton, a fighter rich period, were replaced by the Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield era. Now the cupboard is bare bones in boxing's heavyweight division. It is down at welterweight where the sport is at its strongest.
The MMA heavies now reign. You know the list. Now, the Mexican American Velasquez, the UFC heavyweight title holder and the Brazilian Dos Santos go to war on FOX, ahead of the seven-year $700 million dollar deal with the network which starts officially in 2012. Saturday night is arguably one of the most significant moments in mixed martial arts history. It is expected to be a stand-up war, with millions of new eyes on the sport. Both men have superb boxing and striking credentials, with Velasquez likely to have the edge if the battle goes to the ground.
Velasquez was an all-american wrestler but really has developed into one of the best strikers in the division. Dos Santos is a fine boxer. In many senses, they are both at the start of their journeys at the elite level. Like some of the great battles of the past in boxing, we are just as likely to see a trilogy of fights between Velasquez and Dos Santos as they develop.
Both camps remain supremely confident. Velasquez, the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent in combat sports history, defends his title for the first time since winning the belt from Brock Lesnar in October 2010. He has been out of action since that fight with a torn rotator cuff, the longest layoff of his UFC career.
Despite being a two-time All-American and two-time Pac-10 champion wrestler at Arizona State, eight of Velasquez’s nine career wins have come by knockout including six in the first round. He has never lost a round in his MMA career. Like Velasquez, Dos Santos is a perfect 7-0 in the UFC but has suffered a loss in his MMA career (13-1). He has won eight straight since his only defeat in 2007 with six finishes in that span (five KO, one submission).
FOR A BREAKDOWN ON THE EVENT CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S ESPN UFC PODCAST: IS CAIN ABLE ?
He has finished 11 of his 13 career victories with 10 coming in round one. The winner will set the mark for the longest winning streak in UFC heavyweight history, passing the loser and hall-of-famer Randy Couture. The winner will also tie the fourth-longest winning streak overall in UFC history. This has the makings of a slugfest as these two rank first and second in strikes landed per minute and strike differential since the UFC began using unified MMA rules in 2000. Velasquez is also second in striking percentage and fourth in takedown percentage in that span.
Velasquez, for me, has the all-round game to defend his title. Good head movement, great hooks, the confidence to stand in the pocket because of his wrestling skills if he can take it to the ground, and good leg strikes from the outside from his muay thai background. Where Dos Santos will be dangerous is with his powerful uppercut, excellent jab and straight right hand.
Telegraph pick: Velasquez.
Televised on the PRELIMINARY CARD, Clay Guida takes on Ben Henderson in a potentially thrilling lightweight bout. Two former lightweight champions from other organizations meet in ought to determine the next UFC lightweight contender to face champion Frankie Edgar.
Guida, a former Strikeforce champion, has won four straight – the longest winning streak of his UFC career. The winning streak has come since switching his training camp to Greg Jackson before his last loss to Kenny Florian in 2009.
Guida is always exciting, winning fight of the night honors four times and submission of the night twice in the UFC. Henderson, a former WEC champion, comes off dominating top contender Jim Miller in August. He is 2-0 since joining the UFC and has won 12 of his last 13 bouts overall. Like Guida, Henderson is always a contender for a fight bonus – winning two fight of the night awards and a submission of the night with the WEC.
Telegraph pick: Henderson, on the rise and in scintillating form.
As a footnote, a taster indication of the relative business and marketing knock-on effect from the event comes via MMA Payout: "Ad Week reports that all ad inventory for Saturday night’s UFC on Fox event has been sold. Media buyers indicate that a 30 second spot for Saturday night cost "north of $100,000"."
That's a small yet significant sign of how the move into network television will herald business opportunities.
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