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Go behind the scenes with Junior dos Santos in the days leading up to his UFC on Fox heavyweight title win over Cain Velasquez in Part 1 of this two-part video. We'll bring you Part 2 on Tuesday...

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This is the third of four blogs from former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, who takes on current champ Junior dos Santos for the title at UFC 146.

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Think you know Frank Mir? Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir will try to get his belt back in the main event of the UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" pay-per-view (PPV) broadcast, scheduled for May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. But he has to get through Junior dos Santos to do it. FUEL TV and host Jon Anik caught up with the longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran for its weekly "Ultimate Insider" special, where Mir breaks down everything from his family, his career and of course, banging it out against "Cigano." In short, they get up close and personal. You can too, by checking out all the relevant UFC 146 news, information and links in out comprehensive "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight archive by clicking here. To check out the rest of the UFC 146 fight card and line up click here.

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See what happens when Junior dos Santos at Frank Mir collide at UFC 146.

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Full video of the second episode of UFC 146 Primetime ‘Dos Santos vs. Mir’.

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Pre-fight interviews with both Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, leading up to their respective bouts at this Saturday’s UFC 146. More clips after the jump.

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Behind the scenes access leading up to Junior dos Santos’ heavyweight title win at the inaugural UFC on FOX. The documentary shows the days leading up to the big fight, and his triumphant victory over Cain Velasquez. More clips after the jump.

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Countdown to UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" will debut Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 12 a.m. ET on FUEL TV to promote the upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for Saturday night (May 26) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. That's Tuesday night at midnight, just to be clear. The network special will provide a glimpse into the preparation and training camps of the fighters set to headline the show, featuring UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and former division titleholder Frank Mir. UFC.com currently lists replays of "Countdown to UFC 146" at the following times (ET): Weds., May 23 at 5 & 10 p.m.Thurs., May 24, at 8 p.m. Fri., May 25, at 11:30 p.m. "Dos Santos vs. Mir" headlines an all-heavyweight card that also features Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva, Dave Herman vs. Roy Nelson, Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve and Shane Del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic. Here is the rest of the UFC 146 fight card and line-up: Main Event: UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir Main Card (pay-per-view): 265 lbs.: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva265 lbs.: Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman265 lbs.: Shane del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic265 lbs.: Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve Preliminary Card (FX Channel): 145 lbs.: Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner185 lbs.: Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway170 lbs.: Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig Preliminary Card (Facebook): 155 lbs.: Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann205 lbs.: Glover Teixeira vs. Kyle Kingsbury145 lbs.: Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 146, beginning with the PPV telecast at 10 p.m. ET on May 26. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the FX and Facebook "Prelims" action much earlier on fight night. To get up to speed on all the news and notes for UFC 146 check out our extensive event archive right here.

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The three-part "UFC Primetime: Dos Santos vs. Mir" series continued this past Friday on FX with the series' second episode. The weekly half-hour show previews this month's UFC 146 event and the championship headliner between heavyweight titleholder Junior Dos Santos and challenger Frank Mir. Check out episode No. 2, which focuses on Dos Santos' life in Brazil and Mir's in Las Vegas, in its entirety after the jump.

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Rafael dos Anjos has had plenty of up and downs in his UFC career, losing his first two fights, winning his next three and then suffering a broken jaw in the third round of his clash with Clay Guida. Last week was definitely one of the highlights of his nine-fight stint in the UFC as he submitted Kamal Shalorus with a Rear-Naked Choke in a little less than two minutes. The submission was set up with a perfectly timed head kick which dropped the Iranian and, as he explained in an exclusive interview with Fighters.com, Dos Anjos feels that this stand up has improved dramatically since he first burst onto the international scene. “When I first came to the UFC, I only knew Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and some Boxing but training at Evolve MMA in Singapore has given me the high level Muay Thai. The trainers there have 300 professional fights each, there are so many world champions there to teach many things.  For sure, I learn a lot with this team,” he explained. Dos Anjos also displayed his newfound striking prowess at UFC 132 when he stopped George Sotiropolous with strikes early in the opening round but suffered a Split Decision loss to Gleison Tibau in his follow-up performance, dropping his record inside the Octagon drop to 4-4. The Brazilian does not do boring fights so matchmakers would be loathe to let him go but he was still potentially fighting for his UFC future against Shalorus and admitted it was a relief to get back to winning ways, stating, “I am very happy to win because this fight had a lot of pressure. I am a BJJ Black Belt but now my Muay Thai is very good too and I was happy to get to use both. My wrestling has also improved a lot.” MMA in Brazil appears to be burgeoning with the first ever TUF Brazil show coming to its conclusion and UFC 147 booked for the 25,000 capacity Estádio Jornalista Felipe Drumond in Belo Horizonte after the sold out success of UFC 142 in Rio De Janeiro. Dos Anjos says he would love to be on that card and wants to fight in Brazil for the UFC, although he refuses to offer a prediction for the long awaited rematch between Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort, “I would love to fight in Brazil for the UFC, this is one of my dreams. MMA is now very big in Brazil and there are many good fighters,” said Dos Anjos, adding on Silva-Belfort, “I do not know who will win but they are both legends and I wish them best of luck for both of them.” Many feel that the lightweight division is the most competitive in the entire UFC and moving forwards there are no shortage of potential future opponents for Dos Anjos. He still has one eye on the past and there is one loss in particular he would relish the opportunity to avenge. “I would like a rematch with Clay Guida,” Dos Anjos admitted. “I was winning the fight for two rounds but my jaw was broken in two places. He is a good fighter, but I believe in myself. I want to fight as much as possible.  I will fight anyone.” The UFC could do worse than book a rematch between Guida and Dos Anjos but before he fights again the Brazilian will probably have another assignment, helping Frankie Edgar prepare for his second fight with Benson Henderson. “I am not sure if I will go or not, but I am ready to go and help Frankie again if he asks me to, training with him is very good. Even if I do not I will still continue to train at Team EVOLVE, Team Reign, Team Kings MMA and Blackhouse, they are the best places in the world to train and they make me a more complete fighter.” PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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This weekend, Ultimate Fighting Championship will present its first all-heavyweight fight card, headlined by title bout between Junior "Cigano" dos Santos and Frank Mir. The event will be taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also on the card, former UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez takes on Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, with sights on getting himself back on winning ways with an impressive victory. Full UFC 146 fight card: Main card Heavyweight Championship bout: Junior dos

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After months of anticipation, the UFC 146 fight week is finally here. The May 26th event in Las Vegas features an all-heavyweight main card with a title fight on top, as UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos meets former champ Frank Mir. Another former champion, Cain Velasquez, will look to bounce back from dropping the title when he faces off with ex-Strikeforce monster Antonio Silva in the co-main event. Here's a rundown of what appears to be the final card: May 26th, live on PPV from Las Vegas, NV: Main Card: Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Frank Mir (16-5) [HW Title] Cain Velasquez (9-1) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3) Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Dave Herman (21-3) Stipe Miocic (8-0) vs.Shane del Rosario (11-0) Stefan Struve (23-5) vs. Lavar Johnson (17-5) SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs Mir FX Card: Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2) Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Jamie Varner (19-6-1, 2 NC) Jason Miller (24-8, 1 NC) vs. C.B. Dollaway (11-4) Dan Hardy (23-10, 1 NC)vs. Duane Ludwig (21-12) Facebook Card: Jacob Volkmann (14-2) vs. Paul Sass (12-0) Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1 NC) vs. Glover Teixeira (17-2) Mike Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)

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This Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the UFC will put on their very first all-heavyweight main card with UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir. The landmark fight card is to be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between champion Junior dos Santos and former champ Frank Mir. However, this wasn’t always the plan. Dos Santos was originally scheduled to take on Alistair Overeem in the main event, but Overeem registered an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio and was unable to compete in the bout. Mir was pulled up from his planned co-main event fight against Cain Velasquez to challenge for the belt for a third time. To promote the new main event, the UFC set up a Primetime special chronicling the two fighters’ lead-up to the fight. You can check out episodes one and two of UFC Primetime: Dos Santos vs. Mir below. Episode One: Episode Two: MMAFrenzy.com

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According to Dan Hardy, champion Junior Dos Santos has given former title-holder Frank Mir extra motivation for their showdown at UFC 146.

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In cased you missed any or all of it last night (May 11, 2012), here is the second of three episodes (via IronForgesIron) of the "all access" behind-the-scenes look at the UFC 146 main event between Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and FX collaborated for the latest "Primetime" series, which follows Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos as he prepares to fight former division kingpin and de facto number one contender, Frank Mir, in the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 26, 2012. This second episode features a deeper look into the back stories of both men, like "Cigano" coming from the poverty ridden streets of Brazil that has taught him to pay it forward in regards to his mixed martial arts (MMA) training. As for Mir, they touch on his horrific motorcycle accident that shattered his leg and nearly ended his fighting career. But, thanks to his wife and family, he recovered and battled his way back, all the way to the title shot he's been given over the Memorial Day weekend this year. Episode one of UFC 146 "Primetime" aired last week and you can watch the complete video of that right here. Episode three of will air on May 25, also on FX. Get up to speed on the reaction to episode two of UFC 146 "Primetime" click here. For more on UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card and rumors click here.

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Frank Mir, who takes on current champ Junior dos Santos for the title at UFC 146, says the champ can't escape the fear of what Mir will do to him.

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Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir, take two. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview show for UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir," featuring a behind-the-scenes look as current UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos prepares to defend his belt against former division titleholder Frank Mir on May 26, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. If you missed episode one, click here to watch it in its entirety. Episode two premieres TONIGHT (May 18) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel immediately following episode 11 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live." Feel free to talk, complain, whine, boast -- whatever it is you do -- about the program in the comments section below. Episode three of "UFC Primetime" will air next Friday (May 25) in the same time slot. Mir was the beneficiary of the headlining spot when "Cigano's" original opponent, Alistair Overeem, couldn't keep his testosterone in check, leading to a nine month time out from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). The domino effect blew holes throughout the main card line-up, but UFC matchmaker Joe Silva got things all patched up and ready to roll. If you think losing "Demolition Man" as the headliner is a disappointment, I'd ask you to watch a pair of stellar pre-fight video promos here and here, which may lead you to reconsider your position. For more on UFC 146 be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card and rumors click here. To see more of the fallout from Overeem's April 24 hearing in front of the NSAC click here.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently put the finishing touches on its upcoming UFC 146 fight card scheduled for the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, May 26, 2012. "Dos Santos vs. Mir" will feature an all-heavyweight main card, headlined by a 265-pound title fight that pits reigning champion Junior dos Santos against former division titleholder Frank Mir. Speaking of former champions, Cain Velasquez will try to rebound from his brutal knockout loss to "Cigano" last November by taking on Strikeforce import and Brazilian "Bigfoot" Antonio Silva. Elsewhere on the card, Shane del Rosario and Lavar Johnson represent the latest additions to the UFC roster taking on Stipe Miocic and Stefan Struve, respectively. And let's not forget about Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman. UFC 146 promises to be an action-packed card with serious title implications in the heavyweight division. But that's not the only group of combatants looking to right some wrongs in "Sin City." Check out the rest of the "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card and line-up after the jump. Main Event: UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir Main Card (pay-per-view): 265 lbs.: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva265 lbs.: Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman265 lbs.: Shane del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic265 lbs.: Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve Preliminary Card (FX Channel): 145 lbs.: Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner185 lbs.: Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway170 lbs.: Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig Preliminary Card (Facebook): 155 lbs.: Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann205 lbs.: Glover Teixeira vs. Kyle Kingsbury145 lbs.: Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., May 26, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Facebook and FX. See you then! For more on UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

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Back before they agreed to fight each other for the UFC heavyweight title, Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir were supposed to play a video game together. Specifically, they were supposed to play "UFC Undisputed 3" at the MGM Grand before the UFC 141 weigh-ins started, and it was supposed to be nothing more than a fun, yet forgettable public appearance, the kind UFC fighters are expected to make when their employer asks for a favor.But as I wrote in this Sports Illustrated story this week, the video game showdown never happened, though the story behind it offers some interesting insights into the personalities of both UFC 146 main eventers.When Mir was told he’d be playing against dos Santos, he did what any intensely competitive person would do: he made it his personal mission to get very, very good at the game. He’d played it before, he said, but only "light-heartedly" with some friends at the house. And for this, light-hearted wasn’t good enough, Mir said. "So I called up my youngest brother, who is an avid player of video games. I said, ‘Hey, come over and help me improve my skills a little bit.’ Of course I didn’t want to go up there and look silly."But once dos Santos thought about the UFC’s plan, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to be a part of it. This was just a few weeks after Mir had snapped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s arm in Toronto, and as a result he wasn’t exactly Mr. Popularity in Brazil."It wasn’t that he beat [Nogueira]," dos Santos explained. "It was that he talked a lot of trash after that fight, saying things that the Brazilian fans considered very disrespectful. I didn’t really want to put myself in a situation that was going to be doing a public appearance with Frank where I knew we were going to be laughing and having a good time. Something like video games is just more of like a hangout scenario, and I thought it might be taken the wrong way by the Brazilian fans."So dos Santos asked the UFC to get someone else. What about Pat Barry? He liked Barry. Everybody liked Barry. He didn’t mean any disrespect to Mir, he explained, "but Frank Mir has a tendency to talk a lot around his fights," and some of the things he said after breaking Nogueira’s arm were still resonating with Brazilian fans.But the way Mir sees it, that was all a cover for the "nationalism" of Brazilian fight fans."Nogueira’s the one who chose not to tap," he said. "I didn’t tell Nogueira not to tap. And I made no real ill comments toward him. I’d be really curious to [hear] a quote of what I said about Nogueira after the fight that was so disrespectful. I think it’s just the Brazilians being nationalistic and the fact of an American beating a Brazilian at jiu-jitsu, and one of the legends of jiu-jitsu at that. I think that’s the part that stings."Mir thought he’d always represented jiu-jitsu well and given credit to the Brazilians where it was due, he said. He’d even entertained the idea of fighting down in Brazil, and didn’t think it would be a problem."Americans will still cheer for a Brazilian," he said. "They’ll cheer for Georges St-Pierre, who’s Canadian. I guess I realize now that if I went down to Brazil, it wouldn’t be the same there. ...After I realized that dos Santos couldn’t play with me because he didn’t want to upset the Brazilians I thought, wow, am I really that disliked?"Not by dos Santos, or so the UFC heavyweight champ said. He might not have cared for some of Mir’s comments, but he had nothing against the guy, he said. He claimed he didn’t even mean to insult him when he described him as someone who gives up easily when things aren’t going his way in a fight."I think Frank Mir is very good when he sees a chance, when he sees an opening. He knows how to capitalize on his opponents’ mistakes, and he’s a very dangerous fighter. But when he tries to go for a certain technique and it doesn’t work out, I think he gives up easily. That’s what I think. Whether it’s true or not, it doesn’t matter. That’s my opinion."Not surprisingly, Mir has a different take. "My last two losses -- to Brock [Lesnar] and Shane Carwin -- in the Brock fight I was losing the whole first round and I still came after him in the second round. I actually stunned him with a flying knee. I was still trying to win the fight, but I was just incapable of doing so. The Shane Carwin fight, that was a bad game plan on my part. I was trying to take him into the later rounds, which was an intelligent idea. I just went about it the wrong way, trying to stall and hang on and hoping that he would get fatigued and wouldn’t have the cardio to go on later. ...I don’t know where I quit. I just took three or four successive blows from Carwin when I was face down on the canvas, trying to go for a kimura. If you want to say Carwin doesn’t hit hard, then I guess you can make that assessment."For Mir, who turns 33 two days before the fight, this sudden title shot looks a lot like the last best chance at UFC gold. As the heavyweight division adds more fresh young talent, it’s difficult to say how long there will still be a place for guys who were doing this back when the UFC still insisted on naming each event (Mir’s debut, by the way, came at UFC 34: High Voltage, which reminds us how far the UFC has come in terms of graphic design).Just don’t tell that to Mir, who insists he’s nowhere near done, despite what fans who have been watching him for the past decade might think."I think the only reason people assume that is because I started out in the UFC when I was 22," he said. "Sorry, guys. I was successful at a young age and I’ve kept around the top ten now for quite a long time. I don’t see myself going anywhere any time soon."

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As UFC 146 fast approaches, the fighters joined the media for a conference call on Thursday with Junior Dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva on the call. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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Full audio from the UFC 146 conference call via MMA Weekly. Junior Dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva were on the call.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is planning for his match later this month against Frank Mir in the main event of UFC 146. Also on the card will be Antonio Silva, a friend and training partner of “Cigano.” Silva is set to face Cain Velasquez, the man dos Santos took the belt from last [...]

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The buildup to the UFC 146 main event figured to be a one-sided hype affair. After all, former champion Frank Mir is one of the game's most quotable fighters, and current kingpin Junior dos Santos is reserved and respectful in public. But with nine days left until their heavyweight showdown, it's clear a comment made by the champion has struck a nerve with the challenger. In an interview with MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani on Monday, Dos Santos questioned Mir's heart when the going gets tough in the Octagon. "In his fights, when he's in a bad situation, it's easy for him to give up," the champ said. When Mir was asked about those comments at Thursday's UFC 146 media teleconference, he attempted to dismiss them out of hand. "Junior dos Santos has done better in the Octagon than he has at trying to sell his fights," said Mir. "It's something he's new at. "No one likes to hear anything negative said about them, but I just broke down why he said what he said when he backed it up on certain fights and I looked at it. I have no issues with my matches so I just took it as him trying to sell the fight, trying to stir the pot." To which the normally mild-mannered dos Santos may as well have said, "I meant every word I said, buddy." "I don't promote fights by talking trash," said dos Santos. "What I say, I say because I believe it. I confirm and I stand by what I said and what I meant by that remark is that I feel Frank Mir lacks heart and lacks the ability to get through tough spots in a fight." "I don't say things just to sell the fight. If I said it, it's because that's what I believe." Mir continued stirring the pot later in the press conference. He noted that after he defeated dos Santos' campmate, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, in December, he received his far share of less-than-polite email from Big Nog's Brazilian fans. "After the Nog fight I got my share of emails that I had to run through Google translator, and they weren't that nice," Mir said. With more than a week left before the main event, Mir's Brazilian emails aren't likely to get a whole nicer.

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The official weigh in event for UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" is set to take place on Friday, May 25, 2012 live from the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET. As usual, MMAmania.com will provide live video and up-to-the-second coverage of the UFC 146 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude. UFC 146 will be headlined by a heavyweight championship showdown featuring current 265-pound kingpin Junior dos Santos taking on former division titleholder Frank Mir. In addition, Cain Velasquez looks to get back into the heavyweight title hunt by disposing of Strikeforce import Antonio Silva while Roy Nelson collides with Dave Herman. Here is the current UFC 146 fight card and line-up: Main Event: UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir Main Card: 265 lbs.: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva265 lbs.: Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman265 lbs.: Shane del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic265 lbs.: Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve Preliminary Card: 145 lbs.: Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner185 lbs.: Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway155 lbs.: Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann170 lbs.: Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig205 lbs.: Glover Teixeira vs. Kyle Kingsbury145 lbs.: Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda For those fortunate enough to be in "Sin City" that weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 3 p.m. PT. In addition, UFC Fight Club members will be able to attend a special Q&A session with bantamweight number one contender Urijah Faber at 2 p.m. PT. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 146 coverage you can handle. For all the latest UFC 146 news and notes click here.

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Former UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez would like nothing more than another chance at current title-holder Junior dos Santos. Last year, in the first UFC on FOX card, Dos Santos dropped Velasquez and claimed the divisional belt. After issues with original contender Alistair Overeem‘s availability Dos Santos’ first defense went to Frank Mir. In a recent interview on UFC Tonight, Velasquez admitted he would have taken the rematch with JDS had it been offered but understands why Mir received the shot instead. “I would have stepped in if they gave me that chance,” said Velasquez who facse Antonio Silva on May 26 at UFC 146. “But, it was the UFC’s choice. (Mir) has won three fights (in a row) and he should have the chance. I think of it as I’ll get my chance.” Dos Santos-Mir will serve as the main event for UFC 146 with Velasquez-Silva slotted into the co-headlining position. It is believed a win by Velasquez will position him to face the winner of the evening’s title tilt. Watch full video of the Velasquez interview below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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UFC heavyweight Frank Mir has made his gameplan clear when it comes to his crack at divisional champion Junior dos Santos in a little over a week – set up a takedown with some strikes, drag action to the mat, and score a submission win. Interestingly enough, Dos Santos has also decided to remove any shroud of mystery surround his intentions at UFC 146 and they involve separating Mir from consciousness. Dos Santos recently spoke about his May 26 bout with the former title-holder where he explained he’ll be ready for Mir’s ground-game and aiming for the knockout. “I know Frank Mir is going to try to take me down and use his very good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He’s got good strikes too, but I believe so much in my hands, and all the fights start on the standing, so I think I can take advantage on that and keep this fight on feet and I will be looking for the knockout for sure,” said the hard-hitting Brazilian in an interview on The MMA Hour. “I want to knock him out and I will give my best to knock him out. If the fight goes to the ground, I don’t want to put the fight on the ground, but if he takes me down or something like that and holds me there, I will show my jiu-jitsu for everybody. I can tell you I’m ready to fight, it doesn’t matter where. I can surprise everyone fighting on the ground, too.” Mir Says Dos Santos Has No Chance on the Ground The 27-year old Dos Santos’ only career loss came by way of submission nearly five years ago while nine of Mir’s sixteen total instances of in-ring success have involved a tap-out or technical stoppage. Comparably, all five of Mir’s defeats have featured a strike-based finish with Dos Santos possessing ten TKO wins under his belt. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Frank Mir is one of the most well spoken fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) today. So-much-so that Zuffa had the confidence to put Mir as a World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) commentator from time-to-time before it closed shop and all fighters were absorbed into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ranks. And he did a very good job at it, too. With his eloquent speaking style, however, Mir has a tendency to use it to get under his opponents skins, as well, being one of the great trash-talkers in the game today. Sure, it's all part of selling the fight and drawing attention to the upcoming event. However, some people don't particularly care too much for it. One of those people is none other than his upcoming opponent at the UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir event, UFC Heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos. "Cigano" is quite possibly one of the nicest and most humble people you can ever meet. That's not to say Mir isn't, he is, actually, but one of the big differences between the two is that Junior usually shuns trash-talking and goes out and lets his fist do the talking for him, while Frank doesn't mind a little bit of extracurricular chatting. Appearing on "The MMA Hour," dos Santos says he is growing old of listening to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt bad mouth he and his mentor, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, whom Mir has a very extensive history with, but says, though he doesn't appreciate the constant banter, he doesn't try to make a fight with him personal. Check it out: "He likes to talk a lot, and I don't agree with that. Yeah, as a fighter, he is a pretty good fighter. He got pretty good jiu-jitsu skills and he is a good striker too, but he likes to talk, and that is not so good to me to hear when he says something stupid. When he fought "Big Nog" my mentor, he said a lot of things, and now, he says he is going to smash my joints in the fight. I saw in the PRIMETIME too, he said that. But, you know, I don't care about that because I know he likes to promote the fight. But, sometimes it isn't too good to hear. (But)It's never personal for me, it's my job, I don't know him personally and he doesn't know me personally. It's very professional, I just want to win the fight. I don't want to hurt him or get hurt. I just want to beat him in the fight. I don't care who the UFC wants me to fight. Now, it's Frank Mir and I'm looking for a war in the cage with him." Personal or not, Junior has high praise for his opponents abilities, but reiterates once again that his confidence lies in the power he possesses in his hands, but isn't afraid to surprise people with his ground skills should the fight hit the mat: "I know Frank Mir is going to try to take me down and use his very good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he got good strikes too, but I believe so much in my hands, and all the fights start on the standing, so I think I can take advantage on that and keep this fight on feet and I will be looking for the knockout for sure. I want to knock him out and I will give my best to knock him out. If the fights goes to the ground, I don't want to put the fight on the ground, but if he takes me down or something like that and holds me there, I will show my jiu-jitsu for everybody. I can tell you I'm ready to fight, it doesn't matter where. I can surprise everyone fighting on the ground, too." UFC 146 is set to go down next weekend (May 26, 2012) from the MGM Grand Garden Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in a card that features the UFC's first ever all Heavyweight main card. In what will be his first title defense since winning the belt from Cain Velasquez last November at UFC on Fox 1, "Cigano" will look to keep his undefeated streak in the UFC (8-0) alive while Mir aims for his fourth win in a row and looks to capture the heavyweight title for the third time. In this classic striker vs. grappler heavyweight tilt, only one can prevail and show why he truly deserves to be called the best heavyweight in the world. But who will it be? The crafty submission specialist Mir? Or the always dangerous knockout artist dos Santos?

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Junior dos Santos stops by Yahoo! Sports to talk about his upcoming fight with Frank Mir.

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UFC on Fuel TV 3 is in the books. Now you can get geared up for next week's UFC 146 pay-per-view with this full-length video preview.

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UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos' coach had strong words concerning how his fighter matches up with former UFC Champion Frank Mir. This fight has been put together on short notice following the fallout of the Alistair Overeem scandal and it has given both fighters precious little time to prepare their strategies for one another. The immediate reaction was the the Champion held a imposing advantage on the feet. Junior dos Santos has a rare combination of speed, power and size that makes him extremely dangerous on the feet. Most fans agreed that Mir's chances are pretty slim on the feet and his only path to victory is to somehow wrestle dos Santos to the mat. There Mir's years of black belt experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu could help him secure a submission victory. From that point of view the biggest challenge Mir faced was somehow closing the distance and solving the puzzle of how to get dos Santos down. The Champions ground grappling ability is completely discounted, in large part because we've haven't seen dos Santos forced to use his grappling in years. Guilherme Cruz of Tatme caught with dos Santos' jiu jitsu coach Yuri Carlton while he helped prepare the champion for his UFC 146 match with Mir and when asked how dos Santos' skills compares to Mir's, see what he had to say after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir This speculations about Mir being better on the ground is bullshit. Cigano is better on the stand-up and on the ground. I'm positive about it! Strong words to be certain, but not shocking. Coaches are supposed to stand by and instill confidence in their fighters. But what was interesting is what came next. I'm positive that Cigano's Jiu-Jitsu is better. He trains with the Best guys in Brazil: Minotauro, Minotouro, Anderson, Demian, just to name a few... Frank Mir trains in the United States with some Brazilians, but we have the privilege of training in Brazil. When you're talking about Jiu-Jitsu, Brazil is the place to be. Training in Brazil vs training in the United States is a debate that has continued in both Mixed Martial Arts and BJJ communities for years now. In the modern realities of both sports to simply assume that not training with Brazilians means that one will have weak grappling is laughable. The fact that Carlton takes such a direct shot at who Mir is training with is interesting, as Mir's grappling coach is Robert Drysdale. In the lead up to the Forrest Griffin vs Anderson Silva match, Drysdale made several remarks about Anderson Silva's jiu jitsu that did not sit well with the Nogueira Brothers camp. Drysdale is a very accomplished in competitive grappling, more so than Demian Maia or the Nogueira brothers, having won IBJJF and CBJJF world championships, and ADCCs but has never been given the same level of respect by the Brazilian community.

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Cody McKenzie and Rafael dos Anjos earned submission wins to highlight the preliminary card action of UFC on Fuel TV 3 from Fairfax, Va.

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Rafael dos Anjos came all the way in from Brazil to fight Kamal Shalorus at UFC on Fuel 3. But once he got there, he didn't waste much time in the Octagon on Tuesday night in Fairfax, Va. Dos Anjos (16-6) made quick work of Kamal Shalorus (7-3-2) in a lightweight bout and put himself in the early lead for a submission of the night bonus, winning via rear-naked choke at 1:40 of the first round. The Brazilian drilled Shalorus with a bulls-eye of a left head kick, then instantly swarmed Shalorus on the ground. Dos Anjos got the Iranian's back and made like B.J. Penn in using textbook positioning to wrap up his foe and sink in the choke. Shalorus had no choice but to tap. It could be that Dos Anjos, who has been a .500 fighter since joining the UFC in 2008, is finally gaining some momentum. He's won two of his past three fights, including a knockout of George Sotiropolous. Shalorus, who once headlined a nationally televised WEC event, has dropped three straight fights.

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UFC Lightweight Rafael dos Anjos caught Kamal Shalorus with a head kick that allowed him to take Shalorus' back and quickly get the rear naked choke finish. Dos Anjos once again has followed a loss with a win but remains unable to put together a winning streak in the UFC. UFC On Fuel TV 3 Results: Rafael dos Anjos defeats Kamal Shalorus via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:40 of round 1. Shalorus, a native of Iran who once competed for England's wrestling team in international competition, has a habit of sticking his chin out and winging wild punches. Dos Anjos made him pay for that bad bad habit with a brutal high kick that seemingly came out of no where. Dos Anjos lost his last fight to Gleison Tibau at UFC 139. His overall UFC record is 5-4. His most notable wins came against George Sotiropoulos and Terry Etim. Clay Guida is his most notable loss.SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 3

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UFC 146 “Dos Santos vs. Mir” takes place on Saturday, May 26, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live on pay-per-view at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The official UFC 146 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

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Full video of the first episode of UFC 146 Primetime ‘Dos Santos vs. Mir’.

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I keep thinking it’s Saturday today. Damn you UFC for putting a fight card on Tuesday and turning my run of the mill, humdrum day into an awesome 24-hour period full of violence. How dare you entertain me. Since no one apparently knows this card is happening, I might as well break it down for you, right? Here’s a look at the prelims… Francisco Rivera (7-2) vs. Alex Soto (6-1-1) Fresh of a very successful stint in Tachi Palace Fights, “Cisco” Rivera is back under the ZUFFA banner, and hoping to make a big statement tonight. H takes on Soto, who, while being a solid fighter, was thrown to the wolves when he took on Michael McDonald. I expect this fight looks similar to Cicso’s last two bouts. He’s taking Soto’s head off. Winner – Francisco Rivera defeats Alex Soto via TKO Round 1 Jeff Curran (33-14-1) vs. Johnny Eduardo (25-9) Relative of apparent world-beater Pat Curran, “The Big Frog” looks for his first UFC win with his badass submission skills. Across the cage is highly touted Eduardo. Eduardo is a solid, experienced fighter, who looks to make his own impact in the UFC. The only place where Eduardo may struggle, is on the ground. Unfortunately for him, Jeff thrives there. Winner – Jeff Curran defeats Johnny Eduardo via Submission Round 3 Rafael dos Anjos (15-6) vs. Kamal Shalorus (7-2-2) Speaking of awesome grapplers, Dos Anjos is back! With always improving striking, and some slowly, but surely developing wrestling skills, Dos Anjos is quickly developing into a complete fighter. He takes on the heavy-handed Shalorus who has some damn good wrestling skills but rarely uses them. Kamal hasn’t faired well in the UFC, after a fairly good showing in WEC. While Kamal is good, he’s also getting older, and as seen in his last few bouts, he’s slowing. Jim Miller seemingly broke Shalorus in their fight and I think Dos Anjos’ grappling might keep Shalorus from engaging him in that department,  thus, I am going with Dos Anjos in a boring fight. Winner – Rafael dos Anjos defeats Kamal Shalorus via Unanimous Decision T.J. Grant (17-5) vs. Carlo Prater (30-10-1) Two former welterweights clash in a lightweight bout, as Grant returns to the Octagon after a short layoff due to injuries. He takes on the crafty Brazilian Prater who looks to get his first legitimate win in awhile, as his last “victory” came due to a questionable disqualification at the hands of Erick Silva. I expect this is a good fight, and an even better fight for Grant, who will impose his will, and dominate Prater for 15 minutes. Winner – T.J. Grant defeats Carlo Prater via Unanimous Decision Cody McKenzie (12-2) vs. Marcus LeVesseur (21-5) The master of the McKenzietine returns to the Octagon and looks for his first win in far too long. The proficient grappler who specializes in nasty guillotine chokes has dropped the silly gimmick of being a happy-go-lucky guy from Alaska and has taken to the gym to improve himself as a fighter. His opponent, the always dangerous LeVesseur, is a solid wrestler who even holds a win on the mat over Ben Askren and has some violent striking. This is bad match-up, stylistically, for McKenzie and he risks getting picked apart and finished if he stands with LeVesseur. I think Marcus has a pretty damn good chance of winning, but I am a fan of McKenzie and I’m going with my heart, not my head. Winner – Cody McKenzie defeats Marcus Levesseur via Submission Round 2 Dongi Yang (10-2) vs. Brad Tavares (7-1) After a ten-month layoff Tavares is back and ready to scrap. The former TUF finalist has been left behind in a quickly changing division and a win tonight could solidify his standing at 185. Meanwhile, his opponent – “The Ox” – hits hard. REALLY hard. The bottom line is I just don’t have enough faith in Tavares’ abilities nor do I think he can take Yang down. In fact, I think “The Ox” pounds the hell out of him and makes it a quick night. Winner – Dongi Yang defeats Brad Tavares via TKO Round 1 The preliminary card goes down today at 5:30 PM ET on the UFC’s Facebook page. Check back a little later for my main card breakdown, and as always, enjoy the fights! PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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"I don't know exactly what happened with Alistair Overeem, but I don't care about that. It's between him and the athletic commission. I think he has to try to get that license to fight again. But, I always am going to be in favor to fight the clean fighters. I don't use anything to make me stronger or faster and I don't agree with people who use that you know. So, if he did, then it's a bad thing for him and I think that the athletic commission did very well to put him nine months waiting for the next fight. As a champion, though, I will fight whoever the UFC tells me to fight. I don't choose my opponents and I will fight anyone in the world. Everybody wants to know who the real champion, I am the real champion because I have never taken anything. When you see me, that is me for real, that is myself fighting and they see Junior dos Santos being the real champion in the fight. When they use drugs to get a better performance, that is not them fighting, it's very frustrating because it is not real and people want to know the champion for real, and I can tell you, I'm the champion for real." -- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos gives his thoughts on today's (May 14, 2012) edition of "The MMA Hour" on performance enhancing drugs (PED's) in mixed martial arts (MMA), which seems to be the hot topic over the past few months. "Cigano" was scheduled to fight Alistair Overeem at the upcoming UFC 146 event in Las Vegas, Nevada, but "The Reem's" now infamous high testosterone levels forced UFC officials to find a replacement for dos Santos just days before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) denied Overeem a license to fight and suspended him for nine months -- even though Overeem has yet to test positive for a banned substance. Nevertheless, dos Santos assures fight fans that he has never, and will never, put anything illegal in his body to boost his performance. What's more, when people see him fighting it is all real, unlike the those who prefer to abuse PED's. "Cigano" will now face Frank Mir at the upcoming Memorial Day weekend card on May 26, 2012, in "Sin City" in what will be his first title defense since winning the title from Cain Velasquez last November.

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If you missed the first episode of the three-part "UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir Primetime" series, you can catch it in full here at HeavyMMA, commercial-free.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos has earned a reputation as one of the classiest athletes competing in mixed martial arts. He never speaks badly of anyone, treats fans with respect, and honors the roots of the sport with his game performances. Even when Alistair Overeem tested for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio, knocking him out of their anticipated title fight, dos Santos took the high road, and said he'd still be willing to fight him if that's what he was asked to do.He's also genuinely honest, so when he was asked about Frank Mir's all-around game on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, dos Santos noted that he'd seen a trend when it came to moments of adversity. Specifically, he indicated you could push Mir to a breaking point, of which there was no return. "What I was saying was I can see that in his fights, when he’s in a bad situation, like leaving a bad situation, it’s easy for him to give up," he said. "But when he’s living in a good moment in the fight, he’s a monster. He can capitalize on all the good moments and enjoy that moment really well, like he did with 'Big Nog' [Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira]. But in bad moments, it’s easy for him to give up."Mir (16-5) has only lost twice since the start of 2007, but each time was to a fighter that pushed him around physically. In one case, it was Brock Lesnar, in the other it was Shane Carwin.Even though both men have said they're ready to contest the fight anywhere, clearly, the two will be fighting for control of its positioning. Mir knows his best chance is on the ground, and dos Santos knows a standup fight benefits him. But dos Santos (14-1) said it's not necessarily about the location of the action, but the pace that he sets. That might mean he's willing to swarm Mir and attempt to put him on the defensive from the beginning in hopes that he crumbles under the pressure."When you put him a bad situation, when you put more pressure on him, it’s hard for him to fight," he said.dos Santos started his camp preparing for fellow striker Overeem, but after learning of the opponent switch, he says he's brought in several grapplers and wrestlers to help with his training. Despite the change in opponent, dos Santos said he is not any less motivated to continue his win streak, hoping to successfully defend the belt for the first time."I want to keep this belt for a long, long time," he said. "I think I’m giving more of myself in training. I’m training more and taking it very, very serious because it’s my life. Everything what is happening is my life. I'm really enjoying everything that is happening in my life so I want to keep things going like that."If he wins, he said he would be willing to face Overeem in the future, when he comes off his suspension. Even with Overeem's troubles, that's a fight many would still like to see.Dos Santos has repeatedly insisted he is a clean fighter, and railed against those using performance-enhancing drugs."When people see me fight, that’s real," he said. "That's me for real. It’s myself fighting. They see Junior dos Santos fighting, being the champ in the fight. When people use drugs to get a better performance, that’s not them fighting. It's something very frustrating because it’s not real. If people want to know who’s the champion for real, I can tell you, I’m the champion for real."Of course, it remains to be seen if he will remain the champion, with Mir waiting in the wings at UFC 146. dos Santos thinks he can get Mir to wilt under his offensive pressure, but says he's ready even if the fight goes into Mir's world."I will be looking for the knockout for sure," he said. "I want to knock him out and I will give my best to knock him out. If the fights goes to the ground, I don't want to put the fight on the ground, but if he takes me down or something like that and holds me there, I will show my jiu-jitsu for everybody. I can tell you I’m ready to fight, it doesn't matter where. I can surprise everyone fighting on the ground, too."

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Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has twice been inside the Octagon with Frank Mir. And, on both instances, he has come out on the losing end. During a recent interview as part of the UFC Primetime: dos Santos vs. Mir series, Nogueira was asked to give his take on Mir, who will challenge Junior dos Santos for [...]

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Rafael Dos Anjos talks about his ufc on fuel tv bout with Kamal Shalorus and believes that he will win via knockout or submission. He also speaks about moving to the united states to improve his wrestling with Mark Munoz. in association with Fight Hub

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The three-part "UFC Primetime: Dos Santos vs. Mir" series kicked off Friday on FX with the debut episode. The weekly half-hour show previews this month's UFC 146 event and the championship headliner between heavyweight titleholder Junior Dos Santos and challenger Frank Mir. Check out episode No. 1, which focuses on Dos Santos' life in Brazil and Mir's in Las Vegas, in its entirety after the jump.

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Aim for the head. This upcoming Tuesday (May 15, 2012), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will head down to the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., for its third visit to FUEL TV with an entertaining mixed martial arts (MMA) line up in tow. In the main event, fan favorites Chan Sung Jung will square off against Dustin Poirier in a battle that will most likely determine the next challenger for the Featherweight belt. In addition, Lightweight bruisers Donald Cerrone and Jeremy Stephens will look to bounce back from recent defeats and climb back up the 155-pound ladder. But, before all that, we've got a stacked set of "Prelims" loaded with up-and-coming talent and rising stars, set to be shown on Facebook. Dive in after the jump for part one of our UFC on Fuel TV 3 "Prelims" breakdown: 155 lbs.: T.J. Grant vs. Carlo Prater After a brutal run at Welterweight that saw him matched up against the likes of Dong Hyun Kim and Johny Hendricks, T.J. Grant (17-5) made the journey down to 155 pounds where, after a series of injuries, he took on Shane Roller. Impressively, he utterly dominated the standout wrestler, latching onto an armbar in the third round that elicited a grunt of pain, prompting Mario Yamasaki to stop the bout. Grant was originally slated to take on Jacob Volkmann at UFC 141, but injuries scuttled his return to the division until this Tuesday, where he’ll look to take another big step toward the top at Prater’s expense. After putting four straight submission wins together, Carlo Prater (30-10-1) was ready and willing to step up and replace Siyar Bahadurzada against the streaking Erick Silva. Unimpressed with his courage, Silva blitzed Prater with strikes, dropping him with a knee to the body and finishing with punches in a grand total of 29 seconds. Unfortunately, Mario Yamasaki controversially awarded Prater the win based on alleged strikes to the back of the head, giving "Neo" his first victory in the UFC. At his natural weight, Prater will be out to prove he’s UFC-caliber against Grant. While Grant’s 4-3 record in the Octagon doesn’t seem that impressive, it’s worth noting that he took on two of the best grinders at 170-pounds in Kim and Hendricks and arguably won two rounds against the latter. He looked fantastic at 155 against a very good wrestler in Roller, completely dominating him in every aspect of MMA. Prater, well, hasn’t looked so hot as of late. While he did beat some solid fighters on the regional circuit, the closest thing to Grant he fought in that time was Reza Madadi, who beat him rather soundly and had no trouble with his guard. He doesn’t have the grappling prowess of Ricardo Almeida, nor the powerful positional control of "Stun Gun," meaning Grant should have little to fear when shooting, and I doubt Prater can win this fight off his back. We may get some good scrambles out of it, but I expect one-way traffic for 15 minutes as Grant dominates from top position. Prediction: Grant via unanimous decision 155 lbs.: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Kamal Shalorus Renowned for his excellent submission game, Rafael dos Anjos (15-6) proved that you don’t have to be on your back to be in danger from him, blasting George Sotiropoulos onto Queer Street and putting himself on the lightweight map. Unfortunately, the size and wrestling prowess of Gleison Tibau proved more than he could handle, losing an entertaining decision to the enormous American Top Team-trained product at UFC 139. Dos Anjos has demonstrated the skills needed to succeed at the division’s upper echelon, but will need to prove he can put everything together consistently with a victory over Shalorus. After turning heads in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) with a combination of impressive power and excellent wrestling, Kamal Shalorus (7-2-2) was matched up with Jim Miller in the former’s second UFC appearance. And after two fairly one-sided rounds, had his concrete jaw cracked for the first time by a brutal knee. His third effort in the world’s largest fight promotion sadly continued that trend, as after getting blasted with an enormous uppercut in the first round, the "Prince of Persia" was soundly outgrappled and eventually choked out by debuting Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov. With his relatively advanced age, time may be running out for Shalorus to prove himself a contender, and he’ll need an impressive effort against dos Anjos if he wants to remain a factor at 155 pounds. I like Shalorus. I really do. If he could just put everything together and realize that, with his power, he’d be better served swinging for contact than windmilling away, he could ruin a lot of lightweights’ days. The thing is, he’s shown no sign of improvement. Nurmagomedov’s chin was right there for the taking and he couldn’t find it, nor could he stop the Russian’s rather telegraphed shots. Shalorus’s weaknesses are now glaringly obvious for anyone willing to take even a cursory glance. Even using his wrestling to grind out a win over dos Anjos is unlikely, as Kamal seemed incredibly uncomfortable with Miller’s ground game once he put the latter on his back and will probably avoid taking dos Anjos down. That just leaves him his wild punching which, considering that Tibau dropped everything and the kitchen sink on Rafael’s face in their fight, probably won’t be enough. Shalorus has a puncher’s chance, and not even that significant of one. dos Anjos should have this fight won anywhere it goes, which will probably be on the feet for most of the time. Expect the Brazilian’s customary storm of leg kicks as he picks his foe apart for a clear-cut decision win. Prediction: dos Anjos via unanimous decision 135 lbs.: Francisco Rivera vs. Alex Soto After a disappointing 0-2 run under the ZUFFA umbrella that saw him stopped by Erik Koch and Reuben Duran, the hard-hitting Francisco Rivera (7-2) bounced back with two straight knockout wins in a combined 1:55, and after unbeaten Azamat Gashimov was forced to withdraw, the UFC knew just who to call. Despite his division’s stereotype of being full of weak punchers, "Cisco" has ended five opponents inside the first round with punches, and could inject even more excitement into the UFC’s growing 135-pound ranks. While it’s impossible to fault Alex Soto’s (6-1-1) courage for stepping in against Michael McDonald on short notice, McDonald’s insane punching power cared not, and Soto found himself unconscious against the cage in under sixty seconds. The previously-unbeaten Soto, who has a draw against well-regarded Seiji Akao under the Deep banner, has yet to truly showcase his skills on the big stage, but will look to fix that against Rivera. As awesome as instantaneous knockouts are, they make my job a pain in the rear, as I really don’t have much to go on when evaluating Soto. What I do know, however, is that his last fight was the sort of knockout loss that stays with a fighter for a long time, and with someone with Rivera’s punching power on the other side of the cage, it’s hard to forget the sight of Soto splayed against the fence. Sure, McDonald has massive power, but Rivera is no slouch himself, and despite the short notice, I expect him to lay the hammer down on Soto for a nasty stoppage in the early going. Prediction: Rivera via first-round knockout Stop by tomorrow for a look at the remaining fights on the UFC on Fuel TV 3 under card, featuring the likes of Brad Tavares and Cody McKenzie, among others. See you then! Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on Fuel TV 3, beginning with the "Prelims" bouts on Facebook scheduled for around 5 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the main card action as it happens throughout the evening this upcoming Tuesday.

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Last night, immediately following the tenth episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Live, the UFC aired the first installment of UFC Primetime: dos Santos vs. Mir. This latest version of the series focuses on Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir ahead of their UFC 146 title fight later this month. Due to Alistair Overeem’s drug test dust-up with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, former champion Mir was awarded the title shot against current heavyweight kingpin Junior dos Santos. In what will be his first attempted title defense, dos Santos will be facing a man that has defeated his mentor, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, twice in brutal fashion (most recently snapping the Brazilian legend’s humerus in one of the most spectacular fights of 2011). Though dos Santos has insisted that this fight isn’t about avenging Big Nog, he gives some evidence to the contrary in the video below. UFC 146 is scheduled to take place on May 26 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will feature a main card stacked with heavyweight bouts only. Mir enters into the bout with dos Santos on a three-fight winning streak, while dos Santos has gone unbeaten in nine consecutive outings. The next two UFC Primetime: dos Santos vs. Mir episodes will air on FX on subsequent Friday nights: May 18 and 25, respectively. MMAFrenzy.com

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos always had the idea in the back of his mind that he might not be facing Alistair Overeem in his first title defense. Dos Santos found out after Overeem ran into trouble with acquiring his fight license that he would be facing Frank Mir at UFC 146. The card [...]

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In cased you missed any or all of it last night (May 11, 2012), here is the first of three episodes of the "all access" behind-the-scenes look at the UFC 146 main event between Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and FX collaborated for the latest "Primetime" series, which follows Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos as he prepares to fight former division kingpin and de facto number one contender, Frank Mir, in the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 26, 2012. Unsurprisingly, the first episode focuses on the triangular relationship between dos Santos, Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who is "Cigano's" mentor and idle as he came up through mixed martial arts (MMA). Of course, in his last fight, Mir submitted "Big Nog" with an arm-breaking kimura. Backstory, baby. Surprisingly, no real mention of Alistair Overeem and his removal from the main event because of elevated testosterone levels detected in a surprise drug test. On the contrary, the production -- for now -- frames Mir as the undisputed, first choice contender who earned the distinction outright. Not really sure it matters, just an observation. Episodes two and three of UFC 146 "Primetime" will air on May 18 and May 25, respectively, also on FX. Get up to speed on the reaction to episode one of UFC 146 "Primetime" click here. For more on UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 144: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card and rumors click here.

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Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir will enter his upcoming bout with current title-holder Junior dos Santos with a significant level of confidence despite the Brazilian’s reputation and record. While Mir understands Dos Santos is a threat to beat any adversary he also know he excels in an area “Cigano” arguably needs some work in – the ground. The 16-5 Mir is considered to be one of the division’s top grapplers with nine submissions wins under his belt including those over Brock Lesnar, Tim Sylvia, Cheick Kongo, and most recently Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Comparably, Dos Santos has only notched a single tap-out from BJJ-related means while his lone loss came via Armbar. “I don’t think it’s any secret – he has no chance of winning the fight if it goes to the ground. The only time that I’ve ever seen him take a shot is if he’s pretty handily winning the fight and I think he just does it just for maybe a change of pace, to throw something out there,” said Mir in an interview with Inside MMA. “But as far as when you see people engage him, he’s a throw-punches-and-run kind of guy. He doesn’t wanna sit there and get grabbed and taken down and he’s not gonna fight that battle. If he was capable of doing it, we probably would’ve seen it already. Fact is, he avoids it like it’s poison.” Mir Thinks His Submission Win Over Nogueira is in Back of Dos Santos’ Mind Mir-Dos Santos will mix it up on May 26 in headlining action at UFC 146. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview show for UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir," featuring a behind-the-scenes look as current UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos prepares to defend his title against new division number one contender Frank Mir on May 26, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Episode one premieres TONIGHT (May 11) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel immediately following episode 10 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live." Feel free to talk, complain, whine, boast -- whatever it is you do -- about the program in the comments section below. Episodes two and three of "UFC Primetime" air May 18 and May 25 in the same time slot. Mir was the beneficiary of the headlining spot when "Cigano's" original opponent, Alistair Overeem, couldn't keep his testosterone in check, leading to a nine month time out from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). The domino effect blew holes throughout the main card line-up, but UFC matchmaker Joe Silva got things all patched up and ready to roll. If you think losing "Demolition Man" as the headliner is a disappointment, I'd ask you to watch a pair of stellar pre-fight video promos here and here, which may lead you to reconsider your position. For more on UFC 146 be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card and rumors click here. To see more of the fallout from Overeem's April 24 hearing in front of the NSAC click here.

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Join us at Bloody Elbow tonight at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT for live discussion of tonight's opening episode of UFC Primetime for the UFC 146 heavyweight title bout between Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir. It's only been a month since the last Primetime (Jones vs. Evans at UFC 145) and it seems odd that they're doing another one so soon. It makes more sense when you look at the situation though - it was originally supposed to be JDS vs. Alistair Overeem, which was a huge fight. But as we all know, AO can't get licensed so the bout fell to former champion Mir. They had already booked the show, so...this is what we get. The show will be airing on FX after tonight's episode of TUF Live. Join us and let everyone know what you think. SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir Main Card:Junior Dos Santos vs. Frank Mir Antonio Silva vs. Cain VelasquezDave Herman vs. Roy NelsonShane Del Rosario vs. Stipe MiocicMark Hunt vs. Stefan StruvePreliminary Card:Diego Brandao vs. Darren ElkinsEdson Barboza vs. Jamie VarnerC.B. Dollaway vs. Jason MillerPaul Sass vs. Jacob VolkmannDan Hardy vs. Duane LudwigKyle Kingsbury vs. Glover TeixeiraMike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda

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UFC heavyweight Frank Mir has a lot of respect for the stand-up skills of divisional champion Junior dos Santos. However, when it comes to the Brazilian’s ground-game it’s a different story altogether. While “Cigano” is primarily known for his boxing, a good portion of the success in Mir’s career has been the result of his BJJ-based arsenal including nine submissions in sixteen total wins. Perhaps most notably in the group of competitors he’s finished is Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, a legendary fighter with too many tap-outs to his credit to count who also happens to be one of Dos Santos’ grappling coaches. The success against Nogueira is yet another factor adding to Mir’s confidence when it comes to his May 26 match-up with Dos Santos. “I don’t think it’s any secret – he has no chance of winning the fight if it goes to the ground,” said Mir of Dos Santos in an interview with Inside MMA. “The only time that I’ve ever seen him take a shot is if he’s pretty handily winning the fight and I think he just does it just for maybe a change of pace, to throw something out there. But as far as when you see people engage him, he’s a throw-punches-and-run kind of guy. He doesn’t wanna sit there and get grabbed and taken down and he’s not gonna fight that battle. If he was capable of doing it, we probably would’ve seen it already.” “Fact is, he avoids (the ground) like it’s poison,” concluded Mir. Considering the only blemish on Dos Santos’ record came as the result of an Armbar it seems Mir could be on to something though the stoppage occurred nearly five years ago. Mir-Dos Santos will face off in headlining action at UFC 146. The first episode of a UFC Primetime series documenting the build up to their bout airs tonight at 11:00 PM EST on FX, possibly giving viewers a glimpse of exactly how concerned Dos Santos is regarding Mir’s submission-oriented attack. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just over two weeks away from kicking off its super-sized heavyweight pay-per-view (PPV) main card, scheduled for the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012. UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" will feature hard-hitting heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos putting his 265-pound title on the line against former division champion and late replacement Frank Mir, who steps in on short notice for the ousted Alistair Overeem. Also in action, former titleholder Cain Velasquez tries to reposition himself for another crack at the crown by taking on Brazilian roadblock Antonio Silva, who was recently imported from Strikeforce to shake things up in the 265-pound division. Get an in-depth look at both "Sin City" match-ups in the recently released UFC 146 video preview above, then head on over to our "Dos Santos vs. Mir" news archive here to sort through the rest of the fight card and line-up, which you can also see by clicking here.

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At UFC 146, Frank Mir will be looking to take advantage of a string of circumstances that led to his promotion to the main event title shot against Junior dos Santos. Mir was slated to face Cain Velasquez in a co-main event bout that would have determined a number one contender to the heavyweight title, but when Alistair Overeem tested positive for elevated testosterone it opened the door for Mir. Mir was on Inside MMA and when discussing dos Santos' game, didn't speak too highly of his ground game: From the video: When you fight Dos Santos, I don't think it's any secret, he has no chance of winning the fight if it goes to the ground. The only time I've ever seen him take a shot is when he's pretty handily winning the fight and I think he just does it just to...maybe a change of pace to throw people off their game. But you see when people engage him, he's a throw punches and run kinda guy and he's not going to sit there and get taken down and fight that battle. If he was capable of doing it, we'd probably have seen it already. Fact is, he avoids it like it's poison. For his part, JDS didn't exactly have nothing but nice things to say about Mir's game. When speaking to USA Today, dos Santos was complimentary of Mir as a tough opponent but seemed less than impressed with certain aspects of Frank's game: Frank Mir is dangerous. He's a fighter that needs to be taken seriously. But he's also a fighter that talks too much. His style of promoting fights is to just talk a lot. He previously said that he was faster than me. That's only in his dreams. ... I think when Mir's in a good spot in the fight - when he's in a good moment and in a good position - he's very dangerous. But Mir doesn't really know how to get through rough spots in a bout. When he gets in those rough spots, his courage goes out the window; his aggression goes out the window. MIR: Dos Santos an easier match-up than Cain What happened against Nogueira in his last fight was really an anomaly, because Mir got caught standing up. He got caught. He was ready to go down, ready to go out; and he was able to get through that and come back. That never happens in Mir's fights. Usually when Mir gets into a little bit of trouble during a fight, he can't come back from it. There's a lot more good stuff in that interview with USA Today, and I think it's more proof that dos Santos has a great personality and ability to talk about fights that we haven't seen fully exploited. I don't know if it's the whole being from Brazil thing or what, but he should really be front-and-center a lot more than he has been since winning the title.

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Forget about avenging a close friend's loss. Havyweight beltholder Junior Dos Santos wants to win his first title defense in the UFC strictly for himself and his family. "People want to talk about the storyline of revenge or things like that," says Dos Santos, scheduled to face former champ Frank Mir at UFC 146 on May 26 in Las Vegas. "That's a non-issue for me. That's not why I'm there."

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos has had to deal with a change of opponents within five weeks of his UFC 146 title defense. We all know why by now - Alistair Overeem didn't pass a pre-fight drug test and cannot get licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, so Frank Mir is taking his spot. The same Frank Mir that broke Cigano mentor Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm in December. In an interview with Sergio Non of USA Today, JDS talked about whether revenge would play a part in the bout (spoiler - it won't), gave his thoughts on Mir saying he's better in certain areas, and much more. First up, the revenge angle - "People want to talk about the storyline of revenge or things like that. That's a non-issue for me. That's not why I'm there." "For us who know Minotauro, it was really sad to see that. But that has absolutely no bearing on my fight against Frank Mir. I fight because I am a fighter. What I'm there to defend is my belt, is my title. I fight because of my own determination, my desire to win." Related Stories: UFC 146 Junior Dos Santos Vs. Frank Mir Official For May 26 In Las Vegas | UFC 146 Video: Dos Santos Vs. Mir Preview | UFC Heavyweights: Dos Santos Vs. Mir, UFC 146 Highlight Upcoming Fight Cards When Non mentioned Mir's recent statements about being faster and hitting harder than Dos Santos, JDS was very blunt with his response: Frank Mir is dangerous. He's a fighter that needs to be taken seriously. But he's also a fighter that talks too much. His style of promoting fights is to just talk a lot. He previously said that he was faster than me. That's only in his dreams. Of course, he isn't faster than me. I'm faster. For sure I hit harder. And if the fight goes to rounds three or four or five, for sure I take the advantage. Dos Santos also goes into much more detail about the matchup with Mir, and gives his opinion about Alistair Overeem's inability to get licensed for their scheduled bout. The whole interview is definitely worth checking out, which you can do here. SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos has issued the latest scouting report on Frank Mir, who fights the Brazilian bomber in the main event of UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" on May 26, 2012 from the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. And I wouldn't call it flattering. "Cigano," who was asked to switch up his training camp when his original opponent, Alistair Overeem, flunked a pre-fight drug test, isn't buying into any of Mir's pre-fight bravado. In fact, he's doing a little trash talk of his own, telling USA Today that Mir can only dream of being faster than him and also has a tendency to crumble when the going gets rough. Those comments, after the jump. "He previously said that he was faster than me. That's only in his dreams. Mir's boxing is reasonable. It's OK. He takes advantage sometimes, just from the fact that he's left-handed, but he's really just pretty average with his boxing. All heavyweights hit hard. But compared to other heavyweights, compared to me, compared to my boxing — I'm faster than him; I hit harder than him; and I'm better technically. I think when Mir's in a good spot in the fight — when he's in a good moment and in a good position — he's very dangerous. But Mir doesn't really know to get through rough spots in a bout. When he gets in those rough spots, his courage goes out the window; his aggression goes out the window. What happened against Nogueira in his last fight was really an anomaly, because Mir got caught standing up. He got caught. He was ready to go down, ready to go out; and he was able to get through that and come back. That never happens in Mir's fights. Usually when Mir gets into a little bit of trouble during a fight, he can't come back from it." Dos Santos is referring to Mir's UFC 140 submission win over friend and mentor Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. "Minotauro" had his former ex-TUF coach on queer street, but got sloppy when jumping into guard and left Toronto with his arm in a sling. Now it's payback time for the Brazilian, who can also help answer some lingering questions about his ground game -- assuming Mir is conscious long enough to implement it. Early predictions on this heavyweight hoedown?

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If it hits the ground, of course. You had to know it wouldn't be long before Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Frank Mir started stirring the pot a little bit for his upcoming match up versus Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 26, 2012. That time has come. Mir spent a few minutes being interviewed by HDNet's "Inside MMA," discussing his next fight against "JDS," his strategy on how he plans to defeat him and the overall process of how he became part of the main event. A high level Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, Mir scored a legendary (and gruesome) submission against one of dos Santos' mentors, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, at UFC 140 on Dec. 10, 2011. It's no secret where he wants this fight to go, and according to Mir, dos Santos will do everything he can to avoid that aspect of the fight: "Obviously, we're fighting a guy who's made his career now of not going to the ground. The only time I've ever seen him take a shot is if he's pretty handily winning the fight. He just does it to, maybe a change of pace to throw something out there. But as far as, you see when people engage him, he's a 'throw punches and run' kind of guy. He doesn't wanna sit there and get grabbed and taken down. He's not gonna fight that battle. If he was capable of doing it, we probably would've seen it already. The fact is that he avoids it like it's poison. I think for two reasons: One, I don't he's probably that very good on the ground, and two, he is so good on his feet." More from Mir after the jump: When it was announced that Alistair Overeem, dos Santos' original opponent, would be forced from the UFC 146 main event, Mir went on somewhat of a press tour, voicing his willingness to step up and be the replacement opponent, if the UFC needed him. He talked about that process and how his mouth may have secured him the title bout: "Well, you know, an opportunity arose, because it looked like Overeem wasn't gonna be able to be licensed to fight for the title. So, I just wanted to make sure that I spoke my mind. I opened up my mouth and I said what I'm sure every other heavyweight in the UFC has to feel, that I want to fight for the title." Mir believed he was ready to take this fight on short notice, due to the kind of training he'd been doing for Cain Velasquez, who he was previously scheduled to face on the same UFC 146 card. Additionally, he'd always kept the possibility in the back of his mind, because anything can happen in mixed martial arts (MMA): "Well, you know what, because I was scheduled to fight Cain Velasquez already, on May 26, two things entered my mind. One, Cain Velasquez is known for having a gas tank. So, even if you're in a fight and you're beating him, first, second round, the guy can always come back. He has a phenomenal ability just to drive forward. You saw that with Cheick Kongo. Even though he was hit by him and hurt, he was able to come back and, by attrition, came forward. And so, we were already preparing for what we expected to be a hard, gritty battle. And on top of that, we had already told the coaches, 'Hey, you know what? It happens all the time in MMA.' The UFC is flooded with stories of main events being changed over due to injuries. Since I'm already fighting on the card with the heavyweight battles being taken on, why not be ready? I don't wanna take a chance to where, a week out, three or four days out -- sometimes the day before, you fight out that someone can't compete and someone has to step up, and I wanted to be able to do so." Throughout this whole campaing, Mir has repeatedly stated that he believes dos Santos will be an easier fight for him than was Velasquez. It's hard to say if he really believes it or if he's just trying to convince himself. Either way, he wasn't changing his tune: "Well, Velasquez, I think, is an excellent boxer and wrestler. I think he's really well-rounded. I know that he count against dos Santos. A lot of people knock his boxing skills, but a couple fights before, he was knocking Nogueira out, within a minute. So, I really thought that was a bad interpretation of what Velasquez brought. The only difference that I feel with dos Santos is that dos Santos is the better boxer, quicker hands. He just isn't as multi-faceted as Velasquez is. As far as, when you fight dos Santos, I don't think it's any secret, he has no chance of winning the fight if it goes to the ground. If we go into a wrestling match, he's in trouble. He has to keep it where he's best at, and you know, he's the best boxer in the heavyweight division." Finally, Mir talked for a minute about his strategy on how he believes he will defeat "Cigano" on May 26. He's aware of the champion's strengths, and will be looking to do all he can not to fuel his momentum: "I agree. I think if you move away from him, in the past when you see anyone move back, he gains momentum coming forward and is able to generate that much more power. I think the best way to fight him is, you know, take how (Evander) Holyfield fought Mike Tyson. You can't back up on a guy who's very powerful and very quick. It only gives him momentum to build forward. You have to come forward and crash." MMAmania.com will continue to keep you updated on all the developments regarding Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir, as well as all the other news circulating around UFC 146. For a full archive of news surrounding the UFC 146 event click here.

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Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir will seek to take back the belt he once wore when he faces Junior dos Santos in the main event at UFC 146. As most know already, Mir took the place of Alistair Overeem who failed a pre-fight drug test and was originally scheduled to face Cain Velasquez in a #1 contender match. With the late-change in opponents, Mir has had to ramp up his planning going from Velasquez to Dos Santos given the fighters’ difference in style. “It does change things a little, but not everything,” said Mir in a recent interview with TATAME. “(Dos Santos’) strongest point is boxing, so his game plan is not to be on his punching zone so he won’t find me.” Mir was called on to fill Overeem’s vacancy based in part on a submission victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira last December, his second victory over “Minotauro”. With the close relationship between “Big Nog” and Dos Santos, Mir is unsure if that will play any factor in the bout. “I guess he’s only fighting me because I’m trying to take that belt off him,” Mir said. “I guess it means much more than trying to revenge Nogueira’s loss to me. At the end of the day, he will be more focused on fighting me for his own reasons.” UFC 146 is set for May 26 and features an all-heavyweight PPV card. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Frank Mir is a former UFC heavyweight champion. So, Mir knows as good as anyone out there what it takes to wear UFC gold and defend it. On May 26, Mir will attempt to take back the title he once wore when he meets current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in the main event [...]

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In a little more than three weeks UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos will defend his title for the first time against a man who never quite got the chance to feel that pressure after winning the gold, Frank Mir. Mir earned the strap in 2004 before having to relinquish it due to the recovery period from a devastating motorcycle accident. Dos Santos has overcome adversity in his life as well, rising from extreme poverty to become the top heavyweight in MMA today. Given the amount of emotion each man undoubtedly has invested in their main event match-up at UFC 146 perhaps it is fitting the UFC chose to go the route they did for a new preview promoting the May 26 bout where a stirring score accompanies highlights from the fighters’ most-recent outings as seen through the public’s eye. No bad blood, no bragging – just two of the best getting ready to go at it at one of the year’s biggest PPVs. Check out the video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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I’m a lot bigger than (Junior) Dos Santos and I hit a lot harder. I’m a taller, longer athlete … quicker; I’ll constantly pepper him with shots when he comes in and make him pay when I do hit him with something. So says the man himself, Francisco Santos Miranda, III, AKA Frank Mir. Quite frankly, I'm terribly skeptical, but that's the lovely thing about this sport, we'll get to find out soon enough. For the record, Junior Dos Santos is listed at 6'4" and a 77" reach. Mir is at 6'3" and 79". Take all of those measurements with a grain of salt, however. I can speak from firsthand experience, every single program will add a couple of inches and pounds (in non-weight-class sports). JDS has 10 (T)KO's to his credit (Velasquez, Gonzaga, Yvel, Struve, Werdum, and various lesser names from Brazil), while Mir has just three (Sims, Nogueira and Filipovic). Of note, JDS has a "submision" win against Cro Cop, but it was a concession due to accumulated strikes, so we should call that an 11th. Poll Who hits harder? Frank Mir Junior Dos Santos Frank Mir's Mouth   0 votes | Results

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Another three-part “UFC Primetime” special will air for the upcoming Junior dos Santos-Frank Mir UFC heavyweight championship match. Dos Santos and Mir will be the main event of UFC 146 on May 26 from Las Vegas, Nevada. Mir has replaced Alistair Overeem after Overeem’s issues with a failed drug test. The first episode of the [...]

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Despite featuring a PPV lineup comprised completely of heavyweights it looks like the scope of UFC 146 has gotten even larger with the announcement that the headlining tilt between Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir will be featured on a three-part UFC Primetime special documenting the final build towards the bout. The first show will air on May 11 on FX at 11:00 PM EST after the latest episode of the Ultimate Fighter 15 with May 18 and May 25 hosting the following installments. Replays will be shown on Fuel TV. Dos Santos will be putting his divisional belt on the line for the first time after winning in this past November. The 14-1 Brazilian will also be out to seek a semblance of revenge after Mir snapped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s arm in December (who also happens to be Dos Santos’ friend/mentor/coach). Meanwhile, Mir finds himself in a title-fight thanks to Alistair Overeem’s issues with testosterone in hopes of reclaiming the spot he once held as undisputed champion before suffering a potentially career-ending injury in a motorcycle accident. The organization recently featured Jon Jones’ title-defense against Rashad Evans in a similar manner leading up to their fight at UFC 145. Other match-ups to get a similar treatment include Dos Santos’ quest to become #1 against Cain Velasquez as well as the memorable meeting of Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz this past February. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Alistair who? Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview for UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir," a three-part series featuring a behind-the-scenes look as current UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos prepares to defend his title against new division number one contender Frank Mir on May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Episode one premieres a week from Friday (May 11) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel immediately following episode 10 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live." As per UFC.com, episodes two and three of "UFC Primetime" air May 18 and May 25 in the same time slot. Mir was the beneficiary of the headlining spot when "Cigano's" original opponent, Alistair Overeem, couldn't keep his testosterone in check, leading to a nine month time out from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). The domino effect blew holes throughout the main card line-up, but UFC matchmaker Joe Silva got things all patched up and ready to roll. If you think losing "Demolition Man" as the headliner is a disappointment, I'd ask you to watch a pair of stellar pre-fight video promos here and here, which may lead you to reconsider your position. For more on UFC 146 be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card and rumors click here. To see more of the fallout from Overeem's April 24 hearing in front of the NSAC click here.

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On May 26th, Junior dos Santos will put his title on the line, facing Frank Mir at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC 146 will be UFC's first ever all-heavyweight line-up, also featuring Cain Velasquez vs. Bigfoot Silva, and Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve. Stay tuned to LowKick.com for more UFC 146 news, and don't forget to submit your

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The UFC has released a new preview video for the UFC 146 Heavyweight championship fight between the defending champ Junior dos Santos and challenger Frank Mir. UFC 146 will take place May 26, 2012 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dos Santos was originally going to face former Strikeforce, Dream and K-1 champ Alistair Overeem but Overeem failed a random drug test after a press conference in Las Vegas on March 27. Mir, originally slated to meet former champ Cain Velasquez, got the call to face dos Santos in Overeem's place. Full fight card after the jump... More SBN Coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir Main Card: Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Frank Mir (16-5) [HW Title] Cain Velasquez (9-1) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3) Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) Shane del Rosario (11-0) vs. Stipe Miocic Mark Hunt (8-7) vs. Stefan Struve (23-5) Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2) Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Evan Dunham (13-2) Jason Miller (24-8, 1 NC) vs. C.B. Dollaway (11-4) Jacob Volkmann (14-2) vs. Paul Sass (12-0) Duane Ludwig (21-12) vs. Dan Hardy (23-10, 1 NC) Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1 NC) vs. Glover Teixeira (17-2) Mike Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)

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Drama. But, this is the official version (not the fan-made video trailer). Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has done a complete about-face to promote its upcoming Heavyweight championship showdown that wasn't meant to be prior to Alistair Overeem getting suspended for nine months for having elevated levels of testosterone in his system during a surprise drug test. Frank Mir was inserted shortly before Overeem's hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) late last month when company president Dana White had a bad feeling about the outcome. He was right. And now Mir gets the opportunity to challenge division champion Junior dos Santos in the UFC 146 main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., May 26, 2012. Careful what you wish for, Frank. Dos Santos is being portrayed as a hard-hitting, one-punch knockout artist who can end any fight in an instant. That's actually exactly what he does more often than not, which could spell disaster for Mir, who has had to answer to chin concerns after (technical) knockout losses to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, among others. And let's remember that Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira had him on Queer Street just before he nearly got his arm ripped off late last year. In addition to the Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir marquee mixed martial arts (MMA) match up, UFC 146 will feature a reshuffled all-heavyweight pay-per-view (PPV) main card are super-sized showdowns between Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva, Roy Nelson vs. Gabriel Gonzaga, Shane del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic and Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve. For more on UFC 146 be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card and rumors click here.

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UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir Date: May 26, 2012 Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena Location: Las Vegas, Nevada   Articles Videos Main Card (on Pay-Per-View): -Junior dos Santos (14-1; #1 Heavyweight) vs. Frank Mir (16-5; #5 Heavyweight) -Cain Velasquez (9-1; #3 Heavyweight) vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (16-3) -Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) [...] Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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NickTheFace was hours away from releasing a promo video that would get mixed martial arts (MMA) fans pumped for the upcoming Heavyweight bout between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 26, 2012. However, news soon broke that "The Reem" tested positive for elevated testosterone levels. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White took a few days to make a decision, but soon plugged in former division champion Frank Mir to be on the safe side. It was a wise choice. The whole Overeem fiasco forced a complete pay-per-view (PPV) main card shuffle, with fighters being paired up with new opponents to keep the all-heavyweight line up intact. Mission accomplished. This promo fan-made UFC 146 promo builds on the concept of dos Santos admiring Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, his MMA mentor and Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach. "Cigano" had to wince and watch Frank Mir win twice against "Big Nog," including a gnarly arm-snapping submission late last year at UFC 140. Now, dos Santos gets the chance to fight Frank Mir for himself and exact revenge for Nogueira. Check it out: For more on UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here.

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Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir jumped at the opportunity presented to him when Alistair Overeem was removed from the main event at UFC 146. Now, Mir will seek the place the gold belt back around his waist again when he squares off with Junior dos Santos at the May 26 show. Overeem’s troubles with a failed drug test pushed the UFC to make a decision on the fight even before he was denied his license on Tuesday. Mir was installed as the next contender, being moved out of a planned #1 contender match with Cain Velasquez. “I just kind of did the math in my own mind,” said Mir, during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour. “My team around me, we all pretty much felt that if dos Santos were to stay on the card, and Overeem was not able to challenge for the title, then I was the most logical person to step in.” Mir added that he never stopped training for Velasquez but Dos Santos remained in the back of his mind. Mir has won four of his last five fights, including wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson, and Mirko Filipovic. Mir broke the arm of Nogueira who is the mentor and a training partner of Dos Santos. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos takes you on a wakeboarding trip in Brazil in this edition of Up Close and Personal.

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir can’t predict the future by any means. But, when he saw the scheduled card for May and UFC 146, Mir kept it in the back of his mind that if something would happen to Alistair Overeem, he would be the most logical choice to fight Junior dos Santos for [...]

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Unless you've been living under a rock, then you are aware that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Alistair Overeem was removed from his title fight against Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 26, 2012, because he flunked a surprise drug test. "The Reem" met with the Nevada Athletic State Commission (NSAC) this afternoon to make his case for the reason his testosterone levels were more than twice the allowable limit. His argument, which was that he unknowingly injected himself with prescribed anti-inflammatory that contained testosterone, wasn't enough to sway the commission. In fact, at the conclusion of the marathon hearing, the NSAC declined to grant him a license to fight in Nevada for a period of nine months. Either way, UFC President Dana White had already acted to save the card by moving Frank Mir into Overeem's slot to take on "Cigano" on Memorial Day weekend. Mir appeared on FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight" this evening to discuss how he feels about Overeem and his recent shortcomings. According to Mir, we should all just let bygones be bygones: "I believe so. I think this is the first time that he's ever come up positive at tests, as far as I'm aware of. It seems like he had a viable explanation for what happened. Everybody makes mistakes. We all do things that we're not proud of. We've all made mistakes professionally or in our personal life that are not our greatest moments in life. To sit there and ostracize somebody and never allow them to redeem themselves, I think would be very against humanity and our overall impression that I try to carry as a person. Everybody deserves opportunities. You know, he goes out there and he follows all the stringent testing the athletic commission is probably gonna put ahead of him and all the hoops he's gonna have to jump through. As long as he does those things, then yeah, I'll see him back in there. He's a fierce competitor. We've seen what he did with Brock (Lesnar). I'd hate to lose him and not have him in the Octagon or as a competitor in the heavyweight division, due to something outside the Octagon." "The Reem" may indeed get a second chance, at some point. But for now, his loss is Mir's gain. During the interview, Mir continued to reiterate that he actually believes he's been given an easier fight in dos Santos, than that of his previous opponent, Cain Velasquez: "I was extremely happy. It was phenomenal opportunity, earlier than I expected. I thought that I'd have to go through Cain (Velasquez) first. Being given this opportunity right now, I just feel ecstatic. Everything it means to me and my family, it's been nothing but a positive thing. You know, some of the things do adjust. As far as, you know, their mindsets. In reality, dos Santos is a much better boxer. Obviously, he's probably the best boxer in the division. But that's all he really comes at you with is just the hands. Cain also poses a lot of problems. I also think Cain's a very decent boxer himself. His one mark on him was in his last fight. He got caught by dos Santos, and everybody seems to have a real short memory. They forget about all the other knockouts and all the other things he's done on his feet, prior to that fight. But at the same time, when you're fighting with Cain, while you're worrying about getting kicked and punched, he can shoot and take you down. So, dos Santos is more of a single threat, even though that single threat is much larger itself, but he doesn't have the multiple areas of offense that Velasquez has. As far as the five rounds, the reality is, if I had not been preapring for Cain, it'd probably be a lot more difficult to step it up. The fact is, I've been preparing for a guy who's known for having a huge motor. Velasquez, if there's anything you wanna say about him, it's that his cardio is freakish. So to prepare for that, basically, I've been preparing for a five-round fight anyway." In his last bout, Mir not only submitted, but, in grotesque fashion, brutally broke the arm of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, a man who is somewhat of a mentor to dos Santos. Mir said he believes that scenario will be on dos Santos' mind, but he believes the champion's real motivation will be to defend his belt and prove just how great a fighter he is: "I'm sure it's something that he thinks about, but for the most part, no. Dos Santos seems to be a pretty driven and focused individual. I can't imagine that he has outside sources that are focusing him in that manner where he's trying to avenge his master. There's not gonna be a theme on the night of the 26th. I think he wants to go out there and defend his title and prove that he's the best in the world. I think that's gonna be more or less a factor that I have to deal with, moreso than what I did to a former trainer or coach. I do think though that if it hits the ground, that has to weigh in his head a little bit. The guy who he's rolled around with who's far more superior to him in jiu-jitsu is a guy that I submitted last." For a full UFC 146 archive, complete with fight line-ups and the latest event news, click here.

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Last weekend it was confirmed by Dana White that Frank Mir would be the fighter to replace Alistair Overeem in the UFC 146 Heavyweight title fight against current champion Junior Dos Santos. In moving from one tough opponent in Cain Velasquez, to a title showdown with Dos Santos, Mir might feel like he has hit a jackpot of sorts. He is going to earn substantially more than he would have, and since both fights present unique challenges to the former UFC heavyweight champion, he must be happy with the step up. That being said, Mir is coming off of a nasty submission victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 141 in December of 2011. The same Nogueira who is, of course, Junior's mentor. Which means that Junior is likely to have a little bit of extra motivation, in the form of revenge for his friend, on his mind when he enters the cage with Frank. Junior is univerally considered to be the best boxer in the UFC heavyweight division and after Nogueira blitzed Frank on the feet in the early part of their bout, you'd think that Mir would want to avoid giving Junior anything to get fired up about. It seems that is not the case though, as Mir went on the MMA Hour yesterday and talked about the prospect of facing Dos Santos, and reminded everyone how the fight at 141 went down: Frank Mir: I think it will be a nice feather in his cap if he wins to say, 'Oh I got one for my master,' type scenario. I do think it has to be a little nerve-racking that the guy you roll with as a coach got submitted by the guy you're about to face. That has to be a little bit in the back of your mind." I'm not positive, but I would imagine that facing a fighter who could remove you from reality at any moment is a bit more nerve-wracking than going up against a limb breaking submission specialist, if only because the option to tap out and save your limb exists. Of course, we probably shouldn't be surprised to hear Mir suggesting that Junior will be the one with doubts going into the fight. After all, this is the same Frank Mir who stated that his boxing was better than Dos Santos' in a number of ways before he fought Roy Nelson way back at UFC 130: Frank Mir: I'm a lot bigger than (Junior) Dos Santos and I hit a lot harder. I'm a taller, longer athlete ... quicker. At the time, his comments were dismissed with a laugh by most educated observers and interestingly enough, now that he is booked to face Junior, he has changed his tune: Frank Mir: Obviously his strongest, I don't think it's a secret, is his boxing skill sets. I don't want to fight him in that area, and will as little as possible. With Mir doing such a strong about-face on the boxing front, one has to wonder if his most recent comments were more for himself than Dos Santos, even if he did preface his comments about Dos Santos and Nogueira by stating that he didn't think it would make a big difference to Junior's training. And if Mir is trying to pump himself up, I'm going to go ahead and suggest that he probably should be doing it behind closed doors, and not on one of the most popular MMA talk shows in the world. Facing Dos Santos on short notice is a tough enough challenge without giving him additional motivation to "get one for his master", as Mir so eloquently put it.

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You may have heard that there were a couple of minor changes to UFC 146. Okay, I guess they were kind of major. Alistair Overeem was pulled from the card due to his woes with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and Frank Mir was bumped up from the co-main and will now challenge Junior dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight title. Antonio Silva will take Mir's place against Cain Velasquez, and Roy Nelson will take on Gabriel Gonzaga. Shane del Rosario will await a new opponent. Here's a rundown of how things look right now for the May 26th card in Vegas: May 26th, live on PPV from Las Vegas, NV: Main Card: Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Frank Mir (16-5) [HW Title] Cain Velasquez (9-1) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3) Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) Shane del Rosario (11-0) vs. TBA Mark Hunt (8-7) vs. Stefan Struve (23-5) SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2) Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Evan Dunham (13-2) Jason Miller (24-8, 1 NC) vs. C.B. Dollaway (11-4) Jacob Volkmann (14-2) vs. Paul Sass (12-0) Duane Ludwig (21-12) vs. Dan Hardy (23-10, 1 NC) Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1 NC) vs. Glover Teixeira (17-2) Mike Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)

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Outside of Frank Mir’s camp there aren’t a lot of folks picking the former heavyweight champion to dethrone current UFC title-holder Junior dos Santos when the two meet on May 26 at UFC 146. After all, Dos Santos is considered to be one of the division’s elite strikers while Mir has been knocked out in all five of his career losses. However, Mir will enter the bout with a ton of confidence based on his December win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. In addition to being a world-class competitor, Nogueira also happens to be one of Dos Santos’ chief jiu-jitsu instructors. “I still pose a very large threat to Dos Santos,” said Mir in an interview with The MMA Hour when asked about his status as a major underdog. “I still think it’ll be an interesting cat-and-mouse game between me and Junior, because what I want to be able to impose on him, he’s going to try to avoid, and vice versa.” Dos Santos Comments on Mir as an Opponent “I do think it has to be a little nerve-racking that the guy you roll with as a coach got submitted by the guy you’re about to face. That has to be a little bit in the back (of your head),” Mir continued, alluding to his gruesome finish of Nogueira leaving the legendary Brazilian with a broken arm. Interestingly enough, Dos Santos’ only in-ring stumble came by way of submission while he himself has not tapped an adversary out in more than five years. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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The UFC 146 heavyweight championship fight is decidedly more one-sided as a result of the recent switch in challengers, at least according to oddsmakers. With Alistair Overeem out, his replacement Frank Mir is considered a major underdog to beat titleholder Junior dos Santos.Major gaming site Bovada released its line on Monday, installing Dos Santos as a 5 1/2-to-1 favorite to beat Mir. Noted oddsmaker Joey Oddessa thought it was a little closer, making Dos Santos 5-to-1. Dos Santos had also been favored to beat Overeem, but it was considered a much closer bout. Dos Santos had opened at 2 1/2-to-1, but the line had been closing by the time the UFC decided to pull the plug on Overeem after a drug screening revealed an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio.Mir (16-5) has beaten the odds before. He was a sizable underdog when he captured his first UFC title back in 2004, and it took him only 50 seconds to arm bar Tim Sylvia for the win. He was also the underdog when he won an interim championship in 2008 by beating Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. In doing so, he became the first man ever to finish the durable Brazilian.He'll enter the fight riding a three-fight win streak, with victories over Mirko Cro Cop, Roy Nelson and Nogueira.Dos Santos (14-1) has yet to lose in the UFC, winning all eight of his octagon bouts. The fight will mark his first title defense after taking the belt from Cain Velasquez last November.

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Frank Mir knows a good opportunity when he sees one. So when Alistair Overeem failed his now-infamous drug test by a whopping 14:1 testosterone-to-epitestosterone clip, Mir was the first heavyweight to take the offensive, issuing a press release through his management just hours after the announcement, voicing his willingness to replace Overeem and fight UFC champ Junior dos Santos at UFC 146. To say the time between then and now was a roller-coaster would be an understatement, but in the end Mir's strategy worked, as UFC President Dana White finally made the switch official late last week. For Mir, it was the undeniably sweet moment of vindication he had been waiting for. "I just kind of did the math in my own mind," Mir explained on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "My team around me, we all pretty much felt that if dos Santos were to stay on the card, and Overeem was not able to challenge for the title, then I was the most logical person to step in. So as we were still training for Cain (Velasquez), there was that at the back of my mind, okay, be prepared for this to happen also." While the switch to Mir wasn't exactly surprising, the timing of the news raised a few eyebrows. Overeem's saga with the Nevada State Athletic Commission dominated headlines throughout the past few weeks, and many fight fans, including Mir, believed the UFC was waiting for his hearing on Tuesday before making a move. Of course, Mir isn't in charge, so he doesn't have a say in the matter. But he's still a fan of quality fights, and now that Overeem has revealed his defense, Mir isn't quite sure what the UFC should do with the Dutchman. "I really don't know. I think it just has to be measured as a whole, and whether or he's good for the sport or not, and what he's able to bring to the table," Mir carefully mused. "He still has this large fanbase. I think all that has to be taken into consideration." "I would have liked to see the fight too as a fan. I'd like to see Alistair and Junior fight, and it could still happen after this. ... But I'll step in and take advantage of the opportunity presented to me. I'm definitely not the reason why this fight isn't happening." If anything, Mir's last sentiment is the most telling. It means he's heard the rather loud complaints from fans, many of whom have already panned the bout a month in advance. But Mir's résumé speaks for itself, and the two-time champ firmly believes viewers will get their money's worth. "I still pose a very large threat to dos Santos," Mir vowed. "I still think it'll be an interesting cat-and-mouse game between me and Junior, because what I want to be able to impose on him, he's going to try to avoid, and vice versa." A juicier subplot to the new championship tilt will come in the form of revenge. Mir is only man to both knock out and submit dos Santos' idol and mentor, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and the last time the two met, Nogueira left home with a nightmarish broken arm for his troubles. Mir can't say for sure if retribution will play a factor in dos Santos' motivations, though he certainly seemed to welcome the idea. "I'm sure he fights for his own reasons," Mir explained. "I mean, if he says that to sell pay-per-views, I'm sure it might be thrown out. But as far as deep down inside, when he's in the locker room getting ready to walk out to face me, when you're a fierce competitor like that, you don't really do it for outside sources. "If you do it for any other reason other than what's inside you, the internal drive that you have to want to conquer this, it'll fall apart." Ultimately, there's nothing wrong with pouring a little gasoline on the fire in the fight game, and no one knows that better than the former champ. So it was only natural for Mir to finish his thoughts by tossing a special caveat dos Santos' way. "I do think it has to be a little nerve-racking that the guy that you roll with as a coach got submitted by the guy you're about to face," Mir slyly chuckled. "That has to be a little bit in the back (of your mind.)"

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Junior dos Santos reacts to the news that Frank Mir would be replacement Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 146.

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Junior dos Santos spoke about his new opponent for UFC 146, what would be the first defense of his UFC Heavyweight title. Dos Santos welcomed the challenge of fighting Frank Mir, but admitted that he has to prepare for a totally different match-up, just one month before getting inside the Octagon. UFC 146 will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 26th. Submit your picks

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Although Dana White said he was going to wait until Alistair Overeem stood before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on a ruling on whether or not they would approve a license for him to fight, the UFC went ahead and made Frank Mir vs Junior dos Santos official. The originally scheduled JDS vs Overeem would [...]

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If you haven't been following the on going saga about Alistair Overeem, the mammoth heavyweight has been pulled out of the UFC 146 main event slot for failing a drug test. Frank Mir has since taken his slot and a chance for another shot at that UFC heavyweight title he once held. Related: UFC 146: Dana White Comments On Alistair Overeem's Removal From The Card | UFC 146: Junior Dos Santos Opens As Huge Favorite Over Frank Mir The UFC has released a video with UFC Champion, Junior dos Santos speaking about the change of opponents. Here's what he had to say: If you can't watch the video, check out the quotes after the jump. "Overeem was replaced by Frank Mir and I think it's a good thing for me because if I had to have someone to replace Overeem, it's Frank Mir. But I have to change a lot in my training now because Frank Mir is south paw and he likes jiu-jitsu, he's a black belt. So I have to change a little bit in my camp. But that's it. I'm a fighter and I will be looking for the knockout. It doesn't matter who my opponent is." Betting odds on this match up have gone up, which has Dos Santos as a massive favorite ranging from -499 to -550. Transcribed by MMA Mania.

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On Friday night, UFC President Dana White announced that Frank Mir would be replacing Alistair Overeem as the challenger for the heavyweight title against champion Junior dos Santos. The champion has since made his opinion known in this brief video. He states he has had to change his training camp, as Overeem and his strong striking is no longer the main concern with Mir now scheduled to be the man on the opposite end of the Octagon. The championship fight between dos Santos and Mir goes down on May 26th at UFC 146 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Watch the video below:

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Junior dos Santos will constantly remind you that however horrible your life is going, it would be exponentially worse if he slammed his right fist inside your mandible. JDS represents a time in early civilization in which facial reconstructive surgery consisted of a dude violently hammer-fisting one's face until the bones rearranged into the desired position. In the industry, we call that 'Caveman plastic surgery' -- although I'm not quite clear on what industry I'm referring to. Regardless, it's a business I want no part in. Let me write about MMA while wearing absurd feline t-shirts in peace. That's how I define my universe. That's right, a universe free from being knocked the [expletive] out by the UFC heavyweight champion. According to this brief interview, it appears that Frank Mir stepping in for Alistair Overeem has no effect on Junior dos Santos' desire to destroy something beautiful in a horribly forceful method. [Source]

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"Overeem was replaced by Frank Mir and I think it's a good thing for me because if I had to have someone to replace Overeem, it's Frank Mir. But I have to change a lot in my training now because Frank Mir is south paw and he likes jiu-jitsu, he's a black belt. So I have to change a little bit in my camp. But that's it. I'm a fighter and I will be looking for the knockout. It doesn't matter who my opponent is." Shocker! UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos will be looking to knock out Frank Mir when the two collide for "Cigano's" 265-pound strap at UFC 146 on Sat., May 26, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Brazilian bomber recognizes, however, that he's got a few changes to make in preparation for his first title defense, namely making sure his ground game is tight in the event the fight hits the floor where Mir, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, is the most dangerous. Then again, the former champion has already said he believes he's a better boxer than dos Santos so maybe we'll see a stand up war. No complaints here.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos reacts to news that Frank Mir will replace Alistair Overeem.

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Watch as UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos reacts to the news his new opponent at UFC 146 will be Frank Mir, not Alistair Overeem as originally planned.

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When UFC President Dana White revealed Frank Mir would be stepping in for Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 to face heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos the MMA community was quick to respond, expressing a wide variety of opinions ranging from confusion over the timing to satisfaction at the organization taking initiative. However, one of the most important men in the equation – Dos Santos – hadn’t spoken publicly on the matter…at least until now. “I have to change my camp a lot because Mir is a southpaw and a jiu-jitsu blackbelt,” explained Dos Santos in a video for the UFC, initially indicating he was happy the situation was finally resolved. “But I’m a fighter and I will be looking for the knockout no matter who my opponent is.” The 14-1 Dos Santos’ only career loss was the result of a submission though it occurred more than four years ago. Comparably, all five of Mir’s defeats have been the result of a strike-based stoppage including those to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. The full clip of Dos Santos’ comments can be seen below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will still defend his title at UFC 146, but he will be facing a much different opponent that originally scheduled. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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UFC Heavyweight Roy Nelson has tweeted the news that he has been offered a #1 contender's bout against former champ Cain Velasquez at UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir. Nelson added that "Overeem pissed hot is my gain." Nelson was referring to the failed urine test taken by Alistair Overeem on March 27th Related Stories: Junior Dos Santos Opens As Huge Favorite Over Frank Mir | Junior Dos Santos Vs. Frank Mir Official For May 26 In Las Vegas Overeem had originally been scheduled to challenge Heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 on May 26th. His presumptive failure to be licensed to fight in Nevada got him pulled out of the title fight. Last night UFC president Dana White announced that former champion Frank Mir would get the title shot instead of Overeem. That created an opportunity for Nelson to jump up the card and take Mir's slot against former champ Cain Velasquez. Nelson had been slated to face Antonio Silva. Nelson's tweet is reproduced after the jump... More SBNation UFC 146 coverage @roynelsonmmaRoy Nelson Just asked if I would fight cain for #1 contendership, answer is YES! Overeem pissed hot is my gain! Apr 21 via Facebook Favorite Retweet Reply

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In all the hoopla surrounding UFC 145, Dana White made a major announcement about UFC 146 late last night - Alistair Overeem was out of his title fight with Junior dos Santos, and Frank Mir was in on May 26th. It never takes linemakers long to jump on major new fights, and this case was no different. Sportsbook.com put out their line early this morning, and JDS is a monster favorite (widget courtesy of BestFightOdds.com): Mir had been expected to face off with Cain Velasquez in the co-main event, but now Cain will have to get a new opponent. It's not really a surprise that Junior would be this big of a favorite - Mir's chin has been cracked before, and JDS hits extremely hard. Mir has excellent skills on the ground though, most recently submitting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with a kimura (actually, he just snapped his arm) at UFC 140. SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos has opened as a massive favorite over ex-champ Frank Mir, who officially replaced Alistair Overeem in the UFC 146 headliner on Friday. With Overeem facing a Tuesday hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Mir now gets his title shot. Noted MMA oddsmaker Joey Oddessa today told MMAjunkie.com he's opened Dos Santos as a -500 favorite with Mir the +350 underdog.

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UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos finally knows who he will be defending his title against at UFC 146. Up until this point UFC President Dana White had been unusually quiet about this topic, other than asserting the foolishness of his fighters in taking Performance Enhancing Drugs, and how he can't babysit all of them to make sure they don't. Alistair Overeem was set to challenge for the championship in what would have been one of the biggest matches of the year, until he had a random test sprung on him and his fellow Heavyweight peers at a pre-UFC 146 press conference to hype the event. Overeem's Testosterone to Epitestosterone Ratio came back at 14:1, more than twice the 6:1 ratio Nevada State Athletic Commission allows, and more than 3 times the 4:1 ratio the World Anti Doping Agency -- who will regulate the Olympic Games this Summer -- allow. This is following a conditional license granted to Overeem by NSAC in December when he failed to show up to a scheduled test, and left the country the day before to attend to alleged family affairs in his home country of the Netherlands. All other Heavyweights tested came back within acceptable levels. Related: Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Dana White Doesn't Want To Talk About Alistair Overeem, Letting Due Process Run Its Course Originally the bout between Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez was said to be still in place, but now according to Dana White via twitter, Frank Mir will replace Alistair Overeem in the UFC Heavyweight Championship title fight. Taking off to Atlanta!!!! May 26 th is now Mir vs JDS for the HW title in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. — Dana White (@danawhite) April 21, 2012 The delay in announcing any changes to the main event billing opened the UFC up to speculation, with many wondering if they would try to continue the Overeem vs Dos Santos fight under the premise Overeem was without a license at the time of the random test, and despite the conditional license granted to him in December stating he would be random tested additionally as part of the conditional license agreement. Although waiting so long to make an announcement isn't exactly ideal, the UFC should be applauded for making the right decision in removing Overeem from the card, and for giving Junior dos Santos an official replacement he can now train for. More than anyone else dos Santos suffered with the delay, not knowing if he was still going into a fight with a man he knew would have an unfair hormonal anabolic steroid advantage, or if he was getting a new opponent but being unable to train specifically for that opponent until the UFC had made a decision. Alistair Overeem's hearing in front of the NSAC is expected to be held next Tuesday, April 24. A replacement opponent for Cain Velasquez has not yet been announced.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, dana, do, test

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It appears that Frank Mir is going to get another shot at championship gold a little sooner than expected, as he will lock horns with reigning champion Junior dos Santos in the UFC 146 main event.

Posted in: ufc, do, heavyweight title, ufc president, championship gold

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Dana White didn't need to wait for Tuesday's NSAC hearing. Late Friday, he announced Frank Mir, not Alistair Overeem, will face Junior dos Santos at UFC 146

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UFC president Dana White announced late Friday night that Frank Mir will face Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146 for the heavyweight title.

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Frank Mir to face Junior Dos Santos for the UFC Heavyweight Belt at UFC 146 Alistair Overeem is out and Frank Mir will get another crack at the belt.

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Many are anxiously awaiting the Frank Mir-Cain Velasquez match set for UFC 146 in May. However, if Alistair Overeem fails to receive his fight license due to a recent drug test and is pulled from the planned main event that night with Junior dos Santos, rumors have Mir taking his place in the title-fight (even if UFC President Dana White has shrugged off the notion thus far). Velasquez, who lost the title to Dos Santos last year, would not stand in Mir’s way if such a scenario unfolds and he is given a crack at the championship. “I definitely think that’s fair,” said Velasquez, in a recent interview with MMAJunkie. “He’s coming off of a three-fight winning streak. Dos Santos beat me fair and square. If I had won the fight, then I’d be in the same position. If they lift him up, then yeah, I’d definitely be fine with that.” The Mir-Velasquez bout is set to name a #1 contender if it remains signed to the card. Mir has said he would fight Dos Santos on short notice if necessary based on the belt’s involvement. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: mir, do, alistair overeem, velasquez, mircain velasquez

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ATLANTA -- There's little more than one month to go until UFC 146, but the show's main event is still in flux. We do know that heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is fighting; what we don't know is who will be standing across from him at the opening horn.If Alistair Overeem can convince the Nevada state athletic commission of a legitimate reason his testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio was high following a recent drug test, he'll keep his spot as the challenger, but if not, it still appears that Frank Mir is the frontrunner to replace. You would think that might not sit well with former champ Cain Velasquez, who lost to Dos Santos by knockout in his last fight, but if it happens, he's perfectly fine with it. "I definitely think that's fair," Velasquez said on Thursday from the site of UFC 145. "He's off a three-fight winning streak, and dos Santos beat me fair and square. I'm definitely mad about mine, but I know with one more fight, I'll be in the same position. If that did come up, then yeah, I'd be fine with that."Velasquez couldn't be blamed if he thought differently. Since the fight, it was confirmed that he was injured in the lead-up to the fight. Like any champion, he'd like the chance to avenge the loss while at full strength, but is willing to get a win and wait his turn to do so.The UFC previously confirmed that the Velasquez-Mir winner would have the opportunity to fight for the championship, but we won't know for at least a few more days whether or not that fight will transpire.As for Velasquez, he is going on the assumption that it will. And if it doesn't, he'll be ready for whatever the UFC throws at him with an end goal in mind."As far as we know right now, it's Frank, so that's what I'm getting ready for," he said. "But if it turned out to be different, it didn't matter who it'd be, as long as it's one more to get in that same position, to fight for the heavyweight title."

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This article is part of a series of articles detailing the striking techniques of UFC Heavyweight Champion, Junior Dos Santos. All of these, and over 70 techniques by 19 other fighters, are broken down in detailed demonstration in Jack Slack's new book Advanced Striking: Tactics of Kickboxing, Boxing and MMA Masters, which is out NOW! Junior Dos Santos and the Right Body Straight When Junior dos Santos knocked Cain Velasquez out in under two minutes with a sloppy overhand at the first UFC event on Fox, it seemed as though the most ridiculous boxing elitists had been proven right. A competent boxer was able to show all the heavyweight "Ultimate Fighters" what for, using few other skills. The success of Dos Santos has not been a flash in the pan, he is the most entertaining heavyweight champion in some time, and far more battle tested than Brock Lesnar or Cain Velasquez. What has not been examined anywhere else, is the cause of Dos Santos' success. Herein we shall dissect the style of Cigano, and not simply proclaim him to be "too fast", "too strong", or "unstoppable". Several key areas of Junior Dos Santos' mixed martial arts game will be examined through this series. The first is his right straight, which he uses both as a lead and counter, to the head and to the body. The second is his use of clubbing hooks. And then we shall turn our attention to his jab, or lack thereof, his approach to the clinch, and the chinks in his formidable armor. One of the key features of Junior Dos Santos' game is his right straight. Due to his carrying his lead hand low (for reasons to be expanded upon later), Junior's jab often lacks authority, serving more as a flicking distraction when setting up a power punch. As his jab lacks the authoritative force of a more orthodox style puncher, such as a BJ Penn, Cigano is forced to use his right hand to throw his power straights. This can be seen to ample extent in all of his fights. Dos Santos uses the right body straight in one of two ways: As an offense to set up his overhand. As a counter punch to set up his left hook. As a Lead Of the 7 significant strikes that Dos Santos scored in his fight with Cain Velasquez, two were powerful right straights to the body, and one was a probing jab to the solar plexus and one was a front kick to the midsection. This simple attacking of Velasquez's left floating rib with Dos Santos' right straight was enough to draw the inexperienced Velasquez's hand out of position. Having crouched and ducked his head twice for a right straight to the body, the third time Dos Santos dropped his weight, he was able to connect a swinging right over the top of Velasquez's lowered defense. It was far from a pefect punch, in fact it was technically hideous - connecting with the thumb and little else, at the end of a fully extended arm - but the set up was world class. Dos Santos does not often use hooks to the body, and is known somewhat as a headhunter, but his right straight to the body is an excellent way to draw opponents out of position. Arguably the hardest hitter in the heavyweight division, it will be hard for any heavyweight to ignore Dos Santos pot shotting their midriff. Furthermore, Dos Santos' head movement toward the opponent's right hand as he throws the right straight baits the opponent in to throwing a punch of his own. Notice in the above picture, of the right straight to the body that Dos Santos throws immediately before the knockout overhand, that Cain is punching to where he feels Dos Santos' head will be. This led to Dos Santos' overhand looping over the extending arm of Velasquez and landing in a "Cross Counter", assuring the knockout. As a Counter Dos Santos has also had great success with the right body straight as a counter, which was particularly visible in his destruction of Muay Thai veteran, Gilbert Yvel. As Yvel jabbed at Cigano, the latter ducked to his left and threw a right straight to Yvel's midsection. This action clearly affected Gilbert as his hands came out of position and he stood bolt upright as he followed his initial 1 - 2 with a left hook. Dos Santos, escaping the first half of the exchange untouched, exploded up out of the crouch that he had taken and decked the Dutchman. While Yvel has never had a strong jawline, he is used to being hit hard by big men and has recovered well in the past, when he hits the ground against Dos Santos Yvel seems as winded by the body blow as he is stunned by the trauma that his cranium has just experienced. His hands keep moving right up until the stoppage but he seems to have trouble rising, which leaves him in the path of perhaps the most savage left hook I have ever seen a fighter deliver from his knees. This difficulty moving while still conscious indicates a degree of winding from the right straight which Junior shocked him with before the big left hook. It should be noted that fighters do not react to body blows as they do in the movies, bending over when hurt. The discipline to stay upright has been pounded into them since day one and this often means that following a winding body shot they will stand straight up, but their hands will sag below their jaw. This is another reason that the left hook to the head works so well when following the right straight to the body. The right body straight as a counter is rare to see in boxing nowadays. It is confined almost entirely to Karate competition, where it's setting up of the left hook is completely useless. When carnival boxer and hilarious braggart, J. C. "Champ" Thomas describes the counter in his book "How to be an Ass-whipping Boxer" as far back as the 1970s, it was still against the grain of what constituted good boxing. This may be to do with the perceived lack of power that the body straight has when compared to a right hook to the body, or do to the fear of dropping one's weight towards the opponent's power hand. Whatever the reason modern boxing has largely forgotten the right straight counter to the body, it sets up the left hook counter beautifully, and Dos Santos certainly gets enough power in it to make his opponents forget where their hands should be against such a very dangerous man. Want to learn the techniques of Junior Dos Santos? These, and the techniques of 20 other elite strikers, are broken down in detailed photography in Jack Slack's new book Advanced Striking: Tactics of Kickboxing, Boxing and MMA Masters, which is out NOW!

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In a recent interview with SiriusXM Fight Club, I was asked how I 'personally' felt about the use of PED’s in MMA, and I pretty much responded that it doesn’t bother me (as a fan) whatsoever. Personally, I just want to see fights happen. It’s up to the commissions to deem those contests “fair” and the promoters to reprimand fighters who violate their organization’s policies. For all the people who took to Twitter and asked if I was serious, and how I could condone cheating. Relax, because Junior dos Santos doesn’t care either. The dude said so in this interview with Globo. Even if Alistair Overeem had the testosterone level of a sex-starved United States Marine Corps military base, he’d fight any human the UFC puts in front of him. "If the fight happens I will fight with pleasure, but I can tell if it is proved that the use of illegal substances is disrespect to the sport and something unfair to me. The ratio of testosterone in his body that there may be increased by 30% his strength and aggressiveness of it, I was told people who know the subject. Will really be unfair fight, but as a fighter will be ready to face anyone. If the athletic commission and the UFC want I'll fight him. I am a fighter and will be there to fight, but it is sure to be disrespect to MMA and how serious is this sport. This will also be unfair, it will be unfair to me. I've never used these devices to gain strength. I think the right would do blood tests on wrestlers as is done in the Olympics, not the urine, since the blood is easier to detect these illegal substances. We want to know who the best really. No use to be the best liar. Being a world champion making false use of a lot of drugs, that's not being champion. I can clearly say that I am the champion without ever having the use of any illegal artifice in order to get there. I favor more rigorous tests to assess whether someone is doped. It has to be a clean sport and these tests should occur more surprises. If Overeem is more aggressive and stronger the more he will resist blows and it will be difficult for me. If I lose will be unfair. He will not have fought better than I have fought doped." In a world where we can’t draw the line between PEDs and tainted horse meat, Junior dos Santos stands alone in a UFC Octagon awaiting an opponent. The dude is totally willing to sign one of those release forms they give you before you go on the nuttiest ride at your local amusement park. [b]He just wants to fight, and you should bow your heads in honor of his rawesomeness.

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UFC heavyweight #1 contender Alistair Overeem sat down for an interview this week on MMA Uncensored Live where “The Reem” discussed his fight strategy for his upcoming bout with Junior dos Santos. Unfortunately, the one topic he refused to address happens to be the area the public is most interested in hearing about. Overeem and Dos Santos are set to collide for the divisional title in the main event of UFC 146 in May. However, Overeem failed a pre-fight drug test and will need to receive clearance to compete from the Nevada State Athletic Commission later this month. “I am bigger, I am stronger, I am better in the stand up and I’m better on the ground,” said Overeem of the bout with Dos Santos. “Nothing scares me about Junior dos Santos. Everything he’s doing, I’ve seen it before. I’m not worried about it, I’ve experienced it all.” While he may not have discussed his licensing status or testosterone use, based on demeanor Overeem seemed very confident he will be cleared of wrongdoing when he meets with the NSAC on April 24 and locked into the title-fight against JDS. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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The biggest problems in our lives are usually the ones we make for ourselves. Alistair Overeem has recently had a rough stretch of time. Within the span of a few months, he nearly missed out on a No. 1 contender match with Brock Lesnar after a drug testing debacle, engaged in a messy lawsuit with his longtime team Golden Glory, faced a possible jail term for a battery charge, and flunked a random drug screening.Luck may or may not be a real thing, but such a confluence of events can't simply be chalked up to coincidence. Despite it all, Overeem is still trudging forward with the belief he will be licensed to fight current champion Junior dos Santos. As far as most MMA observers go, that's the only thing that matters. It's a big deal in the fight world, but only because of the state of suspension it's placed us in. Will he or won't he get to fight? This is crazy. How bizarre is this situation, where everything revolves around Overeem? Let's move out of the Overeem bubble for a second to see how this affects other people. First and foremost, there is Dos Santos, the classy and clean champion who has no idea who he will be fighting on May 26. Then, there are fans interested in buying tickets who aren't quite sure what they'll see when they arrive in Las Vegas. Then, there are the few fighters who may be in line to possibly step in and face Dos Santos. And finally, there is the UFC, who cannot promote one of their biggest events of the year because they are in a holding pattern. Admittedly, at this point, it is a problem of the UFC's choosing. They could pull Overeem out of the fight if they wanted to, after his first test showed a testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio of 14:1. They've done it with both lesser and similar transgressions. Late last year, they removed Nick Diaz from a title match for missing two press conferences. In February 2011, they removed Thiago Silva from a proposed bout with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson after Silva's sample from a January drug test was detected to contain non-human urine. At the time, there were still three months to go until the May fight date, but they didn't bother to wait around for his B-sample result or hearing. So there is precedent. It's just that the UFC has decided to play the waiting game and hope for the most beneficial result.If that sounds like Overeem's getting the superstar treatment, it's because he is. Even if it's to the detriment of anyone else. At least Dos Santos has stood up for himself. On Wednesday, he told Brazilian news site Globo that he wants to know "as soon as possible" who his opponent is. That's only fair. After all, he is the champion. He has done nothing wrong, yet he is in as big a state of flux as anyone else. That hardly seems just.In the balance of what's fair for Overeem, it is Dos Santos who is getting overlooked the most. If his opponent changes from Overeem to Frank Mir, it would be a significant change, and one he won't have much time to prepare for. But it will also affect whoever replaces him. If Mir get the slot, who does Velasquez fight? And the aftershocks go on and on. This case is about Overeem, but his fate affects so many others. While he waits, they wait, too. The only difference is, nobody notices them. Meanwhile, here's what else is going on with Overeem's case.Frank Mir ready for anythingWhile the UFC is still operating under the hope that Overeem will be cleared to fight, they have at least unofficially touched base with Frank Mir's team. Mir's manager Malki Kawa told MMA Fighting that he agrees with the UFC's decision to wait, saying it's the same consideration he'd hope to receive for one of his own fighters. That said, they're preparing for the possibility that Overeem is ruled out. "The only thing we've been told briefly is to be ready for anything because anything can happen," Kawa said. "So we've instructed Frank to continue training for Cain [Velasquez] with the idea that he's probably going to fight Junior dos Santos. They haven't told us he's in line for it. They basically told us they have to wait for the Overeem decision. If he gets denied for his licensure, I'm expecting Frank to get jumped up and get that title shot. But all I've been told is to be prepared for anything."Overeem's lawyered upThe heavyweight has retained a legal heavyweight, Nevada lawyer David Chesnoff to represent him in his upcoming NSAC hearing. Chesnoff has a reputation for getting high-profile cases in Las Vegas. He's represented Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Paris Hilton, Suge Knight, Bruno Mars and Vince Neil, among others. He was also Overeem's lawyer during a March battery sentencing hearing, in which the Dutch star was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and anger management counseling. Overeem is due back in court for that same case on September 26.Growing speculation of TRT defenseOvereem still hasn't made a peep since his test results were made public, but there's a growing belief by some that he will present a case that centers around therapeutic usage of testosterone. The Nevada state athletic commission's TUE procedures require a fighter to apply for an exemption within 20 days of a fight. If Overeem presents a TRT defense, he could say he was not required to inform them of his use at the time of his March 27 test. If employed, it will be a risky strategy, but he may have some wiggle room. In standard pre-fight drug tests, athletes fill out questionnaires that ask them to list any medications they are taking. In a form such as that, he would have been required to list TRT or any other drug he was being prescribed. But NSAC executive director Keith Kizer confirmed to MMA Fighting that during the March test, there were no questionnaires given to the fighters.For now, Overeem will have to wait until April 24, and a decision that will have ripple effects on Dos Santos, Mir and many, many more.

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Fans’ desire to see the UFC ask Jon Jones to face Junior dos Santos in late May has slowed down as of late, as the current UFC light heavyweight champ has a date with Rashad Evans set for later this month and it appears Alistair Overeem may be cleared to face Dos Santos over Memorial Day Weekend for the UFC heavyweight title after all. However, that’s not to say they couldn’t eventually face off. In a recent interview with Prickly Pair Studios, “Bones” was asked about squaring off with Dos Santos inside the Octagon should he get past Evans and was only mildly apprehensive to the idea. “It is something I would totally entertain,” said Jones. “But at the same time, I have so much respect for Junior dos Santos. He’s such a cool dude. He treated me like his brother when we were in Brazil together. If it was somebody else, I would definitely go for it. But it’s Junior.” “I’m not even a heavyweight so to pick a fight with Junior…that doesn’t really make sense to me,” Jones continued, turning his focus back to his current divisional home. “There’s a lot of work to be done in the light heavyweight division.” Jones has stated in the past that he believes a move to heavyweight is in his future, even pushing to make that jump this year before the UFC bosses stepped in and said he still had unfinished business at 205. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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UFC LIght Heavyweight champ Jon Jones has his hands full with a title challenge from former champ Rashad Evans at UFC 145: Jones vs Evans on April 21 in Atlanta, Georgia. Not only does Evans, one of the best in MMA at mixing striking and take downs, present a formidable stylistic challenge for Jones, but the two are heated personal rivals and former teammates as well. Nonetheless, people are going to ask questions and Jon Jones is the kind of young guy who will think out loud while answering them. He recently sat down with New Mexico's Prickly Pear Studios (video after the jump) for an interview and they got him off on some interesting tangents. Most notably they asked him about facing Heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. Dos Santos may or may not be short of an opponent for his scheduled title defense at UFC 146 in Las Vegas given anticipated challenger Alistair Overeem's struggles with high testosterone levels and the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Here's what Jones has to say on the topic (transcribed by MMA Mania): "You know, it's hard to even say because of two factors: First, it would be disrespectful of me to just look past Rashad completely like, 'Oh, this fight's already done.' Rashad is going to be a huge test and I'm excited for this great challenge. And you know, honestly, it is something I would totally entertain. But at the same time, I have so much respect for Junior dos Santos. He's such a cool dude, you know what I mean? He's just such a cool dude. Fighting him is just like... Me and him, he treated me like his brother when we were in Brazil together. We did a lot of fun stuff in Brazil. He's just a cool dude. Challenging him out of nowhere would be hitting him upside the head like, 'Where did Jones come from? Why does Jones want to fight me?' I'm not saying he's scared of me, by any means, I'm sure he's not. If it was somebody else, I would definitely go for it. But it's Junior. I don't know, I'm not even a heavyweight so to pick a fight with Junior doesn't really make sense to me. There's a lot of work to be done in the light heavyweight division." So in typical Jones fashion he first puts his foot in his mouth by saying the fight is something he would "totally entertain" and then spends the next 7 sentences backing out of it. Personally, I'd be all for Jones facing Dos Santos but the layover is too short for him to train for the bout, not to mention that he could very well be injured against Evans and that would leave Dos Santos once again without an opponent. Related Stories Junior Dos Santos Would Still Fight Alistair Overeem, But Feels It Is Unfair | Dana Says Mir Vs. Velasquez 'Will Happen' | Dos Santos Responds To Overeem Results |Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Dos Santos | Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Mir Ready To Step In For Overeem | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem

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If there's been one winner not named Mark Hunt in this whole Ubereem drama, doesn't it have to be Junior dos Santos? The affable, always-smiling, always-agreeable Brazilian has handled the noise like a pro, staying level-headed when it would have been too easy to pout and whine about a blockbuster payday gone wrong. And now dos Santos has magnificently gone on the offensive. Dripping with confidence, Cigano told Globo he would happily fight his testosterone-riddled opponent, even if it would be "disrespectful" to the sport. Even better, he said that Overeem is far from his biggest challenge, as the Dutchman is apparently lacking in both speed and cardio, and his superhuman physique only scares the untrained. Instead, dos Santos bestowed that title to Cain Velasquez -- the man he just demolished in 64 seconds on national television. Needless to say, you come at the king, you best not miss. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Junior dos Santos open to 'unfair' fight versus Alistair Overeem. Speaking to Brazilian news outlet Globo, UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos admitted a fight against Alistair Overeem would be unfair due to his elevated testosterone levels. Nonetheless, the champ would still readily accept the match if the Nevada State Athletic Commission allows it, even if he feels it would be a disgrace to the sport. Can Alistair Overeem still get licensed? Despite the public furor, there is still an outside chance Overeem's positive test results will not preclude him from fighting Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, with the most likely scenario involving the acquisition of a Therapeutic Use Exemption. UFC on FUEL 2 predictions. Luke Thomas analyzed Saturday's match-ups and predicted the the big winners of UFC on FUEL 2. Rolles Gracie in talks to fight Fedor Emelianenko. UFC castoff Rolles Gracie is under serious consideration to be the next opponent of Fedor Emelianenko on June 21, 2012, at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. UFC on FUEL 2 dissections. Preview the first two fights of UFC on FUEL 2's main card with encyclopedic breakdowns of Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page and DaMarques Johnson vs. John Maguire. MEDIA STEW Out here a practical joke means someone's car is getting towed or, at worst, a fight is about to be faked. But in Cro Cop's Croatia? Fake fighting is just the warm-up for someone busting out an AK-47 and trying to shoot up the place. (HT: Middle Easy) Rashad Evans and Jon Jones' dislike for each other is well-documented, but there's still a fascinating, undeniable big brother/little brother dynamic present when both men are in the same room. Moonlighting as a professional MMA fighter is a respectable endeavor, but doing so while you're receiving three years of worker's compensation checks probably isn't the best idea. Especially when you consider how easily accesible proof of your felonies are. (via Yahoo Sports) Ever wonder what the bizarre lovechild of basketball, soccer and MMA would look like? It's called Ultimate Ball, and apparently it's a real thing. (HT: Reddit) FEDOR VS. GRACIE? Where there is smoke there is fire. My manager is under negotiation with M1. We're really close to make this fight against Fedor to happen. — Rolles Gracie (@RollesGracie) April 11, 2012 BAS IS ONBOARD I hear we still might c the JDS/Overeem fight? Haha, awesome. Let me get more info — Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) April 10, 2012 ANY GUESSES? signed my bout agreement. 3 months away. My opponent is a stud. And my opinion, top 2 WW. Kinda hard for my 1st fight at WW. Oh well. — Aaron Simpson (@aaronsimpson) April 11, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Wednesday, April 11, 2012): - UFC 149: George Roop (12-9-1) vs. Antonio Carvalho (13-5) - Super Fight League 3: Bobby Lashley (7-1) vs. James Thompson (17-14) - Super Fight League 3: Trevor Prangley (23-9-1) vs. Baga Agaev (26-11) - Super Fight League 3: Doug Marshall (14-5) vs. Zelg Galesic (10-6) - Super Fight League 3: Lena Ovchynnikova (8-1) vs. Joanne Calderwood (1-0) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is a three-part analysis of UFC 145's headlining rivalry, by Bloody Elbow's heavyfl0w: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans: Breaking It Down Striking Hang on, quick tangent. For all the vitriol directed towards Rashad, do people realize that this is still a guy that has lost only ONCE? Granted, his "strategy" in the Machida fight was pretty reprehensible (as far as I could tell, it was "bounce around on the outside until I jump right into a left cross and am summarily destroyed"), but, moment of weakness aside, his striking strategy and execution has always been pretty sound. He's always been a guy that utilizes his quickness and power, dancing around and leaping in with punches when the time is right. In his last fight, he showed more of a flat footed boxing style. Against Jones, I think we'll see a little bit of both. Rashad has to give Jon different looks, but he's not much of a kicker (epic KO of Sean Salmon aside, of course), so he'll have to give him different looks by way of his footwork and punching combinations. Rashad clearly has more one shot power than Jonny Bones. Unfortunately for Spartan fans, that's where Evans' advantages on the feet end. Bones' striking still has the potential to get him in trouble, as his last fight proved. Lyoto did his "move around and pounce" routine, and it seemed to freeze Bones for spurts in that fight. Still, Bones has everything you'd ever want in his proverbial standup toolbox: youth, athleticism, reach for days, and the willingness to throw almost anything. Spinning back elbows, increasingly impressive knees and punches, and the rarely-talked-about front stomp to the knee. Every time he does that, I think "ooo ... that's gotta hurt." But nobody ever acknowledges it because it's the least spectacular strike he throws. Allow me to be the first. Anyway, Rashad has to be a mobile target or he's just going to get smoked. Don't rule this out, though. This is a more interesting fight on the feet than people think. Edge: Jones Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

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A week ago Junior dos Santos was in the midst of preparing for a the biggest fight of his career when he found out his scheduled opponent, Alistair Overeem, might be facing discipline after testing positive for an extraordinarily high level of testosterone in his system. While Overeem’s status as top contender will be determined on April 24 when he meets with the NSAC, the damage has already been done to his reputation in the eyes of countless fans and, as it turns out, Dos Santos as well. The 27-year old recently opened up on the situation where his waning interest in duking it out with the powerful Dutchman at UFC 146 was evident. “If the athletic commission and the UFC want I’ll fight him. I am a fighter and will be there to fight, but it is sure to be a disrespect to MMA and how serious this sport is. This will also be unfair to me. I’ve never used these devices to gain strength,” explained Dos Santos in an interview with Globo. “We want to know who the best is, really. Not who’s the best liar. Being a world champion (using banned) drugs – that’s not being a champion. I can clearly say that I am the champion without ever having the use of any illegal substances in order to get there.” Dos Santos added his desire to see the implementation of similar screenings like the random one he, Overeem, and four other heavyweights slated for the Memorial Day Weekend event were subjected to. “I favor more rigorous tests to assess whether someone is doped,” said Dos Santos. “It has to be a clean sport and these surprise tests should occur more. If Overeem is more aggressive and stronger, the more he will resist blows and it will be difficult for me. If I lose, it will be unfair. He will not have fought better than I have if he fought doped.” Though it originally appeared Overeem was destined to have his license denied based on the positive hit, more information has since come to light making it seem as though “The Demolition Man” could avoid punishment altogether. As Overeem is not currently licensed, he may not have been eligible to be tested by the commission and could argue they simply caught him spiking after having undergoing a session of testosterone replacement therapy. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

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Frank MIr's manager Malki Kawa explains that his fighter can't get the main event fight against Junior Dos Santos yet, but that doesn't mean he won't...

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos has tried to remain as away from the spotlight as possible in regards to the ongoing Alistair Overeem drug testing fiasco. Dos Santos, who has been told by UFC president Dana White that he will be fighting on May 26 at UFC 146 even if Overeem is not cleared, gave Brazilian news outlet Globo his thoughts in an in-depth interview recently. If the fight happens, I will fight with pleasure. But I can tell if it is proved that the use of illegal substances is disrespect to the sport and something unfair to me. The ratio of testosterone in his body that there may be increased by 30% his strength and aggressiveness of it, I was told people who know the subject. Will really be unfair fight, but as a fighter, will be ready to face anyone. If the athletic commission and the UFC want, I’ll fight him. Dos Santos also talked about those that say Overeem will be his biggest challenge, instead focusing on former champion Cain Velasquez as that person. I find it curious (Overeem) won three belts without ever having been caught doping in right right and ends up being caught in the UFC. It would be a good challenge for me, but my biggest challenge I went for the title against Cain. He is the most outstanding and would be a great challenge for me. Rumors of Frank Mir or Cain Velasquez replacing Overeem have circulated since the failed drug test. White, however, said those two would remain locked up in a No. 1 contender match the same night as dos Santos-Overeem. Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos hasn't had much to say regarding scheduled opponent Alistair Overeem's pre-fight drug test failure so far. He has stated that he's drug-free and doesn't really know what's going on, but that's about it - until now. He spoke to Globo about the whole situation in a much more detailed manner, and he had a lot say this time. The article is in Portuguese and the only translation offered so far (via the UG) is pretty much straight out of Google Translate, so take this with a grain of salt until there is more clarification. But here's what he had to say about the possibility of still fighting Overeem at UFC 146: "If the fight happens I will fight with pleasure, but I can tell if it is proved that the use of illegal substances is disrespect to the sport and something unfair to me. The ratio of testosterone in his body that there may be increased by 30% his strength and aggressiveness of it, I was told people who know the subject. Will really be unfair fight, but as a fighter will be ready to face anyone. He stated before that he doesn't know what the Nevada State Athletic Commission will do, but he insinuates that if Overeem is indeed licensed, it's a slap in the face to the sport and unfair to him as a fighter. He also re-affirms that he is clean and that the testing needs to be improved: If the athletic commission and the UFC want I'll fight him. I am a fighter and will be there to fight, but it is sure to be disrespect to MMA and how serious is this sport. This will also be unfair, it will be unfair to me. I've never used these devices to gain strength. I think the right would do blood tests on wrestlers as is done in the Olympics, not the urine, since the blood is easier to detect these illegal substances. We want to know who the best really. No use to be the best liar. Being a world champion making false use of a lot of drugs, that's not being champion. I can clearly say that I am the champion without ever having the use of any illegal artifice in order to get there. I favor more rigorous tests to assess whether someone is doped. It has to be a clean sport and these tests should occur more surprises. If Overeem is more aggressive and stronger the more he will resist blows and it will be difficult for me. If I lose will be unfair. He will not have fought better than I have fought doped." Related Stories Dan Henderson Would Fight Dos Santos If Offered Bout | Dana White Says Frank Mir Vs. Cain Velasquez 'Will Happen' | Junior Dos Santos Responds To Overeem Results |Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Junior Dos Santos | Alistair Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Mir Ready To Step In For Overeem | Overeem's Win Over Lesnar Should Be Overturned, But It Won't Be | Drug Issues Taint Strikeforce Legacy | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test |Who Will Face Dos Santos? | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference SBN coverage of UFC 146 He then takes a final few shots at Overeem, while stating that Cain Velasquez would be a tougher challenger either way: "I find it curious he won three belts without ever having been caught doping in right away and ends up being caught in the UFC. It would be a good challenge for me, but my biggest challenge I went for the title against Cain. He is the most outstanding and would be a great challenge for me. The Overeem would be a good challenge, but it would be my biggest challenge. He fails the fitness and speed. He frightens the uninitiated, but who knows what being a fighter knows he would not be my most difficult opponent. We always say that the next challenge will be more difficult to prepare even more, but do not think Overeem would be my biggest challenge." Again, this isn't an official translation and shouldn't be taken as gospel. Still though, I think it's great that JDS is voicing his opinion on the issue and asking for stronger testing. And I completely agree that if Overeem does indeed get licensed for a UFC 146 bout, it's a blow to the credibility of the sport. That might sound dramatic, and I know there are plenty of fans out there that just want to see the two men scrap and everything else is secondary. But in the bigger picture, it really is meaningful.

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Other than professing his own aversion to using banned substances, UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos has remained relatively quiet in the wake of last week’s news surrounding #1 contender Alistair Overeem’s failed drug test. However, with talk heating up that Overeem may be allowed to fight “Cigano” at UFC 146 due to a technicality, the heavy-handed Brazilian has since spoken up and isn’t thrilled about the notion of taking on someone in his adversary’s position. “If the athletic commission and the UFC want I’ll fight him. I am a fighter and will be there to fight, but it is sure to be a disrespect to MMA and how serious this sport is,” said Dos Santos in an interview with Globo. “This will also be unfair to me. I’ve never used these devices to gain strength.” Overeem Facing NSAC on April 24 “We want to know who the best is, really. Not who’s the best liar. Being a world champion making false use of a lot of drugs – that’s not being a champion. I can clearly say that I am the champion without ever having the use of any illegal substances in order to get there,” he continued. “If Overeem is more aggressive and stronger, the more he will resist blows and it will be difficult for me. If I lose, it will be unfair. He will not have fought better than I have if he fought doped.” Many feel Overeem may be able to avoid any discipline pertaining to having shown more than twice the allowable testosterone in his system based on the fact he wasn’t actually licensed by the NSAC when screened. As such, his team is expected to argue he is undergoing TRT treatment (testosterone replacement therapy) and was simply spiking after a recent session as opposed to exceeding the mandated level in the days leading up to the actual bout. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Former UFC light- and featherweight title challenger and Ultimate Fighter season 1 veteran Kenny Florian comes out tonight with a powerful condemnation of the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) on UFC Tonight in the video above. Florian's statement follows: "As a clean fighter this really pisses me off. This sport is about honor, technique and discipline. When did it become about who has the better PEDs or who can pass the tests better. PEDs allow you to train longer, harder and recover faster. They absolutely give you an advantage. This isn't baseball where you're hitting balls. This is fighting and you're hitting another person in the face. As a fighter how do you feel good knowing that you won using them. The fans should be mad too. How many fights are we going to miss out on due to failed pre and post fight testing? Don't do it dummies. Random testing needs to be the remedy. This is going to be one of the only ways we'll crack down on cheaters in the long term." Florian didn't name names but Alistair Overeem's recent failure of a pre-fight drug test in Nevada is the obvious point of reference here. Related Stories Dan Henderson Would Fight Dos Santos If Offered Bout | Dana White Says Frank Mir Vs. Cain Velasquez 'Will Happen' | Junior Dos Santos Responds To Overeem Results |Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Junior Dos Santos | Alistair Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Mir Ready To Step In For Overeem | Overeem's Win Over Lesnar Should Be Overturned, But It Won't Be | Drug Issues Taint Strikeforce Legacy | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test |Who Will Face Dos Santos? | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference

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Two years ago Mark Hunt wasn’t even supposed to be in the UFC. Today he’s on the cusp of receiving a title-shot. The strange journey of Hunt began when Zuffa acquired PRIDE where the 38-year old had made a name for himself with a slew of entertaining bouts against the likes of Mirko Filipovic, Wanderlei Silva, and Fedor Emelianenko. Though the company was willing to buy out his contract, letting him walk with salary, the proud New Zealander preferred to honor the deal and made his Octagon debut instead. Though he lost the match-up, he won his next outing with a brutal knockout to set up the three-fight run he’s currently on that was capped off in February with a beautiful finish of Cheick Kongo. With Alistair Overeem likely out of a May 26 title-fight with Junior dos Santos due to a failed drug test, Hunt has now become the unlikely candidate of an underground movement to see him fill the probable vacancy. The push was given even more steam when UFC President Dana White removed Frank Mir from the equation by stating he’d face Cain Velasquez as expected, thus leaving Hunt in a very enviable spot. “I think people like to see an underdog in there,” said Hunt on The MMA Show when asked about the online movement to see him get a crack at Dos Santos’ belt. “I wasn’t even wanted in the UFC, put it that way. And here we are talking about me having a title shot. Two years ago you’d have laughed at the thought. I think people like to see a good Rocky story.” If by some strange stroke of fortune Hunt is given an opportunity to face Dos Santos he’s also confident he can pull off the upset, paying homage the fans who would have potentially helped him get the shot. “I match-up good against anyone, so of course I feel like I match-up good against him,” explained Hunt of the Brazilian champion. “The people that think I don’t have a chance against anybody on this planet, they are certainly mistaken. But it’s good to be underestimated. I like to be the underdog. I don’t have a chance. That’s great, it gives me more drive, more fire.” Hunt is currently scheduled to face Stefan Struve at UFC 146 where Dos Santos-Overeem is still set as the headliner until Overeem’s status is resolved with the NSAC on April 24. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Assuming Alistair Overeem doesn't get his license to fight at UFC 146, what's next for champ Junior dos Santos? HeavyMMA's Duane Finley looks at the candidates.

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UFC announcer Joe Rogan has expressed a measure of support for fan efforts to get UFC Heavyweight Mark Hunt a title shot against Junior dos Santos should Alistair Overeem be unable to get licensed for the May 26th bout. Rogan posted on the UG: There are some wise people on this board, and I support this movement. Style wise that might be the most exciting match up. Either way, even if Hunt doesn't replace the reem I would still love to see this matchup down the road, especially considering how good Hunt looked against Kongo. Has anyone started a twitter bomb campaign for this? Related Stories NSAC Sets Overeem Hearing For April 24 | Dan Henderson Would Fight Dos Santos If Offered Bout | Dana White Says Frank Mir Vs. Cain Velasquez 'Will Happen' | Dos Santos Responds To Overeem Results |Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Dos Santos | Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Overeem's Win Over Lesnar Should Be Overturned, But It Won't Be | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference What do you think? Are you supporting Hunt? Hoping Overeem can somehow still convince the NSAC to license him? Rooting for Fedor? Calling for Frank Mir? SBN coverage of UFC 146

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may be in the midst of an event drought, but that doesn't mean big things haven't been happening in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). Indeed, the story of this past week has been Alistair Overeem and his failed drug test at a UFC 146 pre-fight press conference. Let's get caught up on it by starting from the beginning. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) decided to pop in on all those in attendance at this presser for a random screening. Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Roy Nelson and Antonio Silva all tested clean. But not "The Reem." His worst fears, along with UFC President Dana White's, were confirmed when NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer sent out an e-mail alerting media members to the fact that Overeem's T/E ratio was greater than 10:1. To get an idea of how warped that is, normal male's have a T/E ratio of 1:1 while Nevada allows for its fighters to be as high as 6:1. It was eventually learned that Overeem's T/E ratio was a whopping 14:1. Still lower than Chael Sonnen for anyone keeping score at home. This led a pissed off Dana White to ponder "Demolition Man's" future with the world's largest fight promotion. White was upset because he felt he had been lied to when he initially signed the Dutchman to a contract. Obviously, all parties were aware of the perception Overeem has battled throughout his career -- that he's on steroids -- and White and company wanted reassurances. Once they were given, pen was put to paper. So when alerted to Overeem's drug test failure, White wasn't exactly a happy camper. That's partially because he was lied to and partially because it threw into question the main event of his promotion's annual Memorial Day weekend event. UFC 146 was supposed to feature Junior dos Santos' first title defense on May 26 in Las Vegas. Obviously, it looks as though that might not be happening. We won't know for sure until Overeem has his hearing in front of the NSAC, which is scheduled for April 24. And while Frank Mir was quick to throw his name out as the right man to replace "The Reem," White quickly declared that Mir vs. Velasquez will go on as planned. In the same breath, he also said a decision won't be made until Overeem's fate becomes clear. And that will be just one month away from showtime. A few names have cropped up as potential replacements, none of which seem to make a lot of sense. Fedor Emelianenko was tossed out there by MMAmania.com Commander-in-Chief Thomas Myers. Fans began a Twitter rally for Mark Hunt to be awarded the position. Others asked Dan Henderson if he would be willing to move up, to which he responded yes, creating yet another interesting name for the discussion. Ultimately, no decision will be made until April 24. And that's when a new crop of stories will pop up and Overeem will dominate headlines once again. Until then, keep your appetite satisfied with plenty of links after the jump. Alistair Overeem tests positive for elevated testosterone levels, UFC 146 title fight with Junior dos Santos in trouble UFC President Dana White "beyond pissed" Alistair Overeem failed drug test Frank Mir excited to fight Junior dos Santos if Alistair Overeem is denied license for UFC 146 Junior dos Santos vs. Fedor Emelianenko is the UFC 146 main event to make Alistair Overeem doesn't respond to Nevada State Athletic Commission following failed drug test Alistair Overeem's T/E ratio comes back a whopping 14:1 following failed drug test Alistair Overeem fails drug test and some people (like myself) don't really care Junior dos Santos is drug free and he's still training to fight Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 Junior dos Santos called Alistair Overeem's testosterone use one year ago Dan Henderson would take fight with Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 if offered Dana White says Frank Mir vs. Cain Velasquez fight at UFC 146 "will happen" Alistair Overeem's hearing in front of NSAC set for April 24, UFC 146 main event decision comes after Joe Rogan throws his support behind the rally for Mark Hunt to get a title shot against Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 Alistair Overeem officially files for his fight license in Nevada For everything else you could possibility need to know about this situation, as well as "The Reem," be sure to hit up our complete fighter archive right here.

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UFC Heavyweight Alistair Overeem has officially filed for his license to fight in Nevada on May 26 at UFC 146 with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) according to Jeremy Botter. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer also expects that Overeem will be present at the April 24th hearing regarding his failure of a March drug test administered by surprise after a UFC press conference in Las Vegas. Kizer also said that Overeem has not requested that the 'B' sample he provided after the press conference be tested. It is standard procedure for any samples to be separated into 'A' and 'B' lots so that the test may be challenged for accuracy by a different laboratory. Overeem was set to fight heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 but that has now been thrown into doubt. Overeem was given a provisional license to fight Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 but that license expired on January 31, 2011. Related Stories NSAC Sets Overeem Hearing For April 24 | Dan Henderson Would Fight Dos Santos If Offered Bout | Dana White Says Frank Mir Vs. Cain Velasquez 'Will Happen' | Dos Santos Responds To Overeem Results | Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Dos Santos | Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Overeem's Win Over Lesnar Should Be Overturned, But It Won't Be | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference HT MMA Mania SBN coverage of UFC 146

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Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer has told the MMA Show that UFC Heavyweight #1 contender Alistair Overeem will get a hearing on April 24th and that no decision on whether or not to license the Dutch fighter for UFC 146 will be made until then. Overeem failed a surprise drug test following a press conference in Las Vegas to promote his scheduled championship bout against Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 set for May 26 in Vegas. UFC President Dana White told Wrestling Observer that no decision regarding a replacement bout will be made prior to Overeem's hearing. White assured fans that there will be a title fight on the UFC 146 card. Related Stories Dan Henderson Would Fight Dos Santos If Offered Bout | Dana White Says Frank Mir Vs. Cain Velasquez 'Will Happen' | Junior Dos Santos Responds To Overeem Results |Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Junior Dos Santos | Alistair Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Mir Ready To Step In For Overeem | Overeem's Win Over Lesnar Should Be Overturned, But It Won't Be | Drug Issues Taint Strikeforce Legacy | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test |Who Will Face Dos Santos? | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference Fans have been clamoring for Mark Hunt or Fedor Emelianenko to face dos Santos and even Dan Henderson has offered to step up in weight for the title shot. HT MMA Mania. SBN coverage of UFC 146

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With the results of former Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem's surprise drug test, Ultimate Fighting Championship matchmakers are now searching for a replacement to face current heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146.

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Despite recent speculation, Frank Mir will not replace Alistair Overeem and step in to fight Junior dos Santos at UFC 146.

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Alistair Overeem is very likely out of his UFC 146 main event against heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, which means the speculation is running rampant on the Internet: Who will take his place? Overeem registered an off-the-charts level of testosterone in a surprise drug test...

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The cloud of mystery surrounding the main event at UFC 146 grew in intensity today when UFC President Dana White went on Twitter to update fans on the card’s status. While the outspoken executive didn’t address the headliner between Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos specifically, he did bring up the man who many have pegged as a replacement for Overeem if the disgraced Dutchman fails to obtain a license based on his recent drug testing results. “Mir vs. Cain will happen,” wrote White on the social networking outlet, implying Frank Mir is still set to face Cain Velasquez on May 26 rather than being considered for a title-fight against Dos Santos. White has also said Dos Santos is still defending his belt at the event, leaving many fans to scratch their heads in an attempt to figure out the UFC’s post-Overeem plan. Last week Overeem was found to have more than twice the level of testosterone in his system allowed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He has not spoken publicly on the matter yet though will need to do so in the near future if hoping to save face and maintain his role as the heavyweight division’s top contender. In order to receive a license Overeem will need to meet with the NSAC and have his “B” sample cleared, the latter being extremely rare when requested in similar situations. With Mir and Velasquez seemingly out of the picture, if Overeem is yanked from the bout with Dos Santos, other possibilities are extremely limited and have even included a fan-driven attempt to put Mark Hunt in the mix. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/TRIUMPH UNITED

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UFC president Dana White says Junior dos Santos will still defend his heavyweight belt at UFC 146 even if it isn't against Alistair Overeem.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is likely to get a new opponent for his planned May 26 title defense at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, and he’s finally talking about it. His original opposition, Alistair Overeem, failed a surprise drug test following last week’s UFC 146 kickoff press conference. Overeem, along with dos Santos and the four other fighters taking part in the promotional junket, were surprised immediately after by Nevada State Athletic Commission officials demanding a urine sample for screening.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is likely to get a new opponent for his planned May 26 title defense at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, and he’s finally talking about it.

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If you’re like me, you were really looking forward to the Overeem vs. Dos Santos fight at UFC 146. Heck, a part of me still wants to see Overeem fight Dos Santos, so hopefully he was smart and got one of thoseprescription thingies before he rode the needle. If you’re looking for that “really expensive champagne room with no handjob” experience, NickTheFace (whose trailers are some of the best out there in any sport) has you covered with an awesome Overeem vs. Dos Santos trailer.The knockout highlights... the musical smoothness of a canned “synthesizer and synthesized piano” track... the jump ropes... it all convinces me further that I really want to see this fight. Even the quotes from the fighters are compelling, even if they turn into parodies of themselves: Overeem is “excited to be fighting for the title,” and Dos Santos thinks that “If you are a good person, things happen.”Unfortunately, if you are an asshole, things happen too. And make no mistake about it, Overeem REALLY looks like an asshole in retrospect for the whole drug testing issue before the Lesnar fight. Amazingly few people were suspicious at the time about why Overeem took a month to render a sample when he was supposed to do it within a day. Overeem couldn’t be bothered, they all said; you have to go through his management, he fled the country to be with his sick mother, and he can’t speak English anyway. Now that we know the truth, we are forced to cope with the fact that he was using his mother’s cancer as a prop to avoid being drug tested. Stay classy, Al!I was so convinced that Overeem was clean that this has upset my entire worldview. Now I see little choice but to give up on hard work and dedication in favor of drugs and more drugs. That seems to be the only way to get ahead these days. Maybe if I start doing lots of meth, I’ll stop sleeping and therefore earn more money...

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UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will defend his title at UFC 146 according to a report from the Associated Press. Dos Santos, who took the belt from Cain Velasquez last November at UFC on Fox, had been scheduled to face Alistair Overeem. That fight was apparently scotched when Overeem failed a 'surprise' drug test after a press conference in Las Vegas. No official action has been taken, but as Overeem wasn't licensed in Nevada it seems exceedingly unlikely that the Nevada State Athletic Commission will extend that privilege to him now that he's tested over the limit for Testosterone. Related Stories Junior Dos Santos Responds To Overeem Results | Fans Clamoring For Fedor Or Mark Hunt Vs. Junior Dos Santos | Alistair Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Mir Ready To Step In For Overeem | Overeem's Win Over Lesnar Should Be Overturned, But It Won't Be | Drug Issues Taint Strikeforce Legacy | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test |Who Will Face Dos Santos? | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference Fans are clamoring for the UFC to bring in former Pride champion Fedor Emelianenko or to give Mark Hunt a chance to play 'Rocky' but it seems most likely that Frank Mir will get the title shot. Mir is riding a three-fight win streak, including a dramatic come-from-behind win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140. More SBN coverage of UFC 146

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Ultimate Fighting Championship are yet to release any official statement about the future of UFC 146 main event clash between Junior dos Santos, while fans are already speculating about possible replacements. #RallyForMarkHunt campaign is currently exploding on Twitter, but it appears that Frank Mir will be the one who gets the fight with dos Santos, if Alistair Overeem gets pulled out of the card. Nevertheless, Junior dos Santos spoke on Twitter about Alistair Overeem's failed drug test, declaring that

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UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos isn’t about to be the forgotten man in the ever-evolving Alistair Overeem situation. Dos Santos, who is still expecting to face Overeem at UFC 146 on May 26 until told otherwise, apparently remains as in the dark as an average fan regarding whether or not Overeem will step inside the Octagon in Las Vegas. After Overeem’s pre-fight drug test came back positive for an extremely elevated level of testosterone, speculation has run rampant on what might happen to the planned heavyweight title match. “Cigano” revealed his thoughts on the entire situation by way of his Twitter account Thursday. “I am professional and I’m champion without ever having used anything for better performance when you guys see me fighting that’s really me,” Dos Santos wrote. “About what happened to Overeem, I don’t know anything more than you guys know and for me it’s between him and the Nevada Athletic Commission. I know a lot about me that’s it!” Dos Santos has yet to defend his the title he won in November as knee surgery has kept him on the sidelines since earning the crown with a victory over Cain Velasquez. Currently, most signs point to Frank Mir – who is set to meet Velasquez in a #1 contender match – as the likely choice to replace Overeem and face Dos Santos if Overeem is yanked from the lineup due to a lack of license. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/K1

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It’s been an interesting period of time in the UFC as of late. Following Alistair Overeem’s positive drug test, many have pondered just who UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will meet at UFC 146 – or if he will even compete on the card. For the most part, dos Santos has let everything take care of itself. However, “Cigano” finally posted a statement via his Twitter account in regards to the Overeem situation. I am professional and I’m champion without ever having used anything for better performance when you guys see me fighting that’s really me. About what happened to Overeem I don’t know anything more than you guys know and for me it’s between him and the Nevada Athletic Commission. I know a lot about me that’s it! Dos Santos and Overeem were set to headline the May 26 card from Las Vegas. It is possible that “The Reem” still receives his fight license if he provides a clean sample and is issued the license by the NSAC. However, we don’t even know if the UFC will want Overeem fighting for the title after all of this. UPDATE: In a release by the Associated Press, UFC president Dana White confirmed that dos Santos will still be fighting on the May card. White, however, did not go into detail about who “Cigano” would be defending his title against. Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

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Ever since yesterday's announcement that #1 Heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem had failed a pre-fight drug test and likely won't be facing champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146, speculation as to possible substitutes for Overeem has been rampant. Frank Mir, the #4 ranked heavy on the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings, seems the most likely substitute as he's riding a 3 fight win-streak and has never lost to JDS. He was also already training to fight on the UFC 146 card against former champ Cain Velasquez. Fabricio Werdum, ranked #4 is another possibility although a distant one. Werdum lost to JDS back in 2008 at UFC 90. Related Stories Alistair Overeem's T/E Ratio 14:1 | Is A Million Dollar Program The Solution For The UFC's PED Problem? | Mir Ready To Step In For Overeem | Overeem's Win Over Lesnar Should Be Overturned, But It Won't Be | Drug Issues Taint Strikeforce Legacy | Dana Responds To Overeem's Failed Drug Test | Who Will Face Dos Santos? | Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone Levels | UFC 146 Fighters Tested By NSAC After Press Conference But the fans seem even more excited about two less-likely possibilities: Mark Hunt and Fedor Emelianenko. Thomas Myers makes the case for "The Last Emperor" at MMA Mania: (Dana) needs to switch gears on the fly -- a familiar, albeit refined talent at this point -- and again book a match up that will "blow the fucking minds" of fight fans and help them forget that Overeem was even his first choice to co-headline such a significant event. Frank Mir, the most logical option, isn't going to do that. Josh Barnett is stuck in Strikeforce, and even if he was available, his steroids skeletons are too spooky under the extenuating circumstances. Dan Henderson -- who is sitting around just waiting for meaningful fights -- would be a mistake on so many levels. Enter the wily wildcard: Fedor Emelianenko. ... Sure, Emelianenko doesn't deserve the opportunity based on his most recent body of work. Knocking out Satoshi Ishii and decisioning Jeff Monson are not major accomplishments for a man of his esteemed caliber. Nonetheless, his legendary body of work, as well as his personal history with the UFC and White, prove otherwise. The case for Mark Hunt is after the jump. More SBN coverage of UFC 146 The Bloody Elbow community is leading the charge to give Mark Hunt, a most unlikely title contender given his 8-7 career record, the title shot. Mountaineers101 makes the case: In my humble opinion, this is the most exciting option for the UFC heavyweight strap. Frank Mir doesn't have a prayer against dos Santos and is usually a contender with a win or two over so-so competition after losing a bout. Cain Velasquez just lost to dos Santos and needs another win or two to prove himself. So really, who else does that leave us? Mark Hunt! If you are against it, that is understandable. Frank Mir can be the more logical choice. But to suggest that Mark Hunt doesn't have a shot against dos Santos and that his three-fight winning streak has been replicated by many in the shallow pool that is the UFC's heavyweight division is laughable. Regardless, if you can't do it for the love of Mark Hunt, do it for the social media experiment that it is. This has been an interesting trip that has even landed us on Yahoo. That is really something special and shows that we have made a dent in the proverbial armor of social media. Hopefully Dana is a man of his word and pays attention to the going ons of Twitter and MMA internet communities. Mike Chiapetta set the odds for each of the possible challengers for JDS at UFC 146: The Likely Pick: Frank MirOdds: 2:1 The Darkhorse: Fabricio WerdumOdds: 4-1 Unlikely: Cain VelasquezOdds: 8-1 The Longshots Mark HuntOdds: 50-1 Josh Barnett or Daniel CormierOdds: 100-1 Fedor EmelianenkoOdds: 100,000-1 Poll Who is your first pick to fight dos Santos for the heavyweight title at UFC 146? Frank Mir Cain Velasquez Fabricio Werdum Josh Barnett Daniel Cormier Fedor Emelianenko Mark Hunt   131 votes | Results

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Junior dos Santos has kept quiet in regards to word that his opponent for the UFC heavyweight title, Alistair Overeem, has failed a pre-fight drug test for elevated levels of testosterone. Dos Santos and Overeem were set to meet in the main event of May’s UFC 146 card from Las Vegas, but if Overeem is unable to provide a positive test sample, he’ll likely not get licensed to fight on the card. In a statement posted on Twitter, dos Santos’ management team wrote, “The UFC has made no announcement regarding (dos Santos’) fight. We have no comment, this matter falls solely to (Nevada) Commission & UFC.” Rumors of a possible replacement for Overeem have been floating around since news of the test was released on Wednesday. Frank Mir is a likely candidate, as he has a planned No. 1 contender bout with Cain Velasquez set for the same night. Dos Santos won the title from Velasquez, so there is always a chance he is given a rematch, as well.

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While there is a slim chance that Alistair Overeem’s B-Test could exonerate the Dutchman, the UFC will likely be searching for a new number-one contender fairly soon. The UFC heavyweight division is currently in flux with no clear number one contender after Overeem’s failed test. While the division is no where near as messy as the Tim Sylvia era, the fact remains there is no clearly defined number one contender. So who should replace Overeem against Junior Dos Santos? The possible candidates: Cain Velasquez - Former champion Cain Velasquez suffered his first career loss at the hands of the champion back in November at UFC on Fox 1. While Velasquez was coming off a shoulder surgery, and apparently suffering from an injured knee as well, Velasquez lost to Dos Santos in quick and devastating fashion after a ton of hype. The fighter was also sharply criticized by UFC President Dana White following the quick loss on the company’s Fox debut. Frank Mir - Another former champion, Mir has won his last three fights. While two out of the three fights were mostly the uglier side of what heavyweight division can be, even the Mirko Cro Cop KO could not make up for the majority of that fight, his last fight against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was one of the biggest submission victories in MMA history. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva – Had Silva not been knocked out in devastating fashion by Daniel Cormier, “Bigfoot” would have been the most obvious choice to replace Overeem. After that KO it is a little harder to justify putting the big man in the title fight. Fabricio Werdum – Werdum may be set to fight Mike Russow in Brazil this summer, but you can bet that Werdum would be willing to part with that fight for a shot at the title. It also helps that Werdum’s first UFC run was ended by a then-unknown Junior Dos Santos, so it stands to reason that Werdum would love another shot at Dos Santos. Werdum is also coming off a dominating performance over Roy Nelson. Mark Hunt - I do not care that Hunt’s three-fight win-streak has not been over the strongest competition, or that Hunt just got over the .500 mark in his career. I would just enjoy seeing a K-1 champion step in with a MMA boxer who loves to keep it standing. This one is just out of pure PRIDE and K-1 nostalgia. It is a longer than long shot for the “Super Samoan” but I would love to see him face Dos Santos. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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After Alistair Overeem's random pre-fight screening was flagged by the Nevada Athletic Commission for too much testosterone , the search for Overeem's possible replacement at UFC 146 began. With a title on the line in the main event of the all-heavyweight main card, the UFC wouldn't want to scrap the bout. Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir has already noted his desire to step in against Junior dos Santos, but fans are pushing for an unlikely replacement: Mark Hunt. In a rundown of possible replacements, MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta pointed out that Hunt nearly guarantees an exciting fight. There are a couple things working in Hunt's favor here For one, he's already on the UFC 146 card. Of course, that doesn't distinguish him from Mir or Velasquez. But you know what does? His style. Hunt basically ensures that the fight will be a slugfest between the big boys, and that's never a bad thing when it comes to fan satisfaction. On the other hand, he's not nearly well known enough to headline a major event, and his 8-7 career record isn't exactly going to send people scrambling to plunk down $55 on pay-per-view. At least you can play up the "Rocky" angle with him. Hunt, who has fought in Pride, K-1 and Dream before heading to the UFC, then became the subject of a fans' campaign on Twitter. Using the hashtag #RallyforMarkHunt , his fans and friends flooded Twitter to ask UFC executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta to put Hunt into the bout with dos Santos. Though Hunt does have seven losses, he has won his last three in the UFC. While Mir is more deserving based on records alone, the White has been known to listen to the fans. If Mir's fans want to see him get another shot at the heavyweight title, they should speak up. Who do you want to see fight dos Santos at UFC 146? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter .

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The momentum behind the highly anticipated title-bout between UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos and devastating Dutchman Alistair Overeem ran smack dab into a brick wall this afternoon when the NSAC revealed “The Demolition Man” had shown an elevated level of testosterone in his blood stream and would not be licensed as things currently stand. He will need to appear before the commission and have a “B” sample cleared before being permitted to compete, a decision likely indicating his dance with Dos Santos is officially done for. Overeem was subjected to random drug testing at a recent press conference promoting UFC 146 where he is/was scheduled to scrap with Dos Santos. All other fighters who submitted samples were cleared. However, while Overeem’s status is up in the air, at least one heavyweight contender is willing to step in to face “Cigano” on short notice – Frank Mir. Mir is already booked to battle on the May 26 card and viewed as the closest thing to a #1 challenger after Overeem. “I would be excited if given the opportunity to compete for the UFC’s heavyweight title at UFC 146,” said Mir in a press release from his management team. “I have been fortunate to be able to fight in the UFC for more than a decade, and it is a dream of mine to become the first three-time heavyweight champion in the UFC. Being able to fight Junior Dos Santos would put me one step closer to that dream.” The UFC has yet to comment on the matter. PHOTO CREDIT – K-1/STRIKEFORCE

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Uh-oh. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) surprised the six heavyweight competitors set to throw down at UFC 146 at a press conference recently with drug tests. And Alistair Overeem, who is scheduled to square off against Junior dos Santos for the heavyweight championship, tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone. NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer sent out the results in an e-mail to MMAmania.com: The following athletes were tested on March 27: Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez, Roy Nelson and Antonio Silva. All test results were negative, except Mr. Overeem tested positive for an increased T/E ratio (> 10). Mr. Overeem will need to appear before the Commission if he seeks licensure. More on this breaking news shortly.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos catches up with TMZ and explains his love of Katy Perry and Adele, and how their songs are helping him learn English.

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After beginning his mixed martial arts (MMA) career undefeated (9-0), including winning the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight title against Brock Lesnar at UFC 121: "Lesnar vs. Velasquez" on Oct. 23, 2010, Cain Velasquez suffered his first defeat in a little more than one minute of the opening round in his first title defense against Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." The Brazilian bomber blasted Velasquez with a powerful right hand that sent him crashing to the canvas and followed up with a few more good shots to finish the job, ending his undefeated streak and taking his recently won title in the process. Now, the former NCAA Division 1 All-American wrestler looks to get back inside the Octagon to start a new streak and prove that regardless of his recent setback, he is still one of the top and most well-rounded heavyweights in the sport today. His first challenge will be against another former UFC Heavyweight Champion, as he takes on Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Frank Mir, at UFC 146 in the promotion's first-ever all Heavyweight main card on Memorial Day weekend (May 26, 2012) for the right to face the winner of that night's main event, Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem. Appearing on the "The MMA Hour" today (April 2, 2012), Velasquez talks about what he could have done different against "Cigano," the recent problems inside his gym, American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), and who think will win the title fight between "The Reem" and "Cigano." Check it out: "I could have attacked more, but I stayed in the punching range and it's not the smartest thing to do against Junior. I could have used more wrestling and attacked and I didn't do any of these things. But, it is something that I have learned from moving forward." One of his former training partners, Josh Koscheck, parted ways with AKA, citing personal differences with head trainer Javier Mendez. Velasquez says that regardless of the beef going on between the two, that it is their business and he has no plans on getting in the middle of it and remains friends with both parties: "I have not read what he said or anything. I've heard from other people. I don't listen to anything people say online or anything. My job is just to train and fight, that is all I stick to. The tension is between he and Javier. If they have the time to sort to they need to. My relationship with Javier and "Kos" is not going to change, he is still a friend of mine. Javier is my top coach and that is just the way it is. I do not get involved in other people's business. We are a close group of guys it sucks to have a close friend leave, but we have to move on with our lives and we have done that." Serving as co-main event at UFC 146 to the much anticipated Heavyweight title fight between Overeem and Dos Santos, Velasquez makes no secret as to who he thinks will win and who he is rooting for: "It's going to be a tough one. I think in the clinch and in the distance, obviously the kicking range, Overeem will have a better shot. But, in the punching range, dos Santos can win the fight whenever.I hope Dos Santos wins so I can have a rematch. I think he will win, he is an athletic guy, his boxing is really good" Indeed, a rematch between he and dos Santos would be intriguing to say the least, given the fact that their first encounter wasn't much of a fight, lasting all of 64 seconds. Before the two can have a second go at it, many things have to fall into place. Dos Santos has to defeat one of his, if not the most toughest test to date, as he steps into the Octagon against a fighter who may have a slight advantage in the striking department. That's an advantage that not to many heavyweights can stake claim to, but Overeem's K-1 pedigree gives him that edge. On the flip side, Velasquez has to get passed a fighter who always seems to be lurking at the top of the division, taking on submission wizard Frank Mir, though Mir isn't a stranger to standing-and banging when the time calls for it. What's your take Maniacs, can Cain get past the wily veteran on his way to another chance to reclaim his UFC title? Or will Mir prove that he is still one of the top big boys in the UFC and hand Velasquez his second consecutive loss en route to his own road to gold? Opinions, please.

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Though Cain Velasquez has his own fight to worry about at UFC 146, he has no trouble admitting that he’ll be keeping a close eye on the main event bout that pits challenger Alistair Overeem against current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. As Velasquez told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, this is one fight where he’ll be openly rooting for the man who took his belt with a first-round knockout back in November."I’m hoping dos Santos wins, because I definitely would love a rematch with him," Velasquez said, adding, "I think he will. He’s an athletic guy. His boxing is really good." Velasquez found out how effective dos Santos’ boxing was when he caught a right hand behind the ear in the first minute of their title fight at the first UFC on FOX event. Though the fight was over quickly, he still thinks he "could have attacked more," or at least done a better job of staying out of the Brazilian’s punching range."You learn from it," he said. "You take it to your next fight, and you don’t do it again."As for how he thinks dos Santos matches up with the former Strikeforce heavyweight champ, Velasquez admitted it’s a tough match-up for both men."I think in the clinch and in the distance -- obviously the kicking range -- Overeem will have a better shot. But in the punching range, dos Santos can win the fight whenever."According to Velasquez, there’s plenty at stake in his fight, too. UFC officials have told him that the winner of his main card bout against Frank Mir will get a crack at the UFC heavyweight title, he said. That means all he has to do is get through a fellow former champ -- one who’s on a three-fight winning streak in the UFC, no less -- and hope that dos Santos retains his title in order to set up the rematch he’s been hoping for.But as he prepares for this fight, things haven’t exactly been harmonious back home in the American Kickboxing Academy. Though Velasquez is doing his best to stay out of it, the departure of former AKA welterweight Josh Koscheck made headlines recently, especially when he criticized AKA head trainer Javier Mendez on his way out the door, saying: "If you had real coaching, you would have seen a lot more champions out of that gym. I think that now, in my career, we're going to see big improvements really quick."Velasquez said he’s done his best to avoid reading or hearing about the beef between Koscheck and Mendez, though he does hope the two can patch things up at some point."The tension is between [Koscheck] and Javier. If they have the time to sort it out, they need to. But my relationship with Javier isn’t going to change, and my relationship with Koscheck isn’t going to change. He’s still a friend of mine. ...He’s a friend of mine, and Javier’s obviously my top coach. That’s just the way it is. I don’t get involved in other people’s business."The AKA team had a reason to pull together recently, when light heavyweight Mo Lawal was battling a serious staph infection following knee surgery in January. Lawal recounted how touched he was by the outpouring of support from his teammates, which Velasquez said is indicative of the kind of fighters AKA attracts."Generally, everybody in the gym is a good person, regardless of what kind of exterior they show in the media and everything else. You sit down, you talk with these guys, you train with these guys, they’re all good people."

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UFC 146, which has been formally announced for May 26 in Las Vegas, will be something like the Final Four of the UFC's heavyweight division: A rare opportunity to see the four best fighters in one weight class paired off against each other in the Octagon on the same night. Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem in the UFC 146 main event will determine the UFC heavyweight title, and Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir in the co-main event is a 3 vs. 4 matchup that will likely determine the next contender for the heavyweight belt. So the top four heavyweights in the sport will sort themselves out soon. Find out how I rank the rest of the heavyweight division below. Top 10 Heavyweights in Mixed Martial Arts 1. Junior Dos Santos: The heavy hands of Dos Santos are enough to make him the favorite to retain his title when he takes on Overeem, although if there's anyone who can test Dos Santos's chin, Overeem is the man who can do it. 2. Alistair Overeem: Trading punches with Dos Santos wouldn't be a wise idea for Overeem, but Overeem will have a size and strength advantage over Dos Santos, and the best way for Overeem to beat Dos Santos is to use that strength advantage to grab hold of Dos Santos and control him in the clinch. 3. Cain Velasquez: It's hard to believe Velasquez hasn't won a fight since defeating Brock Lesnar a year and a half ago. I think he'll get back on track against Mir, however, and I believe Velasquez will be fighting for the UFC belt again by the end of the year. 4. Frank Mir: Now on a three-fight winning streak with victories over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson and Mirko Cro Cop, Mir will earn a title shot if he beats Velasquez. 5. Fabricio Werdum: Werdum returned to the UFC with a victory over Roy Nelson, and he'll be a heavy favorite to make it two in a row over Mike Russow, who's a fine fighter but not in Werdum's class. 6. Daniel Cormier: The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is finally coming to a close when Cormier takes on Josh Barnett in May. Cormier can make a major statement that he deserves to be considered one of the elite heavyweights in all of MMA. 7. Josh Barnett: For Barnett, the Cormier fight is one last chance to gain back some of the respect he lost when multiple failed drug tests nearly derailed his career. Barnett can fight, and if he wins against Cormier he'll have a lot of big fights ahead of him, in Strikeforce and the UFC. 8. Antonio Silva: Silva is coming off a loss to Cormier, but he's got a big heavyweight fight of his own at UFC 146, when he takes on Roy Nelson in his UFC debut. 9. Shane Carwin: Carwin has fallen far since the knockout of Mir that improved his record to 12-0: That fight was two years ago, and all he's done since then is lose to Brock Lesnar, lose to Junior Dos Santos and undergo back surgery. If he can come back at something close to full strength he can be one of the best in the world again, but that's a big "if." 10. Fedor Emelianenko: The best heavyweight ever is a long way from his prime, but back-to-back wins over Jeff Monson and Satoshi Ishii, and the general lack of depth in the heavyweight division, are enough to get him back into the bottom of the Top 10.

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When looking at UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos ‘ record inside the Octagon, it’s a pretty impressive list of victories. The Brazilian started out on day one facing countryman Fabricio Werdum, who was at the time a top ten heavyweight and considered an extremely tough test for any fighter, much less someone making his UFC debut. Dos Santos knocked him out in the first round. From there Dos Santos went on to wreak havoc in the UFC’s biggest division picking up wins over Stefan Struve, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Gilbert...

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Junior dos Santos is as comfortable belting out the latest Katy Perry tune as he is facing the best heavyweight fighters in the world.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos was a massive underdog in his UFC debut against Fabricio Werdum. But his life changed with one giant right uppercut. Check out the video of Cigano's...

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In his first fight in the UFC, Junior Dos Santos entered the Octagon as a huge underdog as he was set to face veteran heavyweight Fabricio Werdum.

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How will Junior dos Santos perform in the clinch? That's one of the many burning questions UFC President Dana White is asking about his reigning heavyweight champion, who defends his 265-pound strap against Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 on May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Sin City" is where "Cigano" will collide with the DREAM, K-1 and Strikeforce World Champion, who punched his ticket to a UFC title fight by tearing through Brock Lesnar like a tissue at a snot party. "Demolition Man" is a world-class kickboxer known for his powerful knees and merciless clinch. The only problem is, he must first get close enough to the Brazilian to apply the plum -- and not get KTFO in the process. If he manages to wrangle Dos Santos, how will his opponent cope? White asks that question (and a few more) at MMA Weekly, after the jump. "For me, the question is how is Dos Santos going to deal with the kicks and the knees and the elbows? Since he’s been in the UFC, I’ve never seen him have to deal with that. It’s stuff that he’s going to have to deal with from Alistair Overeem. He’s fought a pretty one-dimensional fight, he’s fought very Chuck Liddell-like in that he’s great at defending the takedown, he drops bombs, he throws heavy punches, but he’s never dealt with anybody who’s going to throw kicks and knees and work in the clinch the way that Alistair Overeem does. I’m real curious to see how Junior Dos Santos is planning on dealing with that." In his heyday, Liddell was ruling the 205-pound roost by knocking fools stiff with his overhand right. Most strikers (not named Quinton Jackson) couldn't go punch-for-punch and most wrestlers (not named Randy Couture) couldn't take him down. That gave "The Iceman" the ability to implement his gameplan and work at his pace. So too, has Dos Santos been able to set the tempo in recent fights. The hardest puncher (Shane Carwin) couldn't drop him and the best wrestler (Cain Velasquez) failed on two takedown attempts. That leaves the clinch. Anyone think "The Reem" is the man to get it done? Get a closer look at their upcoming title fight right here.

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That uppercut is a work of art. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gives fans a sneak peek of its 'Breakthrough" special on May 14, 2012, to help promote the UFC 146 pay-per-view (PPV) event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. That's where reigning heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will put his title on the line against feared Dutch striker Alistair Overeem. But how did it all begin for "Cigano?" Ask Fabricio Werdum, who had the unfortunate task of welcoming his fellow Brazilian into the ZUFFA family at UFC 90 way back in October 2008. Following the first-round knockout victory, Dos Santos was asked by reporters, "What did Werdum say to you when he entered the cage?" The soft-spoken rookie replied, "He said, 'I'm gonna smash you.' The follow-up question, was, naturally, "How did you respond?" He replied, "We'll see." For more news and notes on Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 click here.

Posted in: ufc, do, werdum, fabricio werdum, championship ufc

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Dana White says Junior Dos Santos' fights thus far in the Octagon are very 'Chuck Liddell like' but is that a good thing as he gets ready to face Alistair Overeem?

Posted in: do, chuck, chuck liddell, ’ dana, ’ fights

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The bout order for UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem is set. The UFC confirmed that UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will be making his first title defence against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the main event, then went ahead and added four more huge heavyweight bouts as well to the main card, making it the first all-heavyweight main card in UFC history. When a card is so stacked that a bout like Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham is relegated to the preliminary card, you know the card is awesome. Here's a rundown of how things look right now for the May 26th card in Vegas: May 26th, live on PPV from Las Vegas, NV: Main Card: Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Alistair Overeem (36-11, 1 NC) [HW Title] Cain Velasquez (9-1) vs. Frank Mir (16-5) Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3) Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) vs. Shane del Rosario (11-0) Mark Hunt (8-7) vs. Stefan Struve (23-5) SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2) Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Evan Dunham (13-2) Jason Miller (24-8, 1 NC) vs. C.B. Dollaway (11-4) Jacob Volkmann (14-2) vs. Paul Sass (12-0) Duane Ludwig (21-12) vs. Dan Hardy (23-10, 1 NC) Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1 NC) vs. Glover Teixeira (17-2) Mike Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)

Posted in: ufc, bout, vs, do, card

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submitted by swampskater [link] [2 comments]

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When Cain Velasquez defeated Brock Lesnar and became the UFC heavyweight champion, many felt like he could reign atop the division for several years. Instead, Velasquez was forced to sit out for several months due to shoulder problems and when he did return, Junior dos Santos knocked him out in the first round and claimed the title. Now, Velasquez will make his return to the Octagon this May at UFC 146 against a fellow former champion in Frank Mir. The bout has been designated as a No. 1 contender match, as dos Santos defends his title against Alistair Overeem on the same card. During a press conference to promote UFC 146 Tuesday, Velasquez discussed why he feels fully-capable of returning from the loss to dos Santos. I mean, I love what I do. It’s just like wrestling, if you have a loss, it’s not the end of the world. You have to come back stronger. You can’t really dwell on that kind of stuff. Velasquez feels like he was slow in reacting to dos Santos, but does not plan on doing the same thing vs. Mir. This should be an exciting fight, as Mir will look for the submission, while Velasquez will try to implement his strong wrestling base. Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, mir, do, velasquez, return

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Newly-crowned UFC Heavyweight champion Junior "Cigano" dos Santos spoke about his first title defense, against Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dos Santos also shared thoughts about his teammate, Anderson "The Spider" Silva, who will rematchChael Sonnen this summer in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Submit your picks for upcoming MMA

Posted in: do, title defense, cigano dos, teammate anderson, rematchchael sonnen

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is preparing for the first defense of his belt when he faces Alistair Overeem at UFC 146, and believes someone is going to sleep.

Posted in: ufc, do, alistair overeem, somebody, “ somebody

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While Cain Velasquez was obviously not happy losing his belt to Junior dos Santos, the former UFC heavyweight champ sees a new opportunity at UFC 146.

Posted in: ufc, loss, do, velasquez, stride

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Las Vegas, Nevada – The BIGGEST collection of heavyweight title contenders will be on display this Memorial Day weekend as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® presents UFC® 146: DOS SANTOS vs. OVEREEM from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 26.In the night’s main event, newly-crowned UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos defends his title against menacing finisher Alistair Overeem, while in the co-main event, former heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez and

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, do, las vegas

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submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [comment]

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If Junior dos Santos has anything to say about it, his name will be atop the UFC’s heavyweight division for years to come. Dos Santos is currently set to defend his UFC heavyweight title for the first time at UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem later this year against Alistair Overeem. In a recent interview (thanks to FightLine.com for transcribing), dos Santos assures everybody that his goal is to remain champion after the Overeem bout, and for more to come. My dream was to become the champion. The minute (UFC president) Dana (White) strapped that belt around my waist, my dream got bigger. I’m not here to be a one- or two-defense champion. I’m here to stay. On May 26, there’s going to be a heavyweight striking war and someone is getting knocked out. Dos Santos claimed the title with a knockout victory over Cain Velasquez late in 2011. He has been sidelined since due to surgery on his knee suffered in training for the fight. As could be expected, the UFC did not give dos Santos an easy opponent in his first title defense, as the heavyweight division is jam-packed with contenders. In “The Reem,” dos Santos will be facing a multi-talented individual. “Cigano” will have to show that he was able to remain in fight-shape against Overeem, or it could be a quick reign as UFC champion for him. Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, champion, do

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Like most fighters who have achieved a similar level of greatness, 14-1 UFC champion Junior dos Santos isn’t out to prove he’s second best. After a storied run through the division the heavy-handed Brazilian has established himself as the sport’s top heavyweight with one possible exception – Alistair Overeem. Fortunately for “Cigano”, Overeem also happens to be his next opponent, giving Dos Santos a unique opportunity to separate himself from the pack to enter territory currently reserved for the likes of Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre. Dos Santos understands how important beating Overeem would be for his career. However, that doesn’t mean he’ll approach him any differently than he would any other opponent including a willingness to exchange despite the Dutchman’s powerful, polished stand-up. “I think it’s the ultimate test for my striking,” said Dos Santos in an interview with Sherdog. “He was a K-1 champion, which is the greatest striking event in the world. He’s a very strong guy, good, but I trust in myself a lot and I try for the knockout in all of my fights. Regardless of him being a striker or not, I’m going for the knockout.” JDS has notched ten of his fourteen total wins by way of TKO. Comparably, Overeem has fifteen in 36 victories though owns nineteen submission stoppages as well. “Jiu-jitsu can be Plan B,” continued Dos Santos of his stylistic approach to Overeem. “I’m an MMA fighter, training in everything. I’m well prepared to fight, whether standing or on the ground, and if I find it necessary to take it to the ground, it will happen.” The 27-year old concluded the conversation on his May 26 clash explaining he was feeling healthy and going at it 100% in the gym, indicating he has recovered from minor knee surgery. Dos Santos-Overeem will serve as the main event at UFC 146 with the remainder of the PPV card featuring an all-heavyweight lineup with Frank Mir-Cain Velasquez, Antonio Silva-Roy Nelson, Stefan Struve-Mark Hunt, and Gabriel Gonzaga-Shane Del Rosario. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: overeem, i ’m, do, knockout, ’m

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Las Vegas, Nevada – The BIGGEST collection of heavyweight title contenders will be on display this Memorial Day weekend as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® presents UFC® 146: DOS SANTOS vs. OVEREEM from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 26.In the night’s main event, newly-crowned UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos defends his title against menacing finisher Alistair Overeem, while in the co-main event, former heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir collide to determine the division’s number one contender.Three other gigantic heavyweight fights round out the main card, including: Roy “Big Country” Nelson vs. Antonio “Big Foot” Silva; Gabriel Gonzaga vs. the unbeaten Shane Del Rosario; Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve vs. Mark “The Super Samoan” Hunt. In total, the main card of UFC 146 includes over 2,000 pounds of the best heavyweights in the world.A press conference is planned for Tuesday, March 27 at 11 a.m. PT from the MGM Hotel Lobby in Las Vegas. The event is FREE and open to the public. Dos Santos, Overeem, Velasquez, Mir, Nelson and Silva will join UFC President Dana White at the presser.“Our Memorial Day weekend events in Las Vegas are always big, but Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem is one of the most exciting heavyweight fights ever!” UFC President Dana White said. “The all-heavyweight main card features five guys ranked in the top 10. This is the most heavyweights on a UFC card in history. You don’t want to miss this!”Tickets for UFC® 146: DOS SANTOS vs. OVEREEM, presented by BUD LIGHT®, go on sale Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $800, $600, $400, $250, $125 and $75. Tickets are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are subject to convenience and service fees.UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, March 28 at noon PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. Non-members may join at checkout at Ticketmaster. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, March 29, starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC in the "Join Newsletter" field at the top of this page. Official UFC VIP packages are also available at http://vip.ufc.com. These packages include tickets to UFC 146, official event merchandise, as well as special VIP experiences with backstage tours and meet and greets with top UFC stars. Get closer to the action than ever before with this unique UFC VIP opportunity.UFC® 146: DOS SANTOS vs. OVEREEM will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.While the UFC 146 main card is loaded with roughly one ton of knockout artists and submission aces, no fight has drawn as much attention as the title tilt between the champion, dos Santos, and challenger, Overeem. Fresh off knocking out Velasquez in November to capture the title, the 28-year-old “Cigano” would love nothing more than to end the reign of terror sparked by “The Reem.” Simply put, dos Santos isn’t envisioning his run as champion being short-lived.“My dream was to become the champion,” dos Santos said. “The minute Dana strapped that belt around my waist, my dream got bigger.  I'm not here to be a one or two-defense champion; I'm here to stay. On May 26, there's going to be a heavyweight striking war and someone is getting knocked out.”A devastating striker who has held world titles in organizations such as STRIKEFORCE® and DREAM, the 31-year-old Overeem (36-11) has not lost a fight in nearly five years. Owner of wins over the likes of Brock Lesnar, Fabricio Werdum, Mark Hunt and Vitor Belfort, the kickboxing star believes he has the champion’s style dissected and diffused.“The most important objective in my life right now is to not only become the UFC heavyweight champion, but to go on and reign as champion for years,” Overeem said. “I want to be remembered as the greatest heavyweight in the history of the sport.“Dos Santos is a very good boxer,” he continued. “I think he is the best boxer in the division and he poses some very interesting problems. But I already know how I will beat him. I will become the new UFC heavyweight champion of the world at UFC 146.” 

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, champion, do

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Another slick fan-made trailer for the Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem bout at UFC 146 on May 26th

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submitted by iknowdell [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: overeem, vs, do, immortal, immortals trailer

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UFC 146 has quickly gone from a card with good potential to one of the most stacked cards of the year. The UFC confirmed that UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will be making his first title defence against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the main event, then went ahead and added four more huge heavyweight bouts as well to the main card, making it the first all-heavyweight main card in UFC history. When a card is so stacked that a bout like Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham is relegated to the preliminary card, you know the card is awesome. Here's a rundown of how things look right now for the May 26th card in Vegas: May 26th, live on PPV from Las Vegas, NV: Main Card: Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Alistair Overeem (36-11, 1 NC) [HW Title] Cain Velasquez (9-1) vs. Frank Mir (16-5) Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3) Mark Hunt (8-7) vs. Stefan Struve (23-5) Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) vs. Shane del Rosario (11-0) SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Evan Dunham (13-2) Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2) Duane Ludwig (21-12) vs. Dan Hardy (23-10, 1 NC) Jacob Volkmann (14-2) vs. Paul Sass (12-0) Jason Miller (24-8, 1 NC) vs. C.B. Dollaway (11-4) Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1 NC) vs. Glover Teixeira (17-2) Mike Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)

Posted in: ufc, vs, do, card, nc

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submitted by dp517 [link] [comment]

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The UFC will roll out a three-part UFC Primetime special in preparation for the upcoming heavyweight championship match between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem. Dos Santos-Overeem will be the main event of UFC 146 on May 26 from Las Vegas. The first episode of Primetime will air May 11 with following segments on May 18 and May 25. Replays are scheduled for Fuel TV. “Cigano” will be making his first title-defense after earning the championship from Cain Velasquez last year. Dos Santos (14-1) was forced to undergo knee surgery following ligament damage suffered in training for the Velasquez fight but has since recovered fully. The affable Brazilian was also featured in a similar light for his bout with Velasquez, highlighting his humility and hard-work throughout. Meanwhile, Overeem (36-11) made his UFC debut a successful one, knocking out ex-champion Brock Lesnar to secure the position of #1 contender. “The Reem” has worn gold in Strikeforce, K-1, and DREAM before and has won 34 of his total fights by way of a stoppage. UFC 146 will also feature a bout to determine the next challenger to the title with Frank Mir and Velasquez fighting over the matter. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, do, velasquez, primetime

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Crazy expensive training camps are starting to become a more common occurance in today's MMA landscape. Rampage Jackson blew my mind when he said he spent around 1 million dollars on his training camp with Rashad Evans. And now here's Junior Dos Santos revealing he payed $100,000 to prepare for Cain Velasquez: Before entering the UFC, for example, the fighter pay their coaches (Luiz Carlos Dorea and Yuri Carlton) with a percentage of his purse. Currently, in addition to new staff as a trainer and a nutritionist, Gypsy bears the costs of "exchange" of other athletes and teachers, which totaled $100 thousand in his last appearance in the Octagon."I brought people out to help in technical and physical preparation. I have to pay used to make food for the guys, stay well, give car. It is expensive, very expensive. I have my sponsors that give strength forever, but MMA does not yet give the 'big money' all that most people think."In an interview with Folha de São Paulo, Santa Catarina said that the figure quoted was used to provide infrastructure to coaches, trainers and sparring partners invited, as is the case of Ramon Lemos (BJJ), Josh Janousek (wrestling) and Billy Sheibe (muay Thai).The cost was worth it, since Dos Santos took little over a minute to knock Velasquez out at UFC on Fox, held in November of last year, earning him a financial return of approximately $ 1 million (adding values ​​of sponsorships, purse and win bonus). Maybe ... just maybe ... the UFC isn't paying you too little, you're paying way too much for training. I don't care how world class the help you're getting is, $100k is a pretty damn high amount of money to be spending on a 3 month training camp. Giving your managers 100k because you were payed a million bucks and they get 10% is one thing. But if I'm Junior Dos Santos and I get a 100k bill for my training, I'm gonna be saying "Puta que pariu esta merda!" Here's hoping this article is talking Brazilian Reals instead of US dollars, that would put the cost down to a still high but not quite so insane $55,000 dollars.

Posted in: ufc, do, training, camp, sponsorships purse

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UFC 146 has quickly gone from a card with good potential to one of the most stacked cards of the year. The UFC confirmed that UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will be making his first title defence against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the main event, then went ahead and added two more huge heavyweight bouts as well. Former champion Cain Velasquez will face another former champion Frank Mir in a title eliminator bout, and Roy Nelson will face Antonio Silva in his UFC debut. Throw in a bunch of other fights with a lot of potential, and you've got yourself a can't-miss fight card on May 26th in Las Vegas. Here's the current card (the bout order hasn't been determined yet): May 26th, live on PPV from Las Vegas, NV: Main Card: Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Alistair Overeem (36-11, 1 NC) [HW Title] Cain Velasquez (9-1) vs. Frank Mir (16-5) Roy Nelson (16-7) vs. Antonio Silva (16-3) Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Evan Dunham (13-2) Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2) SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem Duane Ludwig (21-12) vs. Dan Hardy (23-10, 1 NC) Jacob Volkmann (14-2) vs. Paul Sass (12-0) Jason Miller (24-8, 1 NC) vs. C.B. Dollaway (11-4) Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) vs. Shane del Rosario (11-0) Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1 NC) vs. Glover Teixeira (17-2)

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Former champions Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez have signed to fight at UFC 146 on a card suddenly filled with heavyweight fights. The show is set to take place May 26 from Las Vegas, Nevada’s MGM Grand Garden Arena. The main event will feature current heavyweight title-holder Junior dos Santos defending his title against Alistair Overeem. The Mir-Velasquez bout will determine the next in line to challenge the winner of Dos Santos’ dance with Overeem. Mir (16-5) has defeated Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Roy Nelson, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in his last three bouts to secure his position in the division. Comparably, Vleasquez will be looking to bounce back from his first career loss coming when dos Santos claimed the title from last year via first round knockout. Also set for the Memorial Day Weekend card, Roy Nelson will welcome former Strikeforce heavyweight Antonio Silva to the Octagon, giving the heavyweights an even stronger presence at the event. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: mir, heavyweight, do, heavyweight fights, career loss

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One of the most-anticipated heavyweight tilts in recent history now has an official date and location after the UFC announced yesterday that champion Junior dos Santos would put his gold up for grabs against decorated striker Alistair Overeem in the main event of the company’s upcoming Memorial Day Weekend event. Both men are on impressive winning streaks and considered to be among the division’s true finishers with a minimal amount of decisions to their credit. Specifically, the fight will take place on May 26 at UFC 146 where other confirmed clashes include Gabriel Gonzaga-Shane Del Rosario, Jason Miller-CB Dollaway, and Duane Ludwig-Dan Hardy. The 14-1 Dos Santos won his strap this past November by taking out previously unbeaten former champ Cain Velasquez in headlining action at the UFC’s debut on FOX. Prior to the pairing “Cigano” had won eight straight including victories over Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson, and Shane Carwin. Dos Santos Predicts Winner of Overeem Fight Will Be the First Man to Land a Punch While Overeem has only taken his talents into the Octagon a single time – a strike-based stoppage of Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 – he has one of the most impressive resumes in MMA with a number of notable instances of success as well as title-wins in K-1, DREAM, and Strikeforce. The hulking Dutchman holds an overall record of 36-11 with 34 of his wins involving some form of finish. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, overeem, do, time –, mostanticipated heavyweight

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A lightweight bout between Kamal Shalorus and Rafael Dos Anjos has been booked for the UFC's May 15 return to Virginia on Fuel TV.

Posted in: ufc, do, anjo, shaloru, kamal shalorus

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For a while, someone was keeping a twitter account for the UFC Octagon but after a short period of activity they stopped. Presumably because there’s only so many different ways to say “oooh I say, a lot of blood tonight” or “my, I’m straining under the weight of these big chaps”. Thinking about it, tweeting as @UFCOctagon in posh English accent would be pretty cool. Nonsensical maybe, but unique at the very least. If you’re going to create a parody twitter account for an object, you might as well create a character to go along with it. @UrijahFaberschin is the perfect example of a lost opportunity for character development. You can imagine Faber’s chin tweeting in colloqial Californian, constantly making bitter references to being overshadowed and not mentioned in media reports about Faber, despite the prominence it claims on his face, dude. That’s a character I can believe in. If the Octagon twitter account had been developed properly as a character, the lead up to Junior Dos Santos vs Alistair Overeem could have been hilarious. For example, starting a countdown calendar until two of the best heavyweights collide would have been possible, now that the date has officially been set. On the 26th of May at UFC 146, Junior dos Santos will make his first defence of the UFC heavyweight title he took from Cain Velasquez against the man who retired Brock Lesnar and current #1 Frate Trane Alistair Overeem. If Ubereem wins, he will have held the Strikeforce, DREAM, K-1 and UFC heavyweight belts. If JDS wins, who is there left for him to fight that he hasn’t already beat via MMA-math? I’d like to ask the Octagon how much damage it imagine it will take during the course of an event which features both JDS vs Ubereem and the promotional debut of Glover Teixeira but now we’ll never know what it would say in its faux-English phonetic tweet.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, do, twitter, character

Read the full article at Middle Easy

For a while, someone was keeping a twitter account for the UFC Octagon but after a short period of activity they stopped. Presumably because there’s only so many different ways to say “oooh I say, a lot of blood tonight” or “my, I’m straining under the weight of these big chaps”. Thinking about it, tweeting as @UFCOctagon in posh English accent would be pretty cool. Nonsensical maybe, but unique at the very least. If you’re going to create a parody twitter account for an object, you might as well create a character to go along with it. @UrijahFaberschin is the perfect example of a lost opportunity for character development. You can imagine Faber’s chin tweeting in colloqial Californian, constantly making bitter references to being overshadowed and not mentioned in media reports about Faber, despite the prominence it claims on his face, dude. That’s a character I can believe in. If the Octagon twitter account had been developed properly as a character, the lead up to Junior Dos Santos vs Alistair Overeem could have been hilarious. For example, starting a countdown calendar until two of the best heavyweights collide would have been possible, now that the date has officially been set. On the 26th of May at UFC 146, Junior dos Santos will make his first defence of the UFC heavyweight title he took from Cain Velasquez against the man who retired Brock Lesnar and current #1 Frate Trane Alistair Overeem. If Ubereem wins, he will have held the Strikeforce, DREAM, K-1 and UFC heavyweight belts. If JDS wins, who is there left for him to fight that he hasn’t already beat via MMA-math? I’d like to ask the Octagon how much damage it imagine it will take during the course of an event which features both JDS vs Ubereem and the promotional debut of Glover Teixeira but now we’ll never know what it would say in its faux-English phonetic tweet.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, do, twitter, character

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It had been rumored for a while, but you never know for sure until you hear the official announcement. Today, we heard the official UFC 146 announcement. And the main event will see UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos facing off with Alistair Overeem on May 26th. Here's the relevant part of the release: The biggest heavyweight fight of 2012 will land at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 26th, as UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos defends his title for the first time in the main event of UFC 146 against former Strikeforce and K-1 champion Alistair Overeem. Ticket information will be announced soon. Dos Santos claimed the title by knocking out Cain Velasquez in just 69 seconds at the first UFC on Fox event last November. Overeem is coming a first-round TKO win over former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in December, and is riding a twelve-fight unbeaten streak. The bout had been expected for this card since UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta mentioned it in a late-night twitter Q&A last month. Here is the current card for the event: Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair OvereemEdson Barboza vs. Evan DunhamDan Hardy vs. Duane LudwigDiego Brandao vs. Darren ElkinsC.B. Dollaway vs. Jason MillerShane Del Rosario vs. Gabriel GonzagaKyle Kingsbury vs. Glover TeixeiraPaul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Overeem

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, vs, do

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The first title-defense for UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos has been confirmed by the UFC as “Cigano” will face #1 contender Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 146 as had been rumored. Dos Santos (14-1) is a perfect 8-0 in his UFC career including a first round knockout of Cain Velasquez for the title last year. Dos Santos has been on the sideline recovering from knee surgery stemming from an injury he sustained while training for Velasquez. He also holds wins inside the Octagon against Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum. Comparably, Overeem (36-11) secured his shot at the championship by knocking out Brock Lesnar in late December. “The Reem” has already won heavyweight titles in Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1. UFC 146 takes place on May 26 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Several other bouts have been slated for the card including Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway and Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, title, do, heavyweight titles, strikeforce dream

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An expected UFC heavyweight title pairing between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem is now official, as the Las Vegas-based promotion announced Tuesday that the bout will take place at UFC 146.

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After months of speculation, Junior dos Santos' first title defense has finally been made official. The UFC's newest heavyweight champion will meet former Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1 beltholder Alistair Overeem at the main event of UFC 146, slated for May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC officials confirmed the booking on Tuesday. Tickets for are expected to go on sale later this month. The heavyweight title fight joins a card already highlighting the return of several known UFC commodities, including Edson Barboza, Dan Hardy, Diego Brandao, and Jason "Mayhem" Miller. Dos Santos (14-1) last appeared in the main event of November's UFC on FOX debut, where he soundly defeated Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds to earn "Knockout of the Night" honors and the UFC heavyweight strap. His victory marked the culmination of a stunning nine fight win streak, eight of which took place under the UFC umbrella and six of which ended in the first round. Throughout that time the 27-year-old dos Santos defeated a who's who of the heavyweight division, including Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, Roy Nelson, and Shane Carwin. Likewise, Overeem (36-11, 1 NC) carries his own 12-fight unbeaten streak into the headlining tilt after collecting championships in nearly every other major MMA promotion, often in violent fashion. Before joining the UFC ranks, the 31-year-old Dutch striker ripped through an impressive run in which he finished eight of nine fights within four minutes against the likes of Mark Hunt, Gary Goodridge, Brett Rogers, and Todd Duffee. After dropping out of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix due to lingering injuries, Overeem made his long-awaited UFC debut against Brock Lesnar last December, needing just two-and-a-half minutes to floor the former champion with a devastating liver kick.

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It's been rumored for a month, but on Tuesday it became official. Junior dos Santos will defend the heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem on May 26 at UFC 146 in Las Vegas.

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The big boys are coming to Las Vegas. UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will make the first defense of his title on May 26 against Alistair Overeem at UFC 146

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Mixed martial arts careers always have their highs and lows but Rafael Dos Anjos's has veered from one to the other more dramatically than most. He has experienced both ends of the UFC spectrum, from working his way towards a lightweight title shot to facing up to the reality that he was almost certainly only one loss away from being cut. He found his way into the UFC on the back of a nine fight win streak but lost his first two fights, despite a fight of the night performance against Tyson Griffin. A third consecutive loss would almost certainly have seen him cast into the wilderness but when it mattered most Dos Anjos came up with the goods, defeating Rob Emerson by unanimous decision at UFC 103. This proved to be the start of a three fight win streak, culminating in a submission of the night effort against Terry Etim. When Dos Anjos faced Clay Guida at UFC 117 a win would have cemented his status as a serious title contender but instead he was forced to tap due to pressure applied to a broken jaw in the third round of a fight which he appeared to be winning. It was a massive setback for Dos Anjos, not only did it break his winning streak but the jaw injury kept him out of action for an entire year. While the UFC lightweight landscape was being altered radically by the absorption of the WEC fighters the Brazilian found himself on the shelf. When he finally returned from injury to face George Sotiropoulos he had a point to prove and he certainly did it in style, becoming the first fighter to ever stop the Australian. Dos Anjos is a BJJ black belt but his stand up had improved beyond all recognition during his time recuperating, something he attributed to the time he spend working with the legendary Muay Thai trainers at Evolve MMA in Singapore. Despite this he chose to prepare for his next fight exclusively in Brazil and dropped a disappointing split decision loss to Gleison Tibau. With a UFC record of 4-4 he once again finds himself staring into the abyss but believes that his next fight, against Kamal Shalorus, should get him back on track, "He is a very good wrestler but I think I'm a better fight than him, I have more weapons to win this fight. Coming off a loss definitely puts me under more pressure but that's ok, I am used to it!" Dos Anjos believes that he did enough to win the first and third rounds in his fight with Tibau but only one of the judges agreed with him. He says he will be changing certain things after that defeat, which came at the hands of a much bigger fighter, but his weight class won't be one of them. "Dropping to featherweight would be impossible, no way. I cut a lot weight to fight at 155lbs, and I feel very well in that class. I will be going back to Evolve MMA in Singapore to train, I never lost a fight when I do my camp there, UFN 20 against Kyle Bradley, UFC 112 against Terry Etim when I won 'submission of the night' and UFC 132 against Sotiropoulos when I got the KO." Evolve MMA is home to some of the best Muay Thai fighters of all time such as Anuwat Kaewsamrit, Attachai Fairtex, Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Orono Wor Petchpun and Lamnammoon Sor Summalee. These names might not mean much to mixed martial arts fans but in Thailand they are legends and no other MMA camp in the world can boast such a decorated stable of stand up trainers. Dos Anjos credits the training he received from the Thai trainers in Singapore with the improvement he made in his stand up going into UFC 132 and is looking forward to working with a couple of other top ranked lightweights as he prepares for his 'UFC on Fuel' fight in May, "I was three months in Singapore before that fight with Sotiropoulos and I think that three months was essential to me winning the fight. I never had a chance to training with Shinya Aoki before but it's gonna be a big pleasure have a training with him, also Zorobabel Moreira who is a very talent fighter and has improved a lot his stand up skills, he is word champion in BJJ and I think he is ready for UFC for sure." One man who he has trained with is the recently deposed UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Dos Anjos was brought in to help him prepare for his title defence at UFC 136 and feels that he benefited from the experience of working with the top lightweight in the world at the time, "I was there for two weeks before his last fight with Maynard and I improved a lot my wrestling skills and to see how the champion trained was good too." After eight fights in the UFC Dos Anjos is already a veteran despite being only 27 years old, almost an entire decade younger than the current pound for pound king Anderson Silva. He believes that he is constantly improving and evolving as a fighter and is a long way from reaching his peak, "I think I already improved a lot since my first fight in the UFC but I still have a lot thing to learn and improve and I believe in myself that I can learn more and be stronger. I think that the peak of the fighter is 35 years old and I 'm very far from that." After going through what he describes as a 'bad time' with the jaw injury Dos Anjos is looking to fight as regularly as possible in 2012. He feels he has at least another 10 years in him as a fighter and wants to spend all of them in the UFC, "Of course, I'm looking to stay in the UFC. If I take care of my body I can fight for 10 more years and I have two kids, so I need fight 10 more years!" Dos Anjos already has a couple of UFC bonuses in his pocket and can count himself extremely unlucky not to have been awarded 'Knock out of the Night' after the win over Sotiropolous. His MMA career might have already been lucrative but coming from an impoverished upbringing he must understand the importance of financial security more than most. On May 17th the money will be the last thing on his mind when he faces Shalorus at UFC on Fuel. Dos Anjos is desperate to get back on winning track, to work his way back up the rankings, to show that he is still a contender in the lightweight division and to lay the foundations for a UFC career which he hopes will last for at least another decade. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

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What a weekend we have in front of us. Two events. Two days. One brand new division. Finally, after years of teasing hints and playful false starts, the flyweights have truly arrived, and it couldn't have gone down any other way. A good old-fashioned tournament, just like the old days. The two men who fans and pundits alike have always referred to as future titleholders at 125-pounds, and the two champions of the world's most renown flyweight organizations. When the blood settles tonight, two of these fighters will be one step closer to the UFC's eighth and final goldcard. And that's still not even mentioning a blistering welterweight showdown with guaranteed fireworks, plus the most heavily-hyped women's bout since 2009. So fellow fight fans, with that being said, get ready for a weekend to remember with the Morning Report. 5 MUST-READ STORIES UFC on FX 2 weigh-in results. All 22 fighters met their required weight in advance of Friday night's FX card. What's at Stake? UFC on FX 2/Tate vs. Rousey Edition. Luke Thomas breaks down the implications for this weekend's biggest Strikeforce and UFC stars. Association of boxing commissions tells members to not license fighters from Michigan. The ABC mailed a letter to state athletic commissions requesting they no longer recognize MMA events in Michigan or license fighters from the state. UFC 144 medical suspensions and injuries. Nine fighters from last Saturday's Japan card have received medical suspensions for their work, including Frankie Edgar, Ben Henderson, and Rampage Jackson. Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki II official for April 20. Bellator's biggest rematch is set to headline Bellator 66 at the I-X Center in Cleveland, OH. MEDIA STEW Urijah Faber took his trash talk to the next level after hearing Dominick Cruz's latest string of insults. (HT: Reddit) If you don't know what Ian McCall is all about, trust me, this video is worth checking out. "Uncle Creepy" takes on Darrell Montague last August for the Tachi Palace flyweight title. Anderson Silva's cameo in this Brazilian national soccer ad is a testament to how big he's become in his home country, and the indescribable amount of pressure that will be on his shoulders to beat Chael Sonnen. You've been wondering what Bob Sapp was up to last weekend? Well, let me show you. (HT: Bloody Elbow) Chad Mendes, Cain Velasquez, and Mike Pyle tried to not make fools of themselves while the Sydney Swans taught them Australian rules football. (HT: Middle Easy) Well, it was bound to happen. Ben Henderson finally snapped (albeit, as nicely as possible) after the week-long flood of criticism. Wow, seems like a lot of ppl have a lot of stuff to say...somebody interview me so I can get some things off my chest... — Benson Henderson (@SMOOTHone155) March 1, 2012 I have a lot to say but like saying things thought out first...you know, Think before you Speak...just my own humble opinion... — Benson Henderson (@SMOOTHone155) March 1, 2012 THANK YOU!!!RT @HeathBTN: @Smoothone155 Funny how people think you dictate who you fight, you already said you are open to anybody. — Benson Henderson (@SMOOTHone155) March 1, 2012 Australia really is a magical place. One of my dreams just became a reality... twitter.com/JoeJitsu/statu… — Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) March 1, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Thursday, March 1, 2012): - Bellator 66: Eddie Alvarez (22-3) vs. Shinya Aoki (30-5, 1 NC) - UFC on FUEL 3: Dustin Poirier (12-1) vs. Chan Sung Jung (12-3) confirmed as main event, winner to "emerge as a challenger to the UFC 145-pound title" FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's Luke Nelson: On The Hunt, In The Mix: An In-Depth Evaluation of Mark Hunt vs. the UFC Heavyweight Top-Ten 1. Junior dos Santos Strengths: Boxing, Speed. Dos Santos has destroyed everyone he's faced in the UFC, with only Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin managing to make it to the judges scorecards. I could be wrong but I don't believe that he has lost a round in the UFC. He has a devastating uppercut and closes distance like a heavyweight Georges St. Pierre. Weaknesses: One dimensional. If you were to find a weakness, it would be that dos Santos has only shown that he can win a fight in one way: Punching his opponent in the face. Joe Rogan has been pleading for dos Santos to throw more leg kicks for as long as I can remember, but dos Santos seems content to simply blast away with uppercuts and hooks. He hasn't gone to the ground at any point when a fight hangs in the balance. He did take Shane Carwin down a couple of times but he had already beaten him to a pulp and the take downs were academic. How would a fight against Hunt look: It's difficult to imagine that Hunt would be able to match the speed that dos Santos would bring. That being said, the fight would almost surely be fought on the feet and you could never count Hunt out of a stand up fight. We've yet to see how dos Santos responds to adversity, so Hunt would need to land early if he was going to have any chance of winning. Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

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The UFC on Fuel TV 3 card is quickly filling up, with the UFC announcing two more matchups for the May 15th card. First, a lightweight matchup between former WEC contender Kamal Shalorus and Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos. Also announced for the event is a bantamweight matchup between UFC newcomer Azamat Gashimov and Alex Soto. UFC on Fuel TV 3 takes place at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. For Shalorus (7-2-2), it has not been the easiest of transitions to the UFC. After starting his career 7-0-2, which included a 3-0-1 record in the WEC, “The Prince of Persia” has lost both of his bouts in the UFC, to Jim Miller and Khabib Nurmagomedov, respectively. This will be his second fight of 2012, after losing to Nurmagomedov at UFC on FX 1 in January. dos Anjos (15-6) will also be looking to return to the win column, as he lost to Gleison Tibau at UFC 139 in November. This came after his highlight reel knockout of George Sotiropoulos at UFC 132 in July. dos Anjos actually fought at the last UFC event to take place at the Patriot Center (UFC Fight Night 20 in January 2010), where he defeated Kyle Bradley via unanimous decision. Much like dos Anjos, Alex Soto (6-1-1) will be looking to rebound from a loss suffered at UFC 139. Soto, a part-time dolphin trainer, lost to Michael McDonald via first round knockout.  Soto is also a former member of the military, as a member of the United States Army. Soto will be taking on Azamat Gashimov (7-1), who will be making his UFC debut at the event. The Russian bantamweight actually trains part-time on the east coast, training at AMA Fight Club in Fairfield, New Jersey. AMA is home to fellow UFC fighters such as Jim and Dan Miller, along with Charlie Brenneman. Both matches are expected to take place on the preliminary card of UFC on Fuel TV 3, which will be headlined by a featherweight battle between Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung. Also featured at the event will be the return of Thiago Silva, as he takes on fellow light heavyweight Igor Pokrajac, along with a lightweight matchup between Donald Cerrone and Jeremy Stephens. For complete coverage of UFC on Fuel TV 3, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com Pictured: Rafael dos Anjos

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Event: UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Overeem"Date: Saturday, May 26, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (PPV)Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada Main Event: UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem Other Scheduled Bouts: 185 lbs.: Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway170 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham155 lbs.: Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann145 lbs.: Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins170 lbs.: Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig 265 lbs.: Shane Del Rosario vs. Gabriel Gonzaga205 lbs.: Glover Teixeira vs. Kyle Kingsbury For more on UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Overeem" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

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“A fight is a fight and anything can happen. They’re two very strong fighters, they’re at the top of their division but I don’t see how Overeem can beat Junior dos Santos. Overeem is (beating a lot of people), he’s a lion, but when (he gets hit) he becomes a kitty. When Junior first connects, Overeem’s spirit of a fighter will go to the dress room. I think it will be Junior with another knockout in his career.” — Antonio Silva, via Portal do Vale Tudo & BE, weighing in on Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem It’s pretty clear what Junior dos Santos’ gameplan is going to be when he steps in the cage with K-1 champ Alistair Overeem. He plans to knock him out and neither he nor his teammates are being shy about it. Overeem, on the other hand, is being more cryptic. “The gameplan is already good to go. I already know how to beat him,” Overeem said. “It’s just a matter of training and getting my body and mind in the 100 percent condition it needs to be in.” I’m not sure exactly what Overeem’s gameplan is going to be but I bet it involves a lot of leg kicks. That’s the best way to disrupt JDS’ power, speed and timing. Overeem is a great striker but he doesn’t want to get mixed up in a boxing match with dos Santos. He just doesn’t have the hand speed that JDS does. I am very curious to see what else Overeem has in store for him though. He had a brilliant gameplan for Brock Lesnar that no one saw coming. The world expected him to target Lesnar’s face where he hated being hit and went to straight to the body where he could really do some damage after his illness. Wonder if he has any surprises in store for the champ? Image via Sherdog

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Decorated heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem isn’t expected to face UFC title-holder Junior dos Santos until late May but it appears the hard-hitting Dutchman already has his strategy in place, recognizing flaws in the Brazilian boxer’s game he feels he can exploit to the point of victory. The 31-year old “Demolition Man” recently addressed the upcoming bout in an interview with MMAFightCorner where he gave Dos Santos credit but only up to a certain point, saying, “I believe he’s a great fighter. I believe he’s got great hands, great boxing. He’s a clever fighter and has a great team around him,” before adding, “Every fight style has holes. Dos Santos has them too. I don’t want to give away the surprise, but you’re going to see it.” “The game plan is good to go. I already know how to beat him,” Overeem continued on the subject of Dos Santos. “It’s just a matter of training and getting my body and mind in the 100% condition that it needs to be in and it’s going to turn out perfectly-just fine.” As far as who he might face later in the year once he presumably gets by Dos Santos, Overeem was asked if he was partial to a potential pairing against top contender Frank Mir as opposed to Cain Velasquez (rumored to be fighting this summer). “I don’t have a preference,” replied Overeem. “I’ll fight anybody they put in front of me. I’m a fighter, I want to fight a lot. That being said, I’m also ready to beat anybody.” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta was quoted last week on Twitter as saying the organization was attempting to have Dos Santos defend his belt at the annual Memorial Day Weekend event in Las Vegas, this year’s being UFC 146 on May 26. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Alistair Overeem has found his new team and management that will lead him into his next fight...a showdown with Junior dos Santos with the UFC heavyweight title on the line.

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Junior dos Santos will defend his heavyweight title for the first time when he meets Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 on May 26 in Las Vegas, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta announced.

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UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos has no illusions about the threat his next opponent, Alistair Overeem, poses when it comes to landing a fight-ending strike. However, the affable Brazilian is also fully aware of his own abilities including one of the most powerful punches in all of MMA. Dos Santos recently spoke about the match-up, rumored to take place on Memorial Day Weekend in Las Vegas, where he gave “The Demolition Man” his due in offering a realistic assessment of their upcoming affair. Lorenzo Fertitta Hints at May Melee Between Dos Santos-Overeem “Overeem is really a tough, dangerous, heavy and really strong guy. I see him as a good challenge,” said Dos Santos to TATAME. “Probably he’s accepting the stand-up fight. To me, it can go to the floor or on our feet. He’s very dangerous, but I gotta use my speed. I really believe in me, I’m always confident about my attitudes. I guess one of the secrets is: believing in yourself (is) half way. I really believe I can beat him. And as any fight, I’ll get there to knock him out. It won’t be different this time. I’m going there to knock him out.” Not only does he hope to stop Overeem with strikes but “Cigano” is confident he has the skill to do so, though also the intelligence to know he can’t risk absorbing too many of the Dutchman’s shots either. “I believe so,” replied the 27-year old when pressed on whether or not he could render Overeem into a puddle of goo. “I really believe my stand-up. I believe I can knock anyone out doing the right work. He’s as dangerous as me on the stand-up (and) there’s a reason why he became the champion at K-1. It’ll be a hard fight (but) it’s gonna come down to who hits the other first. The impact of a heavyweight punch can knock one out in a second.” With ten TKOs in fourteen total wins for the title-holder and 34 stoppages in 36 career victories for Overeem, there’s little doubt Dos Santos is onto something when it comes to the likelihood of a finish. And, from his comments, it is equally clear Dos Santos embraces the possibility with open arms. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Junior dos Santos will defend his UFC heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 in May, according to UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will likely make his first title defense on May 26 in Las Vegas. That's according to UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, who made the announcement overnight in a rare extended session of Twitter chat with fans. Dos Santos is scheduled to face former Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem, who earned the shot with a recent win over former UFC champ Brock Lesnar.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos talks winning the belt, his injury, and when we can expect to see him back in action.

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It appears a civil war could be brewing in Holland after legendary fighter Bas Rutten came out to make a pick regarding the upcoming heavyweight title-bout between UFC champion Junior dos Santos and top contender Alistair Overeem. While one might think Rutten would lean towards his fellow Dutchman, Overeem, it turns out “El Guapo” actually favors the heavy-handed Dos Santos for reasons relating to durability. Rutten provided his pick as a guest on Sherdog Radio where he said, “I think Alistair, everything he does is one single shot because he knows he’s got that glass jaw as well. He’s been knocked out quite a few times in the past, even by Chuck Liddell as well.” Overeem was knocked out by Liddell in PRIDE more than eight years ago and fallen in six of his eleven total defeats by way of strikes. However, he hasn’t been stopped at all (or beaten) since September 2007. To support his reasoning, Rutten also explained, “Every time when he punches, one hand is up. He throws single shots; he doesn’t throw combinations. You saw that when he fought (Fabricio) Werdum. Werdum was actually tagging him more than he did to Werdum. I think that Junior dos Santos, with his combinations, his reach, I think he’s going to tag him and he’s going to throw combos and I think that yeah, he’s going to take this fight.” Before Title Shot Overeem Will Face Fight in Court No event or date has been set for Dos Santos-Overeem though the summer has been targeted. Tweet

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Alistair Overeem is going down. That's according to Junior dos Santos' longtime coach and mentor, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who tells Brazilian media outlet Tatame.com that the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) newest heavyweight champion is going to bury the number one contender once the fists start flying. "Cigano wins via knockout, I’m sure of that. He’s a lot faster, knows how to move, he won’t get that knee, and he’s much more complete and has much more stamina, and that’ll make a great difference. Overeem has never defeated someone as big as Cigano. Alistair Overeem is a lot bigger, stronger, more explosive, but not big enough to beat Junior dos Santos." In this "striker vs. striker" match-up, many point to the different stand-up styles each fighter possesses. For "The Reem," it’s the highest level of kickboxing and for "Cigano," it’s superb boxing. Both skillsets have earned the two heavyweights world championship titles but when locked inside a cage under the UFC banner for the division strap, whose style of striking will prevail? That's for you to decide in our poll, after the jump. When the smoke clears, who will be left standing? Poll Who will take home the most prestigious title in the world of combat sports? Alistair Overeem Junior dos Santos   0 votes | Results

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In past years Bas Rutten has been an adamant supporter of fellow Dutchman, and current UFC heavyweight contender, Alistair Overeem. However, one area “El Guapo” doesn’t have Overeem’s back in has to do with his chances against divisional champion Junior dos Santos. Overeem and Dos Santos are set to fight this summer. Rutten’s main source of contention when it comes to picking “The Demolition Man” has to due with the durability of his chin, an issue having been called into question before given Overeem’s six TKO losses. The former UFC champ spoke about the match-up on a recent edition of Sherdog Radio where he explained, “I think Alistair, everything he does is one single shot because he knows he’s got that glass jaw as well. He’s been knocked out quite a few times in the past, even by Chuck Liddell as well.” “Every time when he punches, one hand is up,” Rutten continued. “He throws single shots; he doesn’t throw combinations. You saw that when he fought (Fabricio)Werdum. Werdum was actually tagging him more than he did to Werdum. I think that Junior dos Santos, with his combinations, his reach, I think he’s going to tag him and he’s going to throw combos and I think that yeah, he’s going to take this fight.” Dos Santos has stopped eleven of the fourteen opponents he’s beaten via strikes and is seen as one of the best boxers in the heavyweight division if not #1 in that regard. No date has been set for Dos Santos-Overeem though the bout has been rumored for June in Brazil. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Yesterday we saw Bas Rutten say that Alistair Overeem would lose to Junior dos Santos because of having a "glass jaw" and now today we can add Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to those picking dos Santos. This time not due to being "chinny" but because he isn't big enough. Via Tatame: Junior dos Santos will defend his title against Alistair Overeem in the middle of the year. What are your thoughts about that? Cigano wins via knockout, I'm sure of that. He's a lot faster, knows how to move, he won't get that knee, and he's much more complete and has much more stamina, and that'll make a great difference. Overeem has never defeated someone as big as Cigano. How do you see Overeem's evolution since Pride, where he fought names like Shogun, Arona and your brother, Rogerio? Alistair Overeem is a lot bigger, stronger, more explosive, but not big enough to beat Junior dos Santos. So now the 6'5" 260+ pound Overeem is too small for the shorter and lighter Junior dos Santos? Interesting.

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"I think Alistair, everything he does is one single shot because he knows he's got that glass jaw as well. He's been knocked out quite a few times in the past, even by Chuck Liddell as well. Every time when he punches, one hand is up. He throws single shots; he doesn't throw combinations. You saw that when he fought [Fabricio] Werdum. Werdum was actually tagging him more than he did to Werdum. I think that Junior dos Santos, with his combinations, his reach, I think he's going to tag him and he's going to throw combos and I think that yeah, he's going to take this fight." -- Mixed martial arts legend turned broadcaster Bas Rutten brings the heat during a recent appearance on the "It's Time!" show with Bruce Buffer. "El Guapo" breaks down the upcoming UFC heavyweight championship showdown pitting titleholder Junior dos Santos against number one contender and fellow Dutchman Alistair Overeem by calling out "The Reem" for his lack of combination punching. Why? Because he has a glass jaw, of course, and he knows he can't take one on the chin from "Cigano" without getting splattered all over the mat. Indeed, dos Santos has made his name -- and won his title -- by putting his heavy hands on his opponents and watching them all fall down. Overeem has a reputation for doing the same but the difference is that "JDS" has never been knocked out. As Rutten so kindly reminds us, "Demolition Man" can't say the same. Far from it, actually. So, by the time all is said and done, we can expect dos Santos to make a successful first defense of his title. Or at least that's what Mr. Rutten thinks. Do you feel the same, Maniacs?

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten believes current champ Junior dos Santos will beat Alistair Overeem if they fight this year.

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UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos, who will face Alistair Overeem in his first title defense, discusses his opponent, as well as his lingering knee injury. Dos Santos is complimentary of Overeem's recent performance against Brock Lesnar, but says it's he and the Dutchman now, and someone is getting knocked-out.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos is still recovering, but is reportedly close to 100% healthy. Here is what he had to say recently: “I’m feeling great about my knee already. I think another 10 days I’ll be 100-percent. “I’m training boxing, I’m lifting weights, but I can’t train jiu-jitsu yet. But I think another 10 days and I’ll be training normally again.” Dos Santos hopes to return sometime this spring/summer, when he’ll meet kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter, Alistair Overeem. Dos Santos captured the HW title by demolishing Cain Velasquez, while Overeem earned a shot when he destroyed former champion Brock Lesnar.

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Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is feeling good and nearing 100-percent health following a knee injury that had him on the sidelines.

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“I’m feeling great about my knee already. I think another 10 days I’ll be 100-percent,” dos Santos told Jon Anik on the UFC 142 Rio post-fight show on Fuel TV on Saturday night. “I’m training boxing, I’m lifting weights, but I can’t train jiu-jitsu yet. But I think another 10 days and I’ll be training normally again.” - via MMAWeekly.com Newly-crowned UFC Heavyweight champion Junior "Cigano" dos Santos will have a mountain to climb when he fully

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The timing of Anderson Silva’s grand return may be a big fat question mark again, but UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santo’s isn’t. JDS recently told MMA Junkie that he’s almost healed up from his knee injury and expects to be ready to defend his title in about three months. He’d like to fight Alistair Overeem on the June Brazil card, but is willing to fight him anywhere. “In another 20 days, I’ll be feeling 100 percent again,” Dos Santos said. “Then I need two-and-a-half (months) to do my camp, and then I’m ready to do.” “It’s a good chance to fight for Brazilian fans,” he said. “MMA is very popular here in Brazil now. I would love to fight here. But the important thing is I want to make all my fans around the world watch good fights when I get in that octagon. So I will try to do my best. It doesn’t matter whether it’s [in Brazil] or the United States.” The timing should work out well with his opponent assuming no other obstacles arise. After the Lesnar fight, Overeem said he wanted to take some time off and planned on challenging JDS for the heavyweight title sometime this summer. Dos Santos says he expects a stand-up battle with Overeem and isn’t intimidated by his K-1 credentials. He’s the “UFC heavyweight champion,” and believes he can “beat anyone in the world.” Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

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Junior Dos Santos doesn't need that much time to be ready for "The Reem." The UFC heavyweight champion today called into MMAjunkie.com Radio, where he assured fans that a recent knee injury won't keep him out of action for long. "In another 20 days, I'll be feeling 100 percent again," Dos Santos said. "Then I need two-and-a-half (months) to do my camp, and then I'm ready to do."

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RIO DE JANEIRO - Careful world. It turns out the UFC heavyweight champion has a few dance moves. UFC titleholder Junior Dos Santos on Thursday led a group of UFC personalities to Rio de Janeiro's Mangueira Samba School, where the champ, along with UFC octagon girls Arianny Celeste and Chandella Powell, took part in the time-honored tradition of Carnival preparation. "The people have shown me so much appreciation," Dos Santos told MMAjunkie.com. "Mangueira is a very humble neighborhood, and it's a pleasure to be here and spending some time with the people."

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If Alistair Overeem can get past Junior dos Santos when they meet for the UFC heavyweight title later this year, it may be the former champ who has the best shot of taking out the Dutch striker.

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The oddsmakers may be slating UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos as the early favorite over Alistair Overeem, but you, the fans, seem to think otherwise.

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A few weeks before UFC 141, betting site Bookmaker decided to cover both sides of the coin and put out a line for two future UFC heavyweight title bouts: Junior dos Santos vs. Brock Lesnar, and Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem. This way, people could get in on the action as early as possible. If they bet on Brock vs. JDS, they just got a refund since the bout will never happen, so no big loss. What is interesting is how much (or little) the line on Overeem vs. JDS has changed since Saturday night, and that Dos Santos is still the favorite. Back when the line originally dropped (before UFC 141), it looked like this: Overeem +190Dos Santos +240 As of this morning, it looks like this: Overeem +147Dos Santos -177 While that is a substantial difference, I frankly expected a lot more of a swing. It's true that the bout hasn't been officially announced yet, and that this line is from one particular site (Pinnacle is the only other site to drop a line so far, after UFC 141, and it has JDS at -155, Overeem at +140), but I expect to see this line end up close to even by the time the fight rolls around. I'm sure some will find that ridiculous, but that's truly what I see happening. Basically, if you have some disposable income and you think Alistair Overeem is going to defeat Junior dos Santos, now is the time to make that bet. And if you're leaning toward dos Santos, wait it out. Today's betting advice was brought to you by the letters A and O, and the number 1.

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Alistair Overeem recently planished Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem," held on Dec. 30, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stopping the former UFC heavyweight champion, along with the titles he has secured in Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1, has pretty much solidified his status as division number one contender. BRING ON JUNIOR DOS SANTOS!! After all, "Cigano" is ready to fight, according to Dana White's recent comments on UFC Tonight. So, why do we have to wait until this summer to "hopefully" see this fight come to fruition? White explains, after the jump. "I was impressed by Overeem – I’ve been talking about him a lot and not in a positive way, and now I’m eating crow. Without a doubt, he’s one of the top three heavyweights in the world. Junior dos Santos could fight Alistair Overeem, hopefully in the summer. dos Santos is ready, but Overeem wants to take a break. This is a fight that will be exciting." It's interesting to hear White say that Overeem wants to take a break, when "Demolition Man" originally turned down a title unification bout against the winner of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos specifically because he didn't want to wait. If it does take six months to have these two power-punchers face off, we should also have a better idea of what the UFC heavyweight title picture looks like, as it's likely that some of the bigger names at the top of the ladder, including Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin, will be back in action before then. Stay tuned.

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It seems everyone has an opinion on the clash for contendership at UFC 141 between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem in addition to its aftermath involving Lesnar’s semi-unexpected retirement from Mixed Martial Arts. UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos was in the audience and even spoke to Lesnar after the fight, revealing a possible injury likely factoring in to the former title-holder being finished. “I thought Brock would move forward, I hoped more of him. But he told me on the Octagon he felt the knees and kicks of Overeem and that he thought he broke his rib,” said Dos Santos in a conversation with TATAME. “I saw it and it was really red.” On the subject of Lesnar calling it quits on his MMA career, “Cigano” was supportive of the idea based on the personal nature of it, stating, “He’s completely right to retire since he doesn’t feel fine when fighting anymore. He said he promised it to his wife and kids… I guess everybody knows when it’s time to stop” Up next for Dos Santos is of course Overeem, the hard-hitting Dutchman on an eleven fight winning streak with stoppages in 34 of 36 victories. However, the 14-1 champion made it clear he is up for any challenge and understands such things go with the territory when you’ve got gold strapped around your waist. “Overeem is a very strong fighter, but there’s no easy fight when you’re fighting a title fight. He’s big, but he ain’t two (people).” Dos Santos Expects Stand-Up Battle with Overeem No word has surfaced on when Dos Santos and Overeem will meet in the cage though it’s likely to take place in late spring or early summer based on the 27-year old’s recovery from minor knee surgery. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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After making quick and relatively easy work of former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 on Friday, Alistair Overeem looks forward to title shot against Junior dos Santos.

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Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, Rankings, HeavyweightsAlistair Overeem has been a wrecking machine for the last few years, winning eight straight MMA fights and five straight kickboxing fights without really even being threatened. Overeem doesn't just win, he wins in dominant fashion. So after his most recent dominant win, over Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, Overeem has climbed another rung up the ladder of our heavyweight rankings, moving into the No. 2 position, behind only UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. There's still a lot we don't know about Overeem: How will he react to fighting dos Santos, an opponent who hits just as hard as he does? How would he do if a good wrestler put him on his back? Does he have a good enough gas tank to last deep into a five-round title fight? But what we do know about Overeem is that he has just concluded a 2011 in which he beat Fabricio Werdum and Brock Lesnar. Among heavyweights, only dos Santos beat better opponents than that last year, and only dos Santos ranks ahead of Overeem in our newest Top 10, after the jump. Top 10 heavyweights in mixed martial arts (Editor's note: The individual fighter's ranking the last time we did heavyweights are in parentheses.) 1. Junior dos Santos (1): As great a striker as Overeem is, I favor dos Santos in their eventual heavyweight title fight because I think dos Santos will prove to be quicker to the punch and capable of out-landing Overeem. I don't think Overeem is the man to take the title from dos Santos. 2. Alistair Overeem (3): The last time Overeem lost an MMA fight, it was to Sergei Kharitonov in 2007. Overeem is a completely different fighter now than he was then -- physically he has undergone a transformation that has seen him put on about 30 pounds of muscle, and he's a much more effective striker now. It's remarkable how far Overeem has come. More Coverage: UFC 141 Results | UFC 141 Fighter Salaries 3. Cain Velasquez (2): Although dos Santos quickly dispatched Velasquez in their November fight, Velasquez has the combination of wrestling pedigree, athletic ability and heavy hands that makes him a threat to take the title back from dos Santos, something I could easily see him doing in the coming year. 4. Frank Mir (8): After getting knocked around by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira early in their fight, Mir did a great job of holding on, waiting for his opportunity and finding the winning submission. A fight with Velasquez next would make a lot of sense for Mir, and if he wins that he'd be next in line for a title shot. 5. Fabricio Werdum (5): Werdum will make his UFC debut against Roy Nelson at UFC 143, in a fight I expect him to dominate. Werdum is better in every phase of the sport than Nelson. 6. Daniel Cormier (6): Cormier will fight Josh Barnett, likely in the spring of 2012, in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final. Barnett will be Cormier's toughest test to date, but I expect Cormier to pass that test with flying colors. 7. Brock Lesnar (4): If Lesnar is really retired I'll remove him from the heavyweight rankings, but I'll keep ranking him for now while we see if he changes his mind. It would be easy to view Lesnar's MMA career as a disappointment considering how his losses to Overeem and Velasquez went down, but it was a lot of fun to watch this incredible physical specimen could dominate good opponents like Heath Herring, Randy Couture and Frank Mir, and I'll never forget the heart he showed in his comeback victory over Shane Carwin. He's been great for the sport. 8. Shane Carwin (7): Back injuries have taken a toll on Carwin's career. He's expected to return in mid-2012, but athletes in their late-30s with bad backs don't often return to top form. 9. Josh Barnett (9): Barnett has a huge opportunity to show against Cormier that he still deserves to be considered among the truly elite heavyweights in the world -- which he always was until his third failed drug test made him persona non grata in American MMA. Although the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix hasn't gone quite as planned, the Barnett-Cormier final is a great, great matchup. 10. Antonio Silva (10): Bigfoot has been inactive since his knockout loss to Cormier, but he should be a great addition to the UFC heavyweight division. He's currently recovering from shoulder surgery, and if the timing works out it would make a lot of sense to have him make his UFC debut against Carwin. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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"It's going to be really, really good for the fans. Because he's a striker (and) I'm a striker, it's going to be a stand-up battle. ... He's pretty good at using his kicks, his knees, his punches. But I believe so much in my boxing." -- UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos tells USA Today that fight fans are going to have it good when he climbs inside the Octagon to defend his title for the first time against freshly crowned number one contender Alistair Overeem sometime this year. That's because both men are strikers, "Cigano" with his powerful boxing and "Demolition Man" with his polished kicks and knees. "The Reem," of course, is a K-1 kickboxing champion, as we all know very well by now and plans to utilize his well-rounded standing skill set to frustrate his Brazilian foe. Dos Santos, meanwhile, believes so unflinchingly in his boxing that he'll stand and trade with Overeem while looking for one more knockout blow. It would only be his sixth in nine fights inside the Octagon. That's all. "Lesnar vs. Overeem" may have been BIG but "Dos Santos vs. Overeem" is going to be AWESOME. Right, Maniacs?

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If you’re not excited about Junior dos Santos’ upcoming title-defense against freshly victorious top contender Alistair Overeem, you should be, as the belt-wearing Brazilian himself even admits a highly-entertaining affair is in store for fans when the two face off in 2012. “Cigano” weighed in on the upcoming clash shortly after Overeem liver-kicked Brock Lesnar into retirement this past Friday night at UFC 141, saying the kickboxer vs. boxer dynamic of the pairing should be particularly enjoyable for MMA enthusiasts. “It’s going to be really, really good for the fans. Because he’s a striker, I’m a striker…it’s going to be a stand-up battle,” said Dos Santos in a conversation with USA Today. Overeem has finished 34 of the 36 opponents he’s beaten while the 27-year old champ has done the same in twelve of fourteen wins. Adding to the intrigue, Dos Santos has won his last nine fights in comparison to Overeem’s eleven straight. As far as Overeem’s performance against Lesnar, the humble heavyweight appeared impressed though was confused by Lesnar’s tentative approach to grappling. “Brock seemed a little bit anxious to throw punches and kicks. That surprised me, because I thought he should have taken Alistair down and kept the fight on the ground,” explained Dos Santos. No date is set for Overeem-Dos Santos though late spring-early summer is a realistic period for the clash to occur in. Dos Santos has expressed interest in the past in headlining a Brazilian card, and with the UFC having designs on a potential soccer stadium show in May he very well could get his wish. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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In a smashing Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut this past Friday (Dec. 30, 2011), Alistair Overeem introduced himself with a bang, dispatching Brock Lesnar in just 2:26 in the UFC 141 main event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the history of the game's biggest promotion, there have rarely been bigger stages for an Octagon first-timer, and the Dutchman's larger-than-life showing landed him a shot at heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos. This was no figurative double lined into the right-center gap. Overeem hit the ball out of the park. There was much ground to cover for him, recognition-wise, with casual fans. Given his years of fighting in other organizations, compiling a highlight-reel list of victims, the soft-core mixed martial arts (MMA) aficionado may well have known little to nothing about him. And facing a known commodity in Lesnar, Overeem had a huge risk-reward prospect -- 266 pounds' worth -- across the cage. Equal parts patient and lethal, he dominated Lesnar with the kind of big-man fury that makes heavyweight fights an animal all their own. It's hard to remember anyone who may have bridged that such a massive public-recognition gap so readily in so brief a time. Now, Overeem finds himself slotted to face newly minted champ dos Santos, whose 64-second wipeout of Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1 was a massive performance, too. Two freight trains colliding makes for eminently promotable fights. Two heavyweights on those tracks is can't-miss viewing, and the kind of promotional mojo the organization can take as solace from Lesnar's departure from the game. Love him or hate him, the former champ and pro wrestling star was the UFC's pay-per-view (PPV) hammer, providing a huge bump and making the vaunted 1 million buy mark as a headliner a baseline expectation for his bouts. With Lesnar's exit, there's no go-to heavyweight at present to guarantee those kinds of numbers. But, it takes time and promotional heft to build a star on that scale, and highlight-reel performance like Overeem and dos Santos' are precisely the tools to do it. As things stand for "The Reem," he may be the only heavyweight dos Santos can't dominate standing, or vice versa. It's something a lot of us will happily pay to see. For what it's worth, dos Santos as a -240 favorite, with Overeem a +190 underdog. I'd expect that line to tighten up as the bout approaches for a couple reasons. First, dos Santos' recent knee surgery and pending recovery are a wild card. Second, Overeem is a decent value at that number, especially given his diverse weapons. No firm date has been set for the bout, but given the UFC's schedule and dos Santos' recovery time, spring-early summer is the most likely window. It can't come soon enough.

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According to noted oddsmaker Nick Kalikas of BetOnFighting.com, it's none other than UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos. "Cigano" opens as a -240 favorite headed into his first title defense against Alistair Overeem, which is scheduled for sometime in 2012, possibly the summer. "The Reem" comes in as the underdog at +190. Anyone jumping on this line with wallets wide open? Or do you expect a dramatic shift as we get closer and closer to fight night? Overeem has been crushing the competition for years now, compiling 11 wins in 12 fights (one no contest) since 2007. He made a successful debut with the UFC last night (Fri., Dec. 30, 2011) by stopping Brock Lesnar in the first round by way of technical knockout using his vaunted K-1 level striking. Apparently the oddsmakers think the heavyweight champ's boxing is better. Dos Santos, no different than Overeem, has been absolutely destroying his competition. In fact, just like "Demolition Man," he hasn't lost a fight since 2007, the lone defeat of his career. However, unlike "The Reem," the Brazilian bomber has been running through top competition inside the Octagon. He's 8-0 under the UFC banner with five knockouts, including his 64-second destruction of Cain Velasquez that earned him the heavyweight strap. It's no wonder he's favored. But will the deadly Dutchman prove once and for all that he's the best striker in the world, at heavyweight at least? We're still a ways away from fight time, Maniacs, but who do you like for your money and who ya' got straight up? To see the "Dos Santos vs. Overeem" odds and betting lines plus all the action for upcoming UFC and Strikeforce events click here.

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Brock Lesnar seemed very content to battle Alistair Overeem on the feet at UFC 141. Lesnar was the first one throwing leg kicks and really only shot for one takedown during the short duration of the bout. The fact that the two men were fighting it out standing went how most expected it would as Overeem started to open up with strikes. It started out with Overeem hurting Lesnar with knees to the body and shortly after it was a hard kick to Lesnar's liver that sent the former champion to his knees against the cage. Lesnar not using his wrestling was a big surprise to current UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos as he told USA Today: "Brock seemed a little bit anxious to throw punches and kicks," Dos Santos said. "That surprised me, because I thought he should have taken Alistair down and kept the fight on the ground." The funny thing is just how similar JDS' comments are to what most people thought about Cain Velasquez in the fight where he lost the title to Junior. Many felt that Cain should have just pushed for the takedown and not engaged the better striker. Junior also commented on a fight with Overeem: "He's pretty good at using his kicks, his knees, his punches," Dos Santos said. "But I believe so much in my boxing." ... A date for Dos Santos-Overeem hasn't been determined, but it likely won't come in the first few months of 2012. Overeem last month said that UFC 150 next summer would be an "excellent date" for a championship bout. Overeem vs. dos Santos is going to be a hell of a fun fight. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

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Alistair Overeem will now face Junior Dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight title, and he's coming in as the underdog.

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Heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem might be taking center stage tonight at UFC 141 but both behemoths are ultimately facing off in hopes of a future date with divisional champion Junior dos Santos. Currently “Cigano” is sidelined while recovering from recent knee surgery, but, as it turns out, not for much longer. The soft-spoken, hard-hitting Dos Santos offered an update on his condition earlier this week while taking part in a UFC charity event for children with cancer, explaining he expected to be back in the gym in a little less than two weeks. “I just got to regain confidence and train again, but in ten days I’ll be training normally,” said Dos Santos to TATAME while adding he was “feeling fine”. Dos Santos also weighed in on this evening’s main event between Lesnar-Overeem, a bout he’ll be watching closely from cageside as it will determine his next opponent. “It’s a tough fight for the both of them. I’m saying it’ll be 50-50, but Brock has more chances on the beginning of the fight because he’s more explosive and goes for it,” the 14-1 Dos Santos assessed. Based on his status it seems the 27-year old could be ready to fight again by spring though he has admitted in the past to hoping he might defend his title in Brazil, especially with a May event rumored for a stadium show in his South American home. PHOTO CREDIT – BADBOY/UFC

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos weighs in on Friday night's heavyweight showdown between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.

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On Nov. 12, 2011, a new Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight king was crowned when Junior dos Santos knocked out then-champion Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1 to take his belt and his rightful place upon the throne. Tonight (Dec. 30, 2011), two men will fight for the right to engage "Cigano" in battle, when Brock Lesnar takes on Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Yesterday, the Brazilian hosted a UFC "Fan Q&A" session prior to the UFC 141 weigh ins. He was asked to make a prediction about how he thinks the fight between Lesnar and Overeem will play out. Here's what he said: "I think Brock's gonna win. I give 50-percent, each guy, for this fight. Alistair Overeem is very dangerous too, but Brock is more aggressive, you know? Brock has a different game. He's a huge guy. But I don't care about who's gonna be my next opponent. I just will give 100-percent of me to be prepared for them." Originally, dos Santos and Lesnar were scheduled to meet inside the cage. As the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 13, they were supposed to fight in the season finale. Unfortunately, Lesnar was forced to withdraw, due to a second bout with diverticulitis. Dos Santos talked about the original fight, its cancellation, and the possibility of taking on Lesnar again, in the future: "I was supposed to fight with him (Lesnar) after the TUF thing. But, he got that problem (diverticulitis) again. But, he's tough, and I know he'll come back strong, now. Maybe, my next fight is gonna be against him. I don't know, but, I think so. I think it's gonna be against him." Either way, dos Santos is not worried. He believes he has a distinct advantage over a lot of the bigger guys in the heavyweight division: "I think the difference, my difference for them, is the speed. I'm faster than them, fighting. And I wanna keep it like that, because huge guys like Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem or even Frank Mir, they are very heavy but they are slow. And I can hit hard the same way they can do that." Not that he's looking past the winner of "Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem," but dos Santos feels his time in the cage with Cain Velasquez is not done. "The most dangerous fighter in the heavyweight division? For me, I think it's Cain Velasquez, because he's different. He has amazing stamina. He looks like a lightweight! He's good with jiu-jitsu, he's good with wrestling. He's got pretty good striking skills. So, I think Cain Velasquez is one of the most dangerous guys. It happens, you know? I think he had the wrong strategy for the fight (against me). I know I'm gonna get another fight against him. I know that. They're gonna put him against someone here, I don't know who, but he's gonna beat that guy and then -- we're gonna fight again." Do you Maniacs agree with him picking Lesnar? Is "JDS" destined for another bout against Velasquez? Opinions are welcome! Here's the video clip of Junior dos Santos' UFC 141 "Fan Q&A" session: Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 141 results of all the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" PPV action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, Spike TV "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning. See you then!

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If Junior dos Santos could be placed in a blender and reduced to the most basic element, he would have an endurance match with every other element on the periodic table and come out victorious. Fe and Ag has nothing on JDS. That element could change polarity on planets galaxies away. It could turn water into blood, and then blood into Kool-Aid so that people would still believe that it was blood. At the moment, Junior dos Santos is the hardest entity in the entire heavyweight division. If you refuse to believe this, then you're clearly living in a world composed of the unreal. Today at the UFC 141 Q&A session, Junior dos Santos placed his hands on a controller and managed to guide his digital self into digital victory against Pat Barry. Here's video of the faux encounter for all of your eyes to consume -- all two of them.

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LAS VEGAS - UFC heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos will be cageside for this weekend's key tilt between former champ Brock Lesnar and former Strikeforce titleholder Alistair Overeem, and he'll certainly be an interested observer. The winner of the UFC 141 event, of course, meets Dos Santos at a future event. Dos Santos thinks he's got the result out the bout figured out, but he's prepared to fight either man.

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Recently crowned Heavyweight Champion, Junior dos Santos, who dethroned Cain Velasquez to claim the title at UFC on Fox, looks back on the match-up, and discusses the recovery process following his knee surgery.

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UFC 141 official after party with Junior dos Santos is set XS, The Nightclub at Encore in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Fri., Dec. 30, 2011. For more details and reservations click here.

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Cain Velasquez blew it - and he knows it. That's according to the famed American Kickboxing Academy trainer, Javier Mendez, who says that the recently dethroned champ acknowledges the miscalculation that led to his 64-second knockout loss to Junior dos Santos.

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Drug tests from last month’s UFC on Fox 1 event have come back clean for headliners Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez as well as the 12 other fights who were tested, the California State Athletic Commission recently confirmed. Velasquez, dos Santos, Ben Henderson, Clay Guida, Ricardo Lamas, Clay Harvison, Mackens Semerzier, Cub Swanson, DaMarques Johnson, and Robert Peralta tested clean for both performance enhancing drugs and drugs of abuse, while Aaron Rosa, Matt Lucas, Pablo Garza and Dustin Poirier were tested only for drugs of abuse and passed. Dos Santos knocked out the champion Velasquez in just 64-seconds to claim the UFC heavyweight title, while Henderson topped Guida in the co-headliner to earn a shot at lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at February’s UFC 144 event in Japan. Click here to check out MMAFrenzy.com’s complete UFC on Fox 1 coverage. Pictured: Junior dos Santos

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UFC on Fox 1 drug test results are in from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), who today confirmed (via Sherdog.com) that 14 fighters tested for illegal/banned substances after competing at UFC on Fox 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" on Nov. 12 have all passed with flying colors. Main event participants Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos as well as Ben Henderson, Clay Guida, Ricardo Lamas, Clay Harvison, Cub Swanson, Mackens Semerzier, DaMarques Johnson, Robert Peralta, Aaron Rosa, Pablo Garza, Matt Lucas, and Dustin Poirier were all screened for performance enhancers such as steroids and drugs of abuse like cocaine and marijuana, among others. Results from these battery of tests all returned negative. The fighters mentioned above were randomly selected. However, athletic commissions typically test the main event participants and fight night winners, as well as those who have failed drug tests in the past. "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" featured Brazilian bomber, Junior dos Santos, doing what he does best by knocking out Cain Velasquez. Except this time, the victory earned him the UFC heavyweight championship. That may have been the only bout to make the FOX airwaves but it's not the only fight that happened that night. No, Ben Henderson turned in yet another masterful performance in taking a unanimous decision victory over Clay Guida, which earned "Bendo" a 155-pound title shot. But don't take my word for it. Complete UFC on Fox 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" results, commentary and updates are all right here.

Posted in: ufc, fox, do, velasquez, test

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos underwent successful surgery on his injured meniscus this past week, according to his coach, Luiz Carlos Dorea. Dos Santos defeated Cain Velasquez in November for the UFC heavyweight title, securing his first championship inside the Octagon with a vicious first round TKO victory. Dos Santos revealed after the fight that he suffered a meniscus tear during training and was on crutches for several days before the bout. Before he went into surgery, dos Santos sent out the following through his Twitter account, posting, “I’m getting ready for my knee surgery, send good vibes and wish me luck, guys! Amen and thanks for the support, it’s good to know you’re all praying for me.” After his operation, dos Santos added, “Leaving the hospital right now, I’m going back home in Salvador.” Dos Santos will face an extended period of rehab and training before he returns to action. His next opponent will be determined at the end of the month when Brock Lesnar takes on Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 141. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, do, alistair overeem, knee surgery, surgery

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Big Nog discusses his protege Junior dos Santos and UFC 140 opponent Frank Mir.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos underwent successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday morning.

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, knee, surgery

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Georges St. Pierre isn’t the only UFC champ with a knee injury. UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos has been having problems with his knee as well as it was revealed following his championship win over Cain Velasquez. It appears Dos Santos is much closer to recovering from his injury than GSP though. Brazilian website Portal Do Vale Tudo is reporting that JDS underwent surgery this morning to repair the meniscus on his left knee. Translated via Google: After beating Cain Velasquez win the belt and the UFC heavyweight with the injured knee, Junior Cigano finally entered the operating room. The UFC champion entered the Albert Einstein Hospital on the evening of Tuesday, and his surgery is being performed this morning. The fighter is operating the meniscus in his left knee to Dr. Moises Cohen, one of the leading surgeons in this area in Brazil. According to Dos Santos, the surgery went “great” and he isn’t feeling any pain. He plans to return to Salvador, Brazil tomorrow. The even better news is JDS should be back in training in the next 20-30 days so hopefully his injury won’t delay the next UFC heavyweight title fight. my knee surgery was great I'm feeling very well no pain and just resting a little bit. Tomorrow morning I'm gonna go back to Salvadorabout 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite@junior_ciganojuniorcigano Image via Portal Do Vale Tudo

Posted in: ufc, do, knee, surgery, im feeling

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Newly crowned UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior "Cigano" dos Santos shared thoughts about his future challenges inside the Octagon. Dos Santos is exected to face the winner of UFC 141 main event bout between the former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar and the reigning Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, which will take place on December 30th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dos Santos stated it makes no difference who wins between the two, since both Lesnar and Overeem are "big, strong guys" who are

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, event bout, cigano dos

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Cain Velasquez may have lost his UFC title to Junior dos Santos, but that's only proving to be an opportunity for him to prove he truly has the heart of a champion.

Posted in: ufc, champion, do, velasquez, ufc title

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Does Junior Dos Santos have a spy in his camp?He certainly has a story that sounds very similar to the ‘spy gate’ drama that enfolded Quinton...

Posted in: do, story, spy, knee injury, enfolded

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Junior Dos Santos claims he is keeping an open mind on Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.Speaking during an appearance at the Pretorian store in Sao Paulo...

Posted in: do, brock lesnar, lesnar, pretorian store, alistair overeemspeaking

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With his fast first round knockout win of former undefeated champion Cain Velasquez at the inaugural UFC on Fox 1 show on Nov. 12, 2011, Junior dos Santos showed the reason he is considered by many to be the best heavyweight striker in mixed martial arts (MMA) today. Throughout his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career, dos Santos has preferred the stand up game because the results thus far are nothing short of impressive. Of his eight victories with the promotion, five of them have come via (technical) knockout. Now the proud new owner of a gold shiny world championship belt, "Cigano" has another gold award set in his sights: an Olympic medal. Speaking to Tatame.com, the new UFC heavyweight champion hints at the possibility of making a run at a medal in boxing at the upcoming Olympic games in 2016, which are slated to take place right in his own backyard. Check it out: "My trainings begin and end with Boxing. There're dynamics and strategies I'm already used to. But I'll test myself, it's inevitable. Who knows I get an Olympic medal. Everything's possible." Luiz Carlos Dorea, Junior's head trainer, believes he has a great chance to shine in the Olympics. "The adaptations from Boxing to MMA are complexes. You gotta be careful about blocking the kicks and takedowns. If he's already above average combining all those things, imagine when he fights traditional Boxing. The chances he'll shine are huge, both on professional and Olympic Boxing." If "Cigano" hopes to make a run at the Olympics, he would likely have to receive the blessing of his current employer, Zuffa/UFC, which have been notorious for not allowing fighters to participate in any other combat sport while under contract. In the past, high profile fighters such as Alistair Overeem had been hesitant to sign with the promotion because of its strict "exclusivity," which prevented him from participating in K-1 kickboxing events. Of course, when it pursued Fedor Emelianenko, his Sambo tournaments were an early deal breaker, too. Then again, it's more than four years from now -- much can happen between then and now. For now, dos Santos, 27, has plenty of work ahead of him in the UFC's heavyweight division. In fact, his next fight could very well be against another heavyweight who is considered to have some of the best striking in the game, the previously mentioned Overeem. "Demolition Man," the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix champion, is set to take on Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 30, 2011. The winner will get first crack at "Cigano's" heavyweight strap. A match up between Dos Santos and Overeem could definitely prove just who indeed has the best striking in the UFC's heavyweight division. Does "Cigano" have the chops to hang with Olympic caliber boxers? Or would the mixed martial artist be biting off a little bit more than he can chew?

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submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [3 comments]

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Gleison Tibau took the split decision over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 139 tonight. He came into the fight undefeated in 2011 with wins over Kurt Pellegrino and Rafaelo Oliveira. Rafael dos Anjos was riding a big win over George Sotiropoulos which he won by knockout.  The fight was extremely even in the first round with neither fight able to establish a clear advantage over the other. The one highlight of the round was when Tibau landed a big right hand that staggered dos Anjos. Tibau was unable to take advantage and the round ended.  The second round was clearly Gleison Tibau's when he had dos Anjos rocked against the fence. He threw continuous overhands hoping to finish dos Anjos but just couldn't find the button. The round ended but it was as clear as day that he was the winner of the round. The third began and dos Anjos had Tibau stunned a bit with a big straight right. He wasn't able to push the action and Tibau was able to finish the round strong.  The judges scored the fight 30-27, 29-28, and 28-29 for Gleison Tibau who picked up his tenth UFC victory.  SBN coverage of UFC 139: Henderson vs. Rua

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In truth, Rafael dos Anjos thought his UFC career was over before it ever really began. Starting his octagon run with losses to Tyson Griffin and Jeremy Stephens, the Rio de Janeiro resident assumed he'd probably be released from the promotion. "I didn't know if I'd be cut when I lost to Stephens," dos Anjos recently told MMAjunkie.com in his native Portuguese. "But they gave me another tough guy in Griffin, and I lost again, so I was sure I was going to be cut."

Posted in: jeremy stephens, ufc career, do, anjo, ufc splash

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As he enters UFC 139, Rafael Dos Anjos may be one of the most overlooked prospects in the lightweight division.

Posted in: ufc, do, anjo, edgar munoz, rafael

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When Junior dos Santos knocked out Cain Velasquez to win the heavyweight championship at UFC on Fox 1 on Nov. 12 in Anaheim, California, he did so after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee just 10 days before the fight. Or at least that's what he and his doctor are saying. Interestingly enough, a question that has gone unasked since that information was made available is how exactly he was allowed to fight with such an injury. Naturally, it's Chael Sonnen (via MMA Live) who finally brought it up: "Biggest story coming out of this night, I'm not going to let us move on until we talk about this -- Junior dos Santos saying he's got a knee injury. Look, if that's marketing, fine. If he legitimately had an injury, this is the biggest story to come out of that night because that is a violation against the Athletic Commission. He signs, under penalty of perjury, a letter stating that he is not hiding any ailment. At best, that's a fine, at worst that's a suspension. I think it's marketing. I think he's lying to the media, and that's fine. If he lies to the government, big problems." It should be noted that Franklin McNeil quickly noted that dos Santos has already had knee surgery to correct the issues he was having. Are we to assume that means "Cigano" lied to the commission about his knee so he could stay on the card to fight for the title? On the flip side of the coin, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan claimed Velasquez had to take a shot in his knee beforehand just to compete. That would also raise a few questions about the legitimacy of either the injury or the commission, no? Either way, it's quite the mess that seems to have flown almost completely under the radar. Is that because no one wants to make waves or because no one cares? Thoughts?

Posted in: do, injury, knee, knee injury, that

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Newly crowned UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos ($220,000) topped an ominous sounding $666,000 payroll for the UFC’s Fox debut. Dos Santos’s opponent, Cain Velasquez, had the second highest payout on the card coming in at $100,000 for his efforts. Below is the total payroll for UFC on Fox 1. As always the standard disclaimer applies, these numbers do not reflect bonus money, sponsor payouts, locker room bonuses, or any other payouts related to the event. Total payroll: Junior Dos Santos: $220,000 (includes $110,000 win bonus) def. Cain Velasquez: $100,000 Ben Henderson: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Clay Guida: $40,000 Dustin Poirier: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Pablo Garza: $8,000 Ricardo Lamas: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Cub Swanson: $15,000 DaMarques Johnson: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus) def. Clay Harvison: $8,000 Darren Uyenoyama: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)def. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto: $15,000 Robert Peralta: $16,000 (includes $ win bonus) def. Mackens Semerzier: $8,000 Alex Caceres: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Cole Escovedo: $6,000 Mike Pierce: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus) def. Paul Bradley: $18,000 Aaron Rosa $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Matt Lucas: $6,000 More UFC on Fox coverage: UFC on Fox results, UFC on Fox bonuses, UFC on Fox ratings

Posted in: ufc, fox, do, bonus,  ufc

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Chael Sonnen turned his sights on Junior Dos Santos this week, accusing the new heavyweight champion of faking his knee injury as a marketing angle.After...

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Brazilian banger Junior Dos Santos made a minimum of US$265,000 in dethroning UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.

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Junior dos Santos walked away from UFC on Fox 1 the big winner on Saturday, as the Brazilian took home both the UFC heavyweight title and the evening's largest payday.

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Affable heavyweight Junior dos Santos exited Anaheim last weekend as a UFC champion and, as it turns out, the highest paid fighter on the UFC on FOX 1 card too. The 27-year old Brazilian earned a total of $285,000 for his performance against former title-holder Cain Velasquez including a $110,000 base salary, a $110,000 bonus for coming away with his hand raised, and another $65,000 for scoring the evening’s “Knockout of the Night”. Though technically the bulk of the work a Mixed Martial Artist does takes place away from the arena, ultimately “Cigano” was paid nearly $4,500/second after finishing the previously unbeaten Velasquez in sixty-four seconds. News of the UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos salaries were released via the California State Athletic Commission. Dos Santos Sees Rematch with Velasquez in his Future Other fighters topping the six-figure mark included Velasquez ($100,000), as well as Clay Guida ($105,000) and Ben Henderson ($125,000) whose totals were greatly assisted by the cash attached to “Fight of the Night” honors. Here is a complete rundown of UFC on FOX 1 paydays: Aaron Rosa: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Matt Lucas: $6,000 Mike Pierce: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus) def. Paul Bradley: $18,000 Alex Caceres: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Cole Escovedo: $5,000 Robert Peralta: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Mackens Semerzier: $8,000 Darren Uyenoyama: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto: $15,000 DaMarques Johnson: $28,000 (includes $14,000 win bonus) def. Clay Harvison: $8,000 Ricardo Lamas: $85,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus, $65,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus) def. Cub Swanson: $15,000 Dustin Poirier: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Pablo Garza: $8,000 Ben Henderson: $125,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus, $65,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus) def. Clay Guida: $105,000 (includes $65,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus) Junior Dos Santos: $285,000 (includes $110,000 win bonus, $65,000 “Knockout of the Night” bonus) def. Cain Velasquez: $100,000 PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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UFC on Fox 1 fighters totaled a disclosed fighter payroll of $654,000. It was no surprise that new heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos was the big money winner.

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The official fighter purses for those who competed at UFC on FOX: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" this past Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011) from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., were released earlier today by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). Main event participants, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez ($100,000) and newly-crowned division kingpin Junior dos Santos ($220,000), claimed nearly half the disclosed $666,000 fighter payroll. Former WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson came in second with $60,000 by defeating Clay Guida ($40,000), while Mike Pierce got a cool 36k for outworking Paul Bradley ($8,000). Here is the complete list of UFC on FOX payouts: Junior dos Santos: $220,000 ($110,000 to show, $110,000 to win) Cain Velasquez: $100,000 Dos Santos def. Velasquez via knockout Ben Henderson: $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win) Clay Guida: $40,000 Henderson def. Guida via unanimous decision Dustin Poirier: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win) Pablo Garza: $8,000 Poirier def. Garza via submission (Brabo choke) Ricardo Lamas: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win) Cub Swanson: $15,000 Lamas def. Swanson via submission (arm-triangle choke) DaMarques Johnson: $28,000 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 to win) Clay Harvison: $8,000 Johnson def. Harvison via knockout Darren Uyenoyama: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win) Norifumi Yamamoto: $15,000 Uyenoyama def. Yamamoto via unanimous decision Robert Peralta: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win) Mackens Semerzier: $8,000 Peralta def. Semerzier via technical knockout Alex Caceres: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win) Cole Escovedo: $6,000 Caceres def. Escovedo via unanimous decision Mike Pierce: $36,000 ($18,000 to show, $18,000 to win) Paul Bradley: $8,000 Pierce def. Bradley via split decision Aaron Rosa: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Matt Lucas: $6,000 Rosa def. Lucas via majority decision Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC on FOX go here. For complete UFC on FOX 1 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

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Junior dos Santos takes over UFC heavyweight title that has been riddled with injuries, illness, litigation, and interim champs in recent years.

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New UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos snagged the belt and the biggest disclosed payday at UFC on FOX, collecting $220,000 in salary and win bonus. The California State Athletic Commission released the information to MMA Fighting on Thursday. dos Santos beat champ Cain Velasquez in a 64-second knockout in the night's main event. dos Santos also earned the night's Knockout of the Night bonus, pocketing another $65,000 and bringing his total disclosed payday to $285,000. Velasquez earned a disclosed amount of $100,000, but likely earned far more as the UFC renegotiated his deal after moving his fight from pay-per-view to network television. Velasquez usually receives a cut of the pay-per-view proceeds. Velasquez also received a mandatory 45-day suspension following his knockout loss. Co-main event winner Ben Henderson earned $60,000 for his three-round unanimous decision over Clay Guida. The victory also earned Henderson the No. 1 contender spot in the lightweight division, and a February date with champ Frank Edgar. Full salary and suspension information is as follows: Junior dos Santos - $220,000 ($100,00 salary/$110,000 win bonus) Cain Velasquez - $100,000 Velasquez - 45 day suspension, 30 days no contact Ben Henderson - $60,000 ($30,000/$30,000) Clay Guida - $40,000 No suspensions Dustin Poirier - $20,000 ($10,000/$10,000) Pablo Garza - $8,000 No suspensions Ricardo Lamas - $20,000 ($10,000/$10,000) Cub Swanson - $15,000 No suspensions Demarques Johnson - $28,000 ($14,000/$14,000) Clay Harvison - $8,000 Harvison suspended for 45 days, 30 days no contact Darren Uyenoyama - $12,000 ($6,000/$6,000) Kid Yamamoto - $15,000 Uyenoyams suspended 60/60 cut to left eyebrow Yamamoto 180/180 possible fracture to left hand finger Robert Peralta - $16,000 ($8,000/$8,000) Mackens Semerzier $8,000 Semerzier suspended 45/30 for TKO and 60/60 for cut to scalp Alex Caceres - $16,000 ($8,000/$8,000) Cole Escovedo $6,000 No suspensions Mike Pierce- $36,000 ($18,000/$18,000) Bradley $8,000 Bradley suspended 180/180 for possible left elbow fracture Mike Lucas - $6,000 Aaron Rosa - $12,000 ($6,000/$6,000) Rosa suspended 180/180 for possible left wrist fracture. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Thank you all very much for your support and helping us CRUSH our 1st fight on FOX!!about 3 hours ago via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite@danawhiteDana White The rest of the ratings for the UFC’s network television debut on FOX are finally in. And like before, the numbers continue to look better as more information comes in. The key number in this final ratings report is the peak rating. According to MMA Junkie, nearly nine million people watched Junior dos Santos finish Cain Velasquez in a little over a minute. This past weekend’s UFC on FOX headliner between Cain Velasquez and new champ Junior Dos Santos peaked with a solid 8.8 million viewers on the FOX network, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed with industry sources. MMA Junkie added that the viewership dropped down to 5.9 million within three minutes of the bout’s abrupt conclusion, so if the fight had gone several rounds, the average viewership of 5.7 million likely would have been much higher. While it’s surely disappointing that didn’t happen, the numbers turned out to be quite solid, especially when you consider that FOX sold their ad inventory based on a predicted 4.5 million viewers. At the end of the day, it’s all about selling commercials for these networks and not disappointing their advertisers is never a bad thing. On a related note, Spike TV only managed to trick 719,000 viewers into watching replays of Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos fights on their channel while the live fight was going down on FOX. Fuel TV drew 83,000 viewers for the pre-fight show and 37,000 viewers for the post-fight show. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a pretty significant jump compared to the 18,000 viewers Fuel TV averaged in those same time slots one week prior. All in all, it seems the UFC-FOX partnership had a very successful opening night.

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Cain Velasquez versus Junior Dos Santos is now officially the most-watched MMA fight in history.At its peak it drew 8.8 million viewers, outstripping the...

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The UFC 139: Henderson vs. Rua live pay-per-view will feature a five-piece undercard stream on the UFC's Facebook page. The Facebook prelims will stream prior to the hour-long Spike TV broadcast that airs at 8 p.m. ET. For reasons unknown, the Michael McDonald vs. Alex Soto bout was swapped with the Tom Lawlor vs. Chris Weidman match to the Spike prelims and Lawlor-Weidman was bumped down to the Facebook undercard. This leaves the following layout for the Facebook stream: Nick Pace vs. Miguel Torres Rafael dos Anjos vs. Gleison Tibau Tom Lawlor vs. Chris Weidman Seth Baczynski vs. Matt Brown Shamar Bailey vs. Danny Castillo The Pace vs. Torres scrap will be detailed separately and the remaining four match ups will be covered within. Gleison Tibau (24-7) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (15-5) is the first fight on tap after the break. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 139: Henderson vs. Rua Two Brazilians with black-belt grappling credentials will look to vault up the ladder in the UFC's stacked lightweight class. In what was only his second career TKO, dos Anjos crushed Australian contender George Sotiropoulos in the first round at UFC 132. The victory was pivotal for dos Anjos, as he was coming off a loss to Clay Guida, who snapped his three-fight streak in the process. It was a rather wild but well-placed and timed right hook that caught the Aussie's chin in a heated exchange (above). After back-to-back losses in his first two UFC fights (Jeremy Stephens and Tyson Griffin), dos Anjos reeled off nonstop kicks to Robert Emerson 's leg, scored a second decision victory over Kyle Bradley, then finished Terry Etim with an armbar (right). Seven of dos Anjos' fifteen career wins come via submission, with another two by TKO. His recently improved striking and quickness will be vital against the hulking ATT behemoth he's facing. Tibau is high on two career rejuvenating wins over New Jersey fighters Kurt Pellegrino and Rafaello Oliveira. After an encouraging victory over Etim, Tibau's descent to 155-pounds was side-tracked by consecutive losses to Tyson Griffin and Joe Stevenson. He bounced back with two in a row over Rich Clementi and Stephens, but would again suffer a setback in a razor-thin split-decision against Melvin Guillard. Continuing to ride the wave, two more wins followed (Josh Neer, Caol Uno) before Jim Miller handed him another loss by decision. Turning things around in his last two is a fitting example of the unyielding and gritty determination that fuels Tibau. After a slow start, he began to impose his massive frame in the clinch to put Pellegrino on his back and overtake the momentum. His significant size advantage usually fosters applying his BJJ background from the top position with good submission avoidance and ground-and-pound. His boxing has also tightened up and he's able to hold his own behind a stiff jab and right cross. He's a bully in the clinch with the multiple threat of punches, elbows, knees and takedown attempts. These fighters are both well rounded and have been camped on the fringe of the lightweight elite. It's a tough fight to call. Both have different styles but are equally effective in most areas, with Tibau having the edge in strength, size and wrestling; dos Anjos with his quickness, footwork and more polished kickboxing. The betting lines hold Tibau as a substantial favorite, probably based on the likelihood that he'll grind out a decision. I also feel that his submission knowledge and ability to out-muscle dos Anjos makes him a safer pick, though dos Anjos could cause problems if he continues to up his punching power and attacks with his cracking low kicks. I also think he could catch Tibau in a submission during a scramble or after a heated striking flurry. I foresee this turning out like Tyson Griffin's fight with dos Anjos, where the better wrestler narrowly escaped a handful of precarious situations to pull out a decision win. My Prediction: Gleison Tibau by decision Tom Lawlor (7-3) vs. Chris Weidman (6-0) Serra-Longo Fight Team rep Chris Weidman exploded onto the scene with a commanding decision over Alessio Sakara with less than a month to prepare in his UFC debut. Weidman brings two-time All American wrestling honors at both the junior college and Division 1 level. Also billed as a Grappler's Quest and US BJJ champion while training under Matt Serra, Weidman is no stranger to the submission grappling game. In his breakout win over Sakara, it was a simple case of specialty vs. specialty with wrestling -- as usual -- coming out on top. Weidman neutralized Sakara's boxing with cage-grinding and takedown tactics. Next up for the rising middleweight prospect was Jesse Bongfeldt at UFC 131. Weidman was no less impressive, this time notching a stoppage with a wicked guillotine choke from the front headlock position (below). While his wrestling prowess has been phenomenal, what little of Weidman's striking we've seen has looked solid. His excellent base allows him more freedom in the stand up, such as how he easily regains his balance after delivering the stiff knee to Bongfeldt's midsection (left). Bongfeldt times his double-leg well and gets a good grasp on Weidman's hips, but the wrestler is just too poised and not only avoids the danger but tacks on a fight-finishing submission in the exchange. Weidman has been trumpeted as one of the hottest middleweight prospects -- and rightfully so -- but he's yet to face a top-level opponent or someone who can give him a challenge wrestling-wise. That is precisely why I think "Filthy" Tom Lawlor is being criminally overlooked here, as the slanted betting odds indicate. Weigh-in shenanigans aside, this is a guy that beat a hefty light-heavyweight in Kyle Kingsbury before dropping a full twenty-pounds to middleweight. With a loss by DQ as his only only flaw leading into his Octagon stint, Lawlor decisioned Kingsbury and submitted C.B. Dollaway in the first round of his middleweight debut. Lawlor is a three-time National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) champion who has already tangled with a litany of adept UFC wrestlers and relied on strengths elsewhere to overcome them. To the left we see almost the same guillotine that Weidman caught Bongfeldt with above. Dollaway tries to time his double-leg when Lawlor is throwing his hands and gets more penetration with his head than he does with his takedown. Lawlor's best performance by far was against Aaron Simpson, whose D1 All American wrestling credentials make him quite comparable to Weidman. Despite losing a split-decision, Lawlor unveiled a shocking onslaught of crisp boxing and dominated Simpson in the first round, rocking him with punches on multiple occasions. The second round was much closer but it was obvious in the third that Lawlor's pace had slowed dramatically. Simpson finished strong and took a split-decision. Another loss would follow, as sub-whiz Joe Doerksen would secure a rear-naked choke in Lawlor's next outing. He returned with a commanding decision over Patrick Cote at UFC 121. I'm always rather hesitant to side with promising but inexperienced prospects in their first huge leap in competition, especially when they don't have a glaring advantage to exploit. I think Weidman is the better wrestler, but Lawlor has been hell on wheels for equally talented takedown artists, methodically pressuring them with tight punches and threatening with submissions in tie-ups. He also fine-tunes his boxing accordingly, hammering a stiff uppercut through the pocket to discourage dropping levels and staying light on his feet with good footwork. Weidman definitely has the potential to win this one, but I'm leaning towards the experience, boxing and smaller gap in wrestling to give Lawlor the upset. My Prediction: Tom Lawlor by decision Matt Brown (12-10) vs. Seth Baczynski In what seemed like an unfavorable match up after losing three-straight, Matt Brown thoroughly handled John Howard on the UFC Live on Versus 4 card. With cannons blazing in typical fashion, Brown clipped Howard on the feet, was rugged with strikes in the clinch and stayed ultra-active off his back to take a definitive decision victory. Brown is another fiercely offensive-minded fighter who is deadly in every facet except wrestling. He's the caliber of fighter who may never challenge for a title but, in my opinion, deserves a spot on the roster for his rugged gameness and consistent excitement. Brown always shows subtle hints of brilliance, such as the slick foot sweep he hits on Howard to the left. The voraciousness of his kickboxing came to light with the blazing combination he landed on Pete Sell and Brown's demonstrated a firm grasp of BJJ mechanics when put on his back. His kicks are crippling, his hand speed is phenomenal and he has a tangible aura of pure grit and toughness. Since he set up shop with legendary trainer Matt Hume at AMC Pankration, Brown has excelled in rounding out his arsenal. He's learned to capitalize on his Diaz-like reach length (76") to enhance his already powerful striking, his feisty submission grappling has grown to a formidable level (see: near D'arce choke on black belt Chris Lytle) and he's tremendously elevated his overall skill-set in the last few years. Defensively, Brown has a sketchy habit of keeping his hands low and has trouble staying afoot against savvy wrestlers. Hailing from Arizona's Power MMA Team, Seth Baczynski deserves credit for keeping his nose to the grindstone after an unsuccessful stint on TUF just like Brown. Fans may recall the controversial kick he landed to a downed Brad Tavares, which resulted in a DQ and his second ticket home. He was initially defeated by Court McGee in the elimination round, but returned when an injury left a void and won a fight before facing Tavares. Despite losing the rematch to Tavares at the TUF 11 Finale, "The Polish Pistola" would eventually return. Dropping to 170, he compiled two wins outside the UFC: one against tough journeyman Tim McKenzie (though again shrouded by controversy) and the other over Alex Garcia, both by TKO. He stepped in to face Clay Harvison at UFC Fight Night 25 and tacked on his third consecutive stoppage, this time with a rear-naked choke after folding Harvison with a nasty shovel punch (right). Baczynski is also a tough and resilient scrapper and I expect fireworks in this fight. I'd give him the clear wrestling edge and he'll be significantly bigger and stronger (6'3" vs. 5'7") and will have the advantage of control, though that's not an unfamiliar circumstance for Brown. I can see Baczynski weighing down on Brown in the clinch and hitting just enough takedowns to win the round, but I like Brown here for his avid submission game and the cleaner set of strikes. My Prediction: Matt Brown by submission Danny Castillo (11-4) vs. Shamar Bailey (12-4) Many forget that Team Alpha Male's Danny Castillo is responsible for the sole blemish on Dustin Poirier's record. He has Ju-Co level wrestling accolades but conducts himself more like a ruthless slugger. Three of Castillo's defeats come at the hands of upper-tier WEC lightweights in Donald Cerrone, Shane Roller (both by submission) and Anthony Pettis (TKO). He beat Joe Stevenson in his UFC debut but was out-muscled by Jacob Volkmann in the follow up. Shamar Bailey didn't gain many fans from the control-first outlook he showed on TUF. Already a big dude, he's now dropped to 155 and started well with a gutsy and encouraging loss to Evan Dunham. While Bailey's striking looked much improved, it was his iron-chin that attracted attention. Dunham bounced everything but the kitchen sink off of Bailey, who refused to relent and kept on coming forward. Castillo is a pretty large favorite on the betting lines but, while I'm still picking him to win, I wouldn't count Bailey out. Bailey can surely replicate the overbearing wrestling that Castillo has struggled with in the past, though I don't think he'll offer the same level of submission grappling of those who've defeated Castillo. The way he takes chances and slings haymakers could leave him exposed for takedowns, but I think Castillo has the scrambling ability to negate his fair share of takedowns and will know what to expect. Bailey's striking could make the difference, as he caught Dunham clean on more than one occasion, and he might be worth a look for the upset here. My Prediction: Danny Castillo by decision       dos Anjos vs. Etim gif via MMA-Core.com Baczynski vs. Tavares gif via smoogy All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Tibau vs. dos Anjos, Lawlor vs. Weidman Tibau and Lawlor Tibau and Weidman dos Anjos and Lawlor dos Anjos and Weidman   16 votes | Results

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Hello, smashing success? UFC on FOX, pleased to meet you. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White optimistically declared a few months ago that the first ever foray for his promotion on network television on Nov. 12, 2011, would blow the previous ratings record for a mixed martial arts (MMA) event "out of the water." And while at first it looked like he was wrong, when the final tally came in, he was right. That's because SI.com brings word that the "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event broadcast peaked with a staggering 8.8 million viewers this past Saturday night. Here's a bit more for the SI.com report: In minute-by-minute ratings, the 9 p.m. primetime telecast dipped to 8.741 million viewers at the 41-minute mark (the fight's conclusion), then dipped to 6 million viewers by 9:45 p.m. The telecast began with approximately 5.2 million viewers and dipped as low to approximately 4.4 million before starting its main climb around 9:36 p.m. The total broadcast averaged 5.7 million viewers, which was considered a success without anyone getting too overly enthusiastic about it. The peak number, however, gives reason for optimism for later broadcasts. There's no word on when exactly the next UFC on FOX event will be, though the very first UFC on FX show is being targeted for Jan. 20 in Nashville. Anyone care to venture what those debut ratings will look like? Anticipation is surely much higher now. UFC on FOX featured just one fight, a 64-second knockout win for Junior dos Santos, who stripped Cain Velasquez of the heavyweight crown via first round technical knockout at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. For complete UFC on FOX 1 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

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"It was an amazing fight. Well, you know, (Junior Dos Santos) has brilliant timing. He has great timing and great knockout power and he did exactly what he wanted to do. For him, it was the win with a perfect fight. He picked a spot, found an opening, landed and boom: that was it. I think if I was Cain Velasquez’s coach, if I would say, if he needed some area, he should’ve tried to take Junior down, he should've tried to tire Junior out. But to try to stand with him ... I think he overestimated his striking and Junior is one of the best, if not the best boxer in mixed martial arts." Despite two takedown attempts, an average of one every 30 seconds, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan tells Tatame.com that Cain Velasquez still spent too much time on his feet in a 64-second loss to Brazilian bricklayer Junior dos Santos, who usurped the heavyweight crown via thunderous knockout at UFC on FOX last Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011) in Anaheim, California. Has the media been too hard on Velasquez, who was keeping the distance and landing effective leg kicks before getting creamed? Or did he simply "overestimate" his striking? Thoughts?

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UFC 139 play-by-play of Gleison Tibau vs. Rafael Dos Anjos on Saturday, Nov. 19, in San Jose, California.

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Crushing Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox, Junior dos Santos blasted his way to the top stop in the heavyweight rankings; plus we've added an oft-requested feature!

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Cain Velasquez’s quick loss to Junior Dos Santos at the weekend seemed to cause UFC president some consternation, at least initially.It was speculated...

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Luiz Carlos Dorea won the WBC International welterweight title in his short professional career before hanging up his gloves and moving into coaching.He...

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The UFC has signed Junior Dos Santos’ sparring partner to a multi-fight agreement.Edinaldo Oliveira will debut at UFC 142 in January. The event takes...

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Days after winning the UFC heavyweight championship, reports are coming in that Junior dos Santos is headed for surgery.

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In case you tuned in late on Saturday night and only saw Dana White criticizing the game plan of Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos defeated Velasquez in a few ticks north of a minute to capture the UFC heavyweight title. The victory was Dos Santos’ eighth win in the octagon, with six coming by stoppage due to strikes. JDS is a knockout artist and now the best heavyweight in the world. It’s a shame that the UFC president didn’t hype him up as such after his 64-second knockout in front of the largest UFC audience ever. The Brazilian champion is like the MMA version of Mike Tyson, except that he hasn’t faltered against top competition. See, while Tyson knocked out cans but lost to good fighters like Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, “Cigano” has had nothing but tough fights in the UFC and has passed with flying colors. Fabricio Werdum was one win away from a heavyweight title shot. JDS was a +500 underdog. JDS knocked him out cold with an uppercut. Stefan Struve is the tallest fighter in the UFC and has competed in professional kickboxing. JDS swarmed on him and stopped him with strikes in under a minute. Mirko Filipovic is a MMA legend and one of the most feared strikers in MMA history. JDS beat him up for twelve minutes before “Cro Cop” decided that he wanted no more. Gilbert Yvel, while not a great fighter, is a dangerous striker with a ton of power. JDS put him away with a beautiful left hook. Gabriel Gonzaga was a former title contender who had fought plenty of top guys. JDS starched him in under four minutes. Roy Nelson is a well-rounded veteran and one of the toughest guys in the sport. JDS beat him on him from start to finish. Shane Carwin is a powerful wrestler with crazy power. JDS turned his face into hamburger meat for three rounds. Velasquez was undefeated and considered the best heavyweight in the world. JDS knocked him clean out. Point out the flaws of his competition all you want, but he beat the guys put in front of him and did so in impressive fashion every single time. He hasn’t lost a single round in eight UFC fights. So far, the only knock against him is that his conditioning might be questionable just because he finishes guys so quickly and looked a bit tired from kicking so much ass for the duration of the bout. People question his ground game, but when he’s been put on his back, he’s immediately gotten to his feet. The way people talk about JDS reminds me of the way people talked about Chuck Liddell when he was the top light heavyweight in the UFC. “You have to drag Chuck into deep waters and really test his conditioning.” That’s pretty tough to do when Chuck knocked you out in the first round and beat you up so bad that your conditioning was worse than his by the time the fight got into the championship rounds. “You have to get Chuck on his back and make him uncomfortable.” That’s pretty tough to do when every time you go for a takedown Chuck made you pay with strikes or immediately popped up to his feet if you got him down. Right now the holes in Dos Santos’ game are hypothetical, because no one has proved they exist. And even if they do exist, if you’re unconscious before you get a chance to expose them, then what good does it do you to know them? UFC did Dos Santos a huge disservice on Saturday night. First with Joe Rogan calling him a “throwback to the old UFC days” like JDS is some one-dimensional puncher who can’t do anything else and then Dana immediately talking about Velasquez’s mistakes instead of crediting JDS. In fact, Dana didn’t once credit his new heavyweight champion in the post-fight broadcast instead focusing only on what Cain did wrong and even questioning the cardio of JDS. “Cigano” is without a doubt the best heavyweight on the planet. He’s beaten all challengers put in front of him, he’s fought injured, he’s fought tired, he’s fought when he didn’t need to, and he’s never lost a single round in the organization. He’s the most feared striker in the heavyweight division with his technical ability, his timing, and his knockout power. Everyone who has stood with him has gotten beat up. Dos Santos deserves all the credit in the world for what he did on Saturday night. He fought The Terminator and he reprogrammed him. He fought Machete and he got the job done. Not even Steven Seagal could do that. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Dream big. "What I want to hear is ‘the NEW UFC heavyweight champion,' that's what I want to hear. I sometimes imagine Bruce Buffer saying that, and it gives me motivation. Becoming the champion is a dream so big that I could never have imagined it." That's an excerpt from Nov. 11, 2011, just one day before Junior dos Santos did what he set out to do since the first day he stepped foot inside the Octagon: Become UFC heavyweight champion. Now that dream has been realized, with a violent 64-second stoppage over Cain Velasquez at the UFC on FOX event this past Saturday night from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In a promotion whose tagline is "as real as it gets," "Cigano's" victory was about as big as it gets. Not only did he win the heavyweight title against one of the sport's finest athletes, he did it in front of a record-breaking audience on network television. The Brazilian boxer worked very hard to get the belt and he's not ready to let it go. Or take it off, for that matter. Not even to go to bed, according to his wife (via SporTV): "He doesn't leave the belt's side. I spoke to him five hours after the fight and he was lying on the bed of the hotel (getting ready to go to sleep), with the belt." It's impossible to hear of Junior's devotion to the title and not recall the hilarious Tim Sylvia interview with Sherdog's Savage Radio Show, where "The Maine-iac" admitted to leaving the strap around his waist during coitus. "I've had sex before with the belt on. That was back in the Ricco Rodriguez days. The night I won the belt I had a sexual experience with the belt on, but hey, I was 25 years old and it was the biggest thing that ever had happened to me in my life. The girl was like, ‘Hey, are you going to take that thing off?' and I said ‘No, I'm not. I'm wearing it and if you have a problem with it, then I'm leaving.' I hate to say it, but if I do win the belt again, then this time it's never coming off. I'm going to wear it a lot more." Dos Santos is heading back to Brazil to recuperate from a knee injury he suffered prior to his UFC on FOX title fight. That means he's likely to be stuck at home with lots of downtime. Be on your guard, Mrs. JDS! For a complete recap of "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" click here. For video highlights click here and for complete UFC on FOX 1 results and recap of all the night's action click here and here.

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Three. That's the number every UFC Heavyweight champion is trying to reach. Three consecutive defenses of the belt. So far, no one has been able to get there, with only three men (Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture and Tim Sylvia) ever defending the belt more than once. After UFC 121, the question was asked of Cain Velasquez - could he break the record? At the UFC on Fox show, Junior dos Santos proved that he couldn't - not yet at least. So now, it's dos Santos in the hot seat, and the question has to be asked again. Can Junior dos Santos break the record? Can he finally bring stability to the UFC Heavyweight division? History is not on his side. The Heavyweight title is the oldest belt in UFC history, dating back to the days of men like Dan Severn and Maurice Smith. It's jumped around numerous times, sometimes due to unsuccessful title defenses, sometimes because out of the cage activities have left it vacant. Yet through all these years, no man has made a real claim as the definitive UFC Heavyweight champion the way men like Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, and Anderson Silva have done in other divisions. Perhaps that is simply the nature of the Heavyweight division. With their large frames and heavy hands, Heavyweight fighters add a greater air of unpredictability to their fights, and run the risk of burning out from injury faster. Cain Velasquez is a perfect example. Touted as a possible dynasty building champion, he went down to injury shortly after winning the belt, and in his first defense suffered a 64 second KO loss. Which brings us back to the new UFC Heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos. So, can he do it? My honest opinion? No, he can't. As Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg like to point out, dos Santos is a specialist. He uses those heavy hands to knock out his opponents, and he's had great success with that so far. He's fought wrestlers like Shane Carwin and jiu jitsu experts like Fabricio Werdum, and he's forced them all to fight his fight - to stand up and trade, and eventually, to fall. But when I look at the UFC Heavyweight division, I see too many fighters that pose real question marks for dos Santos. Brock Lesnar - can Cigano regain his feet if the massive Lesnar does manage to take the fight to the ground? Alistair Overeem - can dos Santos outstrike a K-1 champion? And what about Strikeforce Heavyweight Josh Barnett - can the champ avoid Barnett's catch wrestling takedowns and ground control? To bring that stability to the division, dos Santos will have to answer each of these questions with a definitive yes, all while staying healthy. It's a tall order, one that has taken down some of the sport's best Heavyweights, and given dos Santos's extreme reliance on those big punches over all else, I'm not sure he can get there. Of course, if dos Santos can pull it off he can be the man to finally, after over 15 years, stake his claim as the UFC's definitive Heavyweight champion. History may not be on his side, but the power in his right hand definitely is. We'll see which one wins.SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Poll How many times will Junior dos Santos successfully defend the UFC title? None 1 2 3 or more   123 votes | Results

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Filed under: UFC, Rankings, HeavyweightsJunior Dos Santos has had a rather amazing UFC career. Signed to make his debut against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 90, Dos Santos was such a big underdog that some people suggested he was only brought to the UFC because it would give Werdum an easy win on his way to a heavyweight title shot. Instead, Dos Santos knocked Werdum out in the first round, beginning a UFC run that would lead to him taking the heavyweight belt from Cain Velasquez on Saturday night. There's nothing the least bit fancy about what Dos Santos does: He just hits the other guy really, really hard. Dos Santos is 8-0 in the UFC, and he finished six of his opponents with punches, while winning the other two fights by lopsided unanimous decision, battering those two opponents with punches for 15 minutes each. And yet even though everyone who steps into the Octagon with Dos Santos knows what's coming, no one can do anything about it. Dos Santos has never had an easy opponent: Between Werdum and Velasquez his victims were Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, Gilbert Yvel, Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin. And yet Dos Santos always makes it look easy. So there's little doubt that Dos Santos is at the top of our heavyweight rankings. For the rest of the rankings, see below. Top 10 heavyweights in mixed martial arts (Editor's note: The individual fighter's ranking the last time we did heavyweights are in parentheses.) 1. Junior Dos Santos (2): The biggest question for the UFC's bottom line is how many of the new viewers who tuned in to see the fight on Saturday night are now Dos Santos fans who will pay to watch him again. Dos Santos isn't a proven pay-per-view draw yet, but he's an appealing and likable fighter who has just reached by far his biggest audience yet. 2. Cain Velasquez (1): I firmly believe that Velasquez will be back. Velasquez has too much talent and too much work ethic not to be fighting for the heavyweight title again some day in the future. 3. Alistair Overeem (3): I think Overeem would represent the most interesting possible opponent for Dos Santos. Overeem is the one fighter in the heavyweight division who might actually be a better striker than Dos Santos, and if Overeem can beat Brock Lesnar on December 30, then some time in 2012 we'll see Overeem and Dos Santos go at it. 4. Brock Lesnar (4): Lesnar was articulate and engaging in his commentary role on the UFC on Fox broadcast, and seeing him again was a reminder of just how important a star he's become to the UFC. His fight with Overeem will likely be the UFC's biggest pay-per-view draw of 2011, and if he wins that fight his bout with Dos Santos would likely be the UFC's biggest pay-per-view draw of 2012. 5. Fabricio Werdum (5): In the last four years Werdum's only losses have been to Dos Santos and Overeem, while he's had impressive victories over Gabriel Gonzaga, Brandon Vera, Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko. Werdum fights high-level opponents and usually comes out on top, and I'm excited about the prospects of seeing him back in the UFC soon. 6. Daniel Cormier (6): The 9-0 Cormier has hardly even been tested so far in his MMA career, including a dominant first-round knockout victory over Antonio Silva in September. He's set to face Josh Barnett in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final, and if he wins that fight, the logical next step would be a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. 7. Shane Carwin (7): Carwin has lost back-to-back fights to Lesnar and Dos Santos, and his bad back is expected to keep him out for several more months, so he may drop in the heavyweight rankings soon. 8. Frank Mir (8): Mir has won two in a row since being knocked out by Carwin a year and a half ago, and in December he'll try to make it three straight wins with a rematch against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. If Mir wins that one, he'd make a lot of sense as the next opponent for Velasquez. 9. Josh Barnett (9): Although UFC President Dana White has badmouthed Barnett many times, there's little doubt that he'll be welcomed back to the UFC if he beats Cormier to win the Strikeforce tournament. 10. Antonio Silva (10): Bigfoot's future is a bit murky because the future is murky for everyone who's still on the Strikeforce side of the Zuffa roster. But in the UFC there are a lot of very interesting fights for Silva. A UFC debut against the loser over the Overeem-Lesnar bout would be a huge heavyweight fight to make in 2012. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXTwo years ago, in the hours after UFC 103 in Dallas, I spoke to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira about one of the night's big stars. Deep in the bowels of the American Airlines Center, the longtime MMA veteran had the look of a proud father of his face. That was the night when his student Junior dos Santos officially joined the "in the mix" category that signifies contention status. That was also the night that Nogueira made a prediction that would come true. "He's going to be a future champ for sure," he told me at the time. "Without a doubt. He's strong, fast, athletic. He has good wrestling, good ground game. He's a complete fighter." dos Santos' march through the UFC has been incredibly impressive to watch. In eight UFC fights, he's unbeaten and has yet to lose even a single round among the 14 rounds he's fought. That's far short of the record (33) held by Georges St-Pierre, but with his well-rounded game, the 27-year-old Brazilian's performances have shown no signs of slowing. Since this column is designed as a look forward for the recent event's participants, and we already know that dos Santos will take on the winner of December's Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem fight, it's fair game to project how he'd do against either. Given dos Santos' proven success in stopping takedowns, the Lesnar fight would likely be a more favorable matchup for him. He's stopped 85 percent of takedowns, according to FightMetric, and Lesnar does not have the comfort level or arsenal to match him in a striking contest. Overeem would be a more intriguing style matchup. As one of the most decorated strikers in MMA, he might be the only heavyweight with the firepower to bang with dos Santos. Prediction: Overeem handles Lesnar's wrestling and keeps things upright long enough to win, setting up a strikers' delight against dos Santos Cain Velasquez It was a rough night for Velasquez, who never got his motor started before the ref was calling a halt to the action. He also faced post-fight criticism from UFC president Dana White regarding his game plan, but it's never wise for a fighter to move in for a takedown without a setup. Velasquez likely felt he had five rounds to implement what he wanted, so there was no reason to rush. But apparently there was. It seems that he brought injuries into the fight that deserve some time to heal. Velasquez deserves the time to address his injuries and come back strong, maybe in the summer of 2012. Prediction: Velasquez faces Shane Carwin in the summertime. Ben Henderson dos Santos vs. the Overeem-Lesnar winner wasn't the only guaranteed fight we got out of UFC on FOX. We also learned that Ben Henderson would get a chance to face Frankie Edgar for the lightweight title in February. Henderson's improvement has been rapid since joining the UFC, as he's learned how to seamlessly combine striking/wrestling transitions. That will be a great skill to bring in against Edgar, who has spent his last four fights competing against fighters who became quite reliant on throwing their hands. Henderson mixes up his game in a way that will make him a tougher matchup for Edgar than either BJ Penn or Gray Maynard, and that's saying a lot. Clay Guida UFC's Energizer bunny fought a spirited bout, responding from some early trouble to give Henderson a real fight, but saw his wildness exploited by Henderson's technique. Guida remains a very popular fighter so there's definitely still space for him on an upcoming main card against a relevant opponent. Prediction: He faces Jim Miller early in 2012 Dustin Poirier Since losing his Zuffa debut while in the WEC in August 2010, Poirier has turned heads with four straight wins. The featherweight captured his third straight bout since moving over to the UFC, defeating the tough Pablo Garza with a D'arce choke submission. At 22 years old, Poirier is one of those talents you hope the UFC moves up in a careful manner, matching him up with fighters of similar experience level. That leads me to this ... Ricardo Lamas Since moving to featherweight, Lamas has won both of his fights, and finished his opponents in both fights. Lamas is 11-2 and Poirier is 11-1. You know where I'm going with this, don't you? Prediction: Poirier faces Lamas Kid Yamamoto Yamamoto was soundly out-grappled by Darren Uyenoyama in a three-round decision loss that marked a fourth loss in his last five fights. While Yamamoto was once one of the top lower-weight fighters in MMA, it appears that time has passed. In the past, his wrestling would have been enough to keep the fight upright where he enjoyed a sizable striking advantage, but he never came close to implementing that type of game plan against Uyenoyama. The only question now is whether Yamamoto gets cut, or gets one more chance. Prediction: Yamamoto gets kept around, and faces an organizational newcomer at UFC 144 in Japan Alex Caceres In his first two UFC fights, Caceres looked out of his depth in the organization, getting outclassed in a pair of submission losses. After dropping to bantamweight, he looked recharged and refreshed, outworking Cole Escovedo in a strong decision win. The victory gives Caceres new life on a career that seemed like it could be destined to head back to the indies. Prediction: Caceres faces Ivan Menjivar Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Junior Dos Santos married Vilsana Picolli in 2003 in their home city of Salvador, Bahia. Since then they have been largely inseperable - except for when...

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Shane Carwin is currently on the sidelines due to another back surgery suffered while training. Carwin, known for his impressive run of first round knockouts, is looking at a return to the Octagon in 2012. However, while away from competition,Carwin isn’t ignoring what is happening in MMA. Recently, Carwin went online to show his level of respect for recently beaten former champion Cain Velasquez. Velasquez dropped the UFC heavyweight title to Junior dos Santos in the main event of UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos this past weekend. “I know we are about to call the Cain hype train derailed. I want to remind you guys how young and talented he is,” Carwin wrote on The Underground. “Junior hits hard and is accurate. This should not be a surprise to any of you. Cain is a young talented fighter and if you want to see the qualities of a UFC Champion you have to look no farther than Cain. Everyone loses it is what they do with that loss that deflates them. I am certain that Cain will be a champion again.” Carwin lost to dos Santos earlier this year in a #1 contender bout after replacing Brock Lesnar in the fight. He also lost to Lesnar in his fight prior to meeting dos Santos. The 12-2 Carwin has finished all dozen of the opponents he’s beaten including seven TKOs and five submissions. He holds notable past wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Frank Mir. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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If you happened to catch the ending of UFC on FOX, you were witness to scathing analysis from the fight promotion's president, Dana White. He wondered aloud why the now upended heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, didn't utilize the All-American wrestling abilities he had at his disposal with more vigor than he actually did. If you visited MMAmania.com during the past two days, you read both pundits and fans alike criticize the Mexican American for failing to control the distance in the striking exchanges, a mistake that ultimately led to the end of the 64 second fight. A lot of attention the past 48 hours or so has been focused on what Velasquez did wrong and the bad choices he made once he stepped inside the Octagon against his opponent. As the champion walking into the Honda Center on Saturday night (Nov. 12), that much can be expected. There is more pressure at the top than anywhere else after all, especially in a division as tumultuous as heavyweight has been, is, and will likely continue to be. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown" and all that jazz. But when all is said and done, when the dust settled and the smoke cleared, there stood a single man who had accomplished only what a scant few have been able to do. Junior dos Santos became only the 16th man to hold the UFC heavyweight title and did so in the most important fight in the company's history. Velasquez is a supremely talented young man and will no doubt find himself in another five-round title bout, but following the outcome of Saturday's fight, the focus shouldn't be on his shortcomings -- but rather what Dos Santos did right and what it means for him and the UFC at large. Here are just a few examples. Avoiding the takedown "Cigano" went face-to-face with Velasquez's wrestling, eyeballed it up and down, and threw it away like a gum wrapper. The truth is the former champion did try to take the fight to the ground but failed to put the Brazilian on his back for more than one or two seconds. The only time Dos Santos was horizontal, he immediately sprang back up to his feet. In less than a minute, Velasquez tried twice to get Dos Santos down -- once from a straight takedown attempt and a second from a kick that was caught. Now I'm just a lowly mixed martial arts (MMA) blogger, I'm no mathematician, but that roughly averages out to an attempt every 30 seconds. Velasquez didn't fail to impose his wrestling. He tried but Dos Santos was just not having any of it.   Won the most viewed UFC fight The ratings are beginning to trickle in from Saturday night and while it's not the grand slam that many were predicting -- somewhat foolishly, in my opinion -- the number is high enough to warrant popping the top off an exorbitantly priced bottle of wine at Zuffa headquarters. It wasn't enough to knock everyone's favorite YouTube brawler Kimbo Slice from his perch, but nearly six million people tuned it to see Dos Santos do what he does best: knock fools out.   Controlling the stand-up I suppose it goes without saying that the fighter who got the knockout a minute into the fight did better in the striking department. But Dos Santos did more than that. He used his far superior boxing skills -- crafted and honed by the legendary Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira -- to control the striking exchanges to ensure he never put himself in immediate danger. He was able to crack Velasquez a couple of times before that big, looping hook drilled itself into the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) fighter's skull. It only took a minute but "Cigano" looked great while it lasted. King of the mountain With the victory -- his eighth inside the Octagon -- Dos Santos becomes not only the heavyweight champion of the promotion, he also becomes the number one heavyweight in the sport. The two main event fighters from Saturday occupied the top two slots in the SB Nation Consensus Rankings going into their bout with the next three being Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, and Fabricio Werdum. The latter two are coming off losses while the former needs to win next month to get a crack at the title. Should Overeem defeat Lesnar at UFC 141, he has a case for being the top heavyweight in the world but will to get past Dos Santos to prove it. But it's lonely at the top It's not all rainbows and puppy dogs for the big boys in the UFC. Now that Dos Santos has the title, he's got a big bullseye on his back. Or at least, he should. MMA Nation opines that the heavyweight division could begin to falter and it's hard to disagree. The Brazilian will face the winner of UFC 141's main event while Velasquez might end up taking on the loser. When looking at the roster, there are only two to three fights that can be counted on for the new champ: a rematch with the man he beat on Saturday, a match-up with former champion Lesnar, and a bout with recent signee Overeem. Whoever wins the Strikeforce grand prix would also be a great addition to that list but we're still a few months off from knowing who that will be, either Josh Barnett or Daniel Cormier. UFC on FOX 1 didn't tell the story of a man who failed to achieve his goals. It spun the yarn of a young man who came from poverty to become the only Brazilian to hold the undisputed heavyweight crown in the UFC. The event wasn't about what didn't happen. It was all about what did. History happened, folks. We saw history unfold.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, do, velasquez

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No known weaknesses. That was the line we heard regarding (now former) UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez heading into the historic defense of his title against Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1. We heard it again on the broadcast, courtesy of Joe Rogan. Cain Velasquez has no weaknesses. Of course, anyone who has followed Cain's career knows this line is nothing more than PR spin. He does have a weakness, and it's in his stand-up defense. Prior to dos Santos, Cain had faced one ranked Heavyweight who used striking as his primary weapon. That striker, Cheick Kongo, hurt Velasquez more than once, prompting many to ask if Cain had problems with his chin and his defense. On Fox, the heavy handed dos Santos found that chin again, and showed that yes, Velasquez can be knocked out, and yes, he does have a weakness. The question then is, why couldn't the UFC be honest? Why spin this hyperbole about Cain and his invincibility? Couldn't the story have just as easily been "Velasquez is a dominant champion, but he hasn't faced a powerful striker in 2 years. Last time he did, Cain found himself in trouble. Does the KO specialist challenger have his number?" That's the true story, the one hardcore fans knew was the actual narrative of the fight. But the UFC chose to sell us "Cain can't be beaten" instead. The trouble is, Cain was beaten, and he was beaten convincingly. And this is where the problem with this kind of promoter speak comes in. Because now, fans who bought the UFC hype are left confused. What the UFC wants fans to walk away thinking is that dos Santos is Just That Good. But instead, the dishonest message only ends up muddying the water and damaging the credibility of the messengers.  This kind of promotion is nothing new to the UFC. They have long promoted champions as unbeatable with no flaws, and challengers as the perfect foil to this superhuman champion. But watching Fox's more sport-oriented production brought the absurdity of these claims into focus. The UFC needs to take a cue from more mainstream sports coverage. Cut the spin and give fans the truth. An honest appraisal of Velasquez would have added more drama to the fight, not less. And it would have demonstrated that these analysts are indeed experts who understand the complexities of the sport. Dana White has long insisted that the UFC and MMA should be considered a mainstream sport. The Fox broadcast was a good step in that direction. Now it's time to take that next step and dial down the hyperbole. Sell the fans the truth. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [1 comment]

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What's next for Junior dos Santos, Clay Guida, Cain Velasquez and the rest of the UFC on FOX competitors? Jeremy Botter takes a look.

Posted in: ufc, fox, do, clay guida, what

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Junior dos Santos knocked out Cain Velasquez in just 64-seconds to become the new UFC heavyweight champion in Saturday’s UFC on Fox main event despite a knee injury that had him on crutches just last week. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira disclosed the injury in a post-fight interview with MMAFighting and dos Santos’ doctor, Fabio Costa, said “Cigano” will reguire surgery for a large lesion on his meniscus that will sideline him for a month even though he was able to fight through the injury on Saturday. Fortunately, the time off should have little impact on dos Santos’ first title defense, as he waits to face the winner of UFC 141′s main event between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem early next year. More UFC on Fox coverage: UFC on Fox results, UFC on Fox bonuses, UFC on Fox ratings Pictured: Junior dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, fox, do, injury, knee injury

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Days before UFC on FOX, I repeatedly stated that I couldn't envision a way in which Cain Velasquez could defeat Junior dos Santos. Many of you then stated something along the lines of 'Dude, Cain Velasquez is going to beat dos Santos' (you know who you are) but failed to tell me how. I consider people that comment on MiddleEasy experts in the realm of MMA arm-chair analysis, so I was somewhat disappointed when people wouldn't give me a thorough explanation. However, we've seen the results of the meathooks that Junior dos Santos calls 'fists,' now it's time to see exactly how the the Honda Center erupted at UFC on FOX this past weekend during the main event. I'm sure you stood up on your sofa in sheer excitement, but let's just hope you took your shoes off before. [Source]

Posted in: do, velasquez, honda center, i couldnt, middleeasy experts

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Even with a brand-new champion in Junior dos Santos, the UFC heavyweight division has cooled considerably from its red-hot peak of 2009-2010. That's according to Nate Wilcox at MMA Nation. Find out why here. Photo via UFC.com

Posted in: mma nation, do, brandnew champion, redhot peak, nate wilcox

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Allow me to make an extremely obvious statement: Brazilian fans are some of the most passionate in the world. MMA fans got to see it first hand when the UFC went to Brazil this summer and the American fighters were showered with chants of "You're gonna die". The arena absolutely erupted when Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira knocked out Brendan Schaub and the place was damn near deafening when Anderson Silva finished Yushin Okami in the second round. It was an atmosphere years in the making and one hopefully the UFC can repeat when they make their return in January.  While American fans were focusing on the Fox deal and how monumental it was for the UFC to be shown on network television, another deal was being made. The massive success that was UFC 134 was enough for Zuffa to seal a deal with Brazil's largest television station Globo. On the UFC on Fox media call, Junior dos Santos repeatedly mentioned that fighting on Globo was a dream come true. It mattered more for the young Brazilian to fight on Brazilian television than on Fox. It's a concept that it sometimes tough for American's to wrap our heads around. Heck, if you look on this site we've been pushing the Fox deal while completely ignoring the Globo one.  Well for dos Santos it seems that dream and enthusiasm was not misplaced. With a reported 10 million of his countrymen tuning in for his fight against Cain Velasquez this past Saturday, Junior dos Santos is likely the newest star in Brazil. He captured the UFC Heavyweight title on national television and the rags to riches story was complete. It took Anderson Silva an entire UFC title run and a front kick to Vitor Belfort's face to break through in Brazil. For Dos Santos, it may have only taken 64 seconds. The good news doesn't end there for Junior either. Along with 10 million of his countrymen seeing him capture UFC gold, it seems that he connected with fans on twitter as well. Between Saturday night and Sunday morning he added 20,000+ new followers. This number is massive and shows that people were impressed by his knockout and personality. I'll be honest and say that I was unsure how first time viewers would take to a grown man bawling his eyes out on television. It appears that they too enjoyed his genuine reaction to such a major accomplishment.  While Dana White was obviously disappointed in the fight immediately after the fact, now that the numbers are starting to come in, I'm sure he's happy the way things went down. The Brazilian market is wide open with multiple fighters breaking through. The ratings on Globo are obviously rock solid (better than those on Fox). And the champion is a lovable fighter who has real reactions to situations. Add the fact that Dos Santos is talented enough to hold onto the belt for a long time and the UFC finally has stability in the heavyweight division. This is what the end goal for Saturday was, to create a star and stability. They got both with one knockout punch. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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Junior Dos Santos is Here to Stay We all knew that JDS had a real shot at knocking out Velasquez and that the fight would probably be over with quickly, but for JDS to come away without hardly a scratch and to totally dominate Velasquez was definitely not expected. The fight was over with in [...]

Posted in: fight, fighter, do, velasquez, jd

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10 years after Zuffa purchased the UFC from SEG, 18 years after UFC 1 aired on pay per view and 66 seconds after the opening bell MMA's debut on Fox was over. The first event in a seven year partnership between Fox and the UFC acted as an introduction to the sport rather than your typical streamlined fight show. A prefight TV panel of NFL on Fox studio host Curt Menefee, UFC president Dana White, and the promotion's number one pay per view draw Brock Lesnar set the stage for the Cain Velaquez (9-1) and Junior Dos Santos (14-1) main event with the aid of prepackaged video clips from UFC Primetime. A little more than 37 minutes into the 6:00 PM PST broadcast, the fighters entered the cage and the doors shut. Standard Bruce Buffer intro, normal referee instructions, a courtesy glove tap from both combatants were all motions we see before any fight. Outside of the 750 square foot Octagon the weight of the MMA world gleamed at their TV sets with anticipation. The scheduled five round title fight was not only about Velasquez and Dos Santos, it was about the spirit of a sport that has lived, died and been resurrected again. The MMA community could be labeled as tight knit. This moment in MMA history was far from just the UFC's but it included an entire fringe sports world waiting to see what would happen to their once bootleg pastime. In a battle for brand awareness the UFC won the moment they became TV dance partners with the Fox Broadcasting Company. At 6:41 PM PST referee John McCarthy peeled off Dos Santos from a fallen Velasquez. Dos Santos will be the first UFC heavyweight champion of the Fox era. Inside the cage Dos Santos and Velasquez only had a few brief exchanges. The challenger stalked with a right hand while Velasquez attempted to slow down Dos Santos' press with a diet of leg kicks. Velasquez, a former two-time All American at Arizona State University, would attempt one takedown off a caught leg kick from Dos Santos. The fight would hit the floor only once. Dos Santos' setup for the fight ending punch was one part boxing stance and one part pressure. With Velasquez circling away Dos Santos uncorked an overhand right with a singular mission to concuss. The punch landed behind the champion's temple and Dos Santos made the follow up attack academic. Almost a dozen punches to the grounded Velasquez landed from Dos Santos before the fight was called. In a moment that cannot be premeditated a rush of pure emotion engulfed Dos Santos in his post-fight interview. "I have no words to say what I'm feeling," Dos Santos said. "Cain Velasquez for sure was my toughest opponent. I was afraid to fight with him because he's very tough. I wasn't 100 percent for this fight, so I was scared."Like the amount of fight time actually aired to TV viewers, the soft spoken former champion made just a brief post speech. "I will come back, and I will get this belt back for sure," said Velasquez. After a spike of adrenaline from the power of a heavyweight knockout, UFC brass and the MMA community as a whole let out a sigh of relief. Their sport's debut on a grander stage was passing in real time but had the tension of many of years of built up pressure. The yet to be announced second event in the UFC and Fox's budding relationship is expected to be back by the first quarter of 2012.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made history this past Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011) with its very first network broadcasted fight card. UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" featured a fast and loose 64 second knockout victory for Junior dos Santos, who ripped the title from Cain Velasquez with relative ease. But that's not all. Ben Henderson took once step closer to realizing his dream of wearing UFC gold when he put Clay Guida in his place in the lightweight division with a dominant 15-minute destruction. And that's not even mentioning Brock Lesnar, who totally stole the show as an analyst up in the booth. In cased you missed any or all of it -- or just want to keep the discussion alive -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in Anaheim, California. In we go. UFC on FOX "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos " Results and live fight coverage Recap and discussion Post-fight press conference video Bonuses and awards Event photos gallery Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos fight video highlights Velasquez vs. Dos Santos full video and highlights from post-fight Facebook "Prelims" results and recap Fight recap: Junior dos Santos knocks out Cain Velasquez to win the heavyweight championship Fight recap: Ben Henderson earns title shot with decision win over Clay Guida Fight recap: Dustin Poirier chokes out Pablo Garza Fight recap: Ricardo Lamas submits Cub Swanson Fight review and analysis: Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas Fight review and analysis: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Fight review and analysis: Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida Fight review and analysis: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos UFC on FOX post-fight fallout Big winners and lowly losers Pics from the red carpet with all the "celebrities" UFC on FUEL TV pre-fight show coverage UFC on FUEL TV post-fight show recap A look back at the network television debut Was 60 minutes for 64 seconds worth it? Ratings hit 5.7 million viewers on FOX MMA is pretty much unstoppable, even if every show isn't perfect UFC on FOX wasn't like boxing back in the day, it was even better Brock Lesnar steals the show as an analyst Dana White wants you to shut up and stop bitching about not seeing more fights on FOX What's next for Junior dos Santos and Ben Henderson? Why did Cain Velasquez stand and bang with Junior dos Santos? Brock Lesnar thinks Cain Velasquez should have used his wrestling more Junior dos Santos had a knee injury just 10 days before the fight Cain Velasquez vows to come back after knockout loss to Junior dos Santos Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida fight metric report Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson booked for UFC: Japan That's it from us, Maniacs. What gets your vote as the biggest story coming out of UFC on FOX 1?

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UFC President Dana White and the former Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar provided their analysis of Junior dos Santos' 64-second triumph over Cain Velasquez, as part of UFC on FOX post-fight panel. Surprisingly (or not), Dana White was the first man to critique Cain Velasquez, stating that A.K.A. product had a terrible gameplan, and made a fatal mistake of standing for too long with someone like Junior dos Santos. White also added that dos Santos "is well-known for getting tired", suggesting that

Posted in: ufc, dana, do, velasquez, aka product

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has completed its network television debut as UFC on FOX 1 delivered as promised to the fans -- both the veteran hardcores and the curious potential new enthusiasts -- in attendance at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Sat., Nov. 12, 2011. After months of hype and speculation, the world finally got to see what UFC on FOX is going to look like, from the pre-fight programming on Fuel TV, to the actual FOX broadcast booth and back to Fuel TV, once again, for the post-fight wrap-up show. Some fans complained about there only being one fight on the hour-long inaugural broadcast. UFC president Dana White made his opinion clear on their respective criticism. The gist of it? "Shut up." All in all, UFC on FOX ended up being an entertaining night of fights and a fairly successful debut for the UFC on the mainstream airwaves. After the jump, MMAmania.com takes a look back on the key moments that comprised UFC on FOX -- for better or worse: In the main event, the two baddest heavyweights on the planet entered the Octagon to settle the debate: Who is tthe greatest heavyweight on Earth today? Cain Velasquez came into the event looking unbeatable, owning a perfect 8-0 record in the UFC and looking every bit the part of the champion. Junior dos Santos, for his part, hasn't looked too shabby himself, winning all seven of his UFC bouts by bludgeoning his opponents with top-level boxing and killer instinct. After an insane amount of build-up, the climax finally came when "JDS" caught Velasquez with a massive overhand right that clipped the champion behind his ear and sent him crumbling to the mat. Dos Santos wept for joy. Velasquez vowed to return. There was somber mourning mixed with elated rejoicing. It was an epic smorgasbord of emotion. Read a full recap of the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos fight at UFC on FOX here. Afterwards, it was uncovered that dos Santos came into the fight with a fairly serious knee injury, but was able to fight through the pain en route to bringing home the championship belt. During the post-fight coverage, Velasquez took some criticism from UFC president Dana White for his fight strategy. Former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar also weighed in on why he felt Velasquez came up short. Watch the video highlights of the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos fight at UFC on FOX here. In the co-main event, Clay Guida and Ben Henderson battled it out for the right to be the rightful long-haired energetic heir to the number one contender spot in the lightweight division. For three rounds, fans who checked out the fight via Facebook or FoxSports.com were treated to a fight that went everywhere, did everything and left no box unchecked. Ultimately, "Bendo" outclassed "The Carpenter" and earned the unanimous decision nod. Both fighters took home the bonus for "Fight of the Night." Well deserved, I might add. Afterwards, it was announced that Henderson would be taking on lightweight strap holder Frankie Edgar on Feb. 25 as the main event when the UFC travels to the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Read a full recap of the Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson fight at UFC on FOX here. Ricardo Lamas put the featherweight division on notice with a terrific submission win over Cub Swanson. His second round arm-triangle victory earned him the bonus for "Submission of the Night." Dustin Poirier, a disciple of former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) cast member Tim Credeur, got in on the submission fun with a second round D'Arce choke that left his opponent, Pablo Garza, gasping for air and tapping so he could get some. But that's enough from us, Maniacs. What was your favorite UFC on FOX highlight? For complete UFC on FOX results and a detailed recap of all the action click here. To check out a recap of the UFC on FOX early prelim fights that were streamed online via Facebook click here. Want to know what happened with the rest of the UFC on FOX "Prelims" portion of the card? To read a full recap click here, here and here. And just in case you want to get up to speed on the entire UFC on FOX fight card from top to bottom click here.

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UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" took place last night (Sat., Nov. 12, 2011) from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, featuring Junior dos Santos needing just 64 seconds to knock out Cain Velasquez to capture the heavyweight championship. Take a bow, "Cigano." In other action on the card, though it wasn't televised, Ben Henderson earned himself a lightweight title shot against Frankie Edgar by dominating Clay Guida for all three rounds and 15 minutes of their exciting 155-pound clash. A photo gallery (via MMAFighting.com) is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo

Posted in: vs, do, velasquez, velasquez vs, fox results

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Here's the controversial post-fight "analysis" from Dana White and Brock Lesnar on the monumental UFC on FOX main event bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Lesnar seemed calm and composed and was able to provide good feedback on the bout. On the other hand, most people felt that Dana White may have 'buried' his former champ in Velasquez, and failed to properly market his new kingpin in Dos Santos. Maybe he was rooting for Velasquez too much, or maybe it was just nerves, but whatever the reason, that wasn't the best moment for the UFC president, who was on the spot during a critical milestone for MMA. Check out the footage below: Video: UFC on FOX: White/Lesnar recap  Listen, I'm no strategist and I'm nobody's coach but I don't understand why they didn't go for the shot early. They should have shot in on Junior Dos Santos knowing that he has the power early in the fight and tries to knock you out. But the truth is that Junior Dos Santos gets tired at the end of fights, you know? Here he is standing right in front of him trying to trade and bang with Junior Dos Santos and gets hit with that big right hand right behind the ear and down he goes. Down goes his heavyweight championship. I'll say it again, not saying that I'm some strategy coach but I don't know why they wouldn't take the shot on him and wrestle early. It's one thing to feel a fight out but when you're standing right in front of a guy that you know his biggest weapons are his hands and he can knock you out and this thing is a five round fight. Get in there and start working him. Stay busy and put him against the fence. Rough him up and tire him out a little bit and bring it into the later rounds where Junior Dos Santos is well known for getting tired.

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After all the hype, we were left with just over one minute of action, and a new Heavyweight champion. In the big UFC debut on Fox, Junior dos Santos KO'd Cain Velasquez in just over a minute to become the new UFC Heavyweight champion. Surely dos Santos now moves up to a position as the world's top Heavyweight, as he is now 14-1 and a flawless 8-0 in the UFC against some tough competition. Velsaquez earns the first loss of his career, and is now 9-1. The common logic going in was that if Velsaquez could drag the fight into the later rounds, he would have an advantage, but that dos Santos had the hands to end it quickly. It turned out that the second option was correct. Both men started by exchanging standing, but dos Santos landed a hard right hand by Cain's ear. The champion fell to the mat, stunned and disoriented. Dos Santos showed great killer instinct, finishing him off, and claiming the belt. Perhaps it wasn't the back and forth war that Fox and the UFC wanted, but for fans of the sport, it was a shockingly dominant win and a great way to welcome Cigano into the highest ranks of the division. What was the high spot of this fight? It's 64 seconds of action, so really the whole thing is a highlight reel, but obviously the big dos Santos right hand KO is the money moment. Where do these guys go from here? Last night, the path was made clear for Junior dos Santos. As the new champion, he'll next face the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. Both present interesting match-ups, though completely different styles. Lesnar vs. dos Santos would be a do-over of the planned Ultimate Fighter grudge match from earlier this year, while a dos Santos vs. Overeem contest would be a battle between the top two strikers in the Heavyweight ranks.  As for the former champion, there's talk of Velasquez rematching Cheick Kongo now, though that seems pointless to me. Cain should stay at the top, fighting the very best. I'd like to see him against Shane Carwin, Frank Mir, or one of the potential incoming Strikeforce Heavyweights. Watch it now, later, or never? Now. A historic night, and a 64 second KO to crown a new champion. Really, no reason at all not to watch. More BE coverage of UFC on Fox 1 in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos UPDATE - UFC on Fox Results: 5.7 Million Viewers Makes Cain vs JDS Most Watched UFC Event Ever- Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Results: Guida vs. Henderson FightMetric Report - Tim Burke UFC on Fox Results: Third Man In the Cage Flawless In Main Event - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: International Broadcast More Fan Friendly Than U.S. Show - KJ Gould UFC on Fox Results: Unrealistic Expectations Drive Criticism of Cain Velasquez - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Results: Winners, Losers, and Additional Thoughts - Matthew Roth UFC's Debut on Fox a Success Despite Only Sixty-Four Seconds of Action - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Video: Junior dos Santos KO's Cain Velasquez UFC on Fox Results: Dana White Needs to Keep Promoting his Fighters, Not Bury Them - KJ Gould UFC on Fox Results: Junior Dos Santos Confirms Torn Meniscus Leading To Title Fight - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Results: Ben Henderson Earns Shot At Frankie Edgar In Japan - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos Results and Post-Fight Analysis - Matthew Roth Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 99: UFC on FOX Results Review UFC on Fox Post-Fight Press Conference Video and Coverage - Tim Burke UFC on Fox Results: Junior dos Santos Crushes Cain Velasquez, Becomes New UFC Heavyweight Champion - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Results: Ben Henderson Edges Clay Guida in Wild Affair - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos - Live Results and Play-By-Play For Main Event - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Facebook Prelims - Matthew Roth

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UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" took place last night (Sat., Nov. 12, 2011) from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and featured a heavyweight championship fight pitting Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos. The latter knocked out the former in just 64 seconds, planting him with a big overhand right before finishing the job just seconds later. It was a thrilling, albeit short, conclusion to a heavily hyped match-up in the UFC's debut on network television. But the real star of the show was wearing a suit and analyzing the bout both pre and post-fight up in the booth alongside Dana White and Curt Menefee -- Brock Lesnar. From the very first moment he showed up on the FOX set, Lesnar's presence commanded all the attention he so rightfully deserves. The 6'3'' 278-pound behemoth has an effect not unlike gravity. Everything and everyone is naturally drawn to him, like him or not. All the better was his poise and composure, something White seemed to struggle with. Lesnar was clear and concise while making plenty of solid points and thoughtful analysis of the action. Most importantly, though, and perhaps most impressively, he successfully promoted both himself and his upcoming fight on Dec. 30 against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 without allowing that to become the focal point of the broadcast. In short, he stole the show. Check out the video of White and Lesnar, along with host Curt Menefee, breaking down dos Santos' big win after the jump and see for yourself. Video: UFC on FOX: White/Lesnar recap

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After the heavyweight title changed hands at the weekend UFC president Dana White himself admitted that Junior Dos Santos struggles in the later stages...

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Opinion has been sharply divided on whether the 64-second fight between Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velqasquez was a good advertisement for the UFC or not.But...

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A few observations from UFC on FOX: “Velasquez vs. Dos Santos”: -The bantamweight version of Alex Caceres looked smooth on the feet and confident as hell on the ground.  Let’s keep him. -Tough break for Mackens Semerzier, who was beaten not by anything his opponent did particularly well but by an accidental headbutt to end all accidental headbutts.  How was Robert Peralta not KO’d by that, too? -Stick a chopstick in Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, he’s done. -Did it seem like Cub Swanson was a little too confident and showboaty when he was fighting Ricardo Lamas?  If that’s the case, then HA!  YOU LOSE! -Thank you, “Fightville”, for making me care about the fortunes of promising up-and-comer Dustin Poirier. -Just as we knew it would be, Ben Henderson versus Clay Guida was a fight for the ages.  It pretty much had everything, at a speed of 100 mph, and when it was over, there is no doubt FOX executives were kicking themselves at not having aired it live on network television. -Yes, the bout between Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez was woefully short.  But if it had been five rounds of one man lying sweaty atop the other, we’d all be weeping today for the inevitable decline of our sport.

Posted in: fox, do, velasquez, network television, ricardo lamas  

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Whether it was recognized as such or not, last night (Sat., Nov. 12, 2011) was quite the historic night for combat sports in general. The UFC debuted on FOX and boxing had one of its two biggest drawing fighters back in action. Early in the evening, Junior dos Santos knocked out Cain Velasquez in just over one minute to claim the heavyweight championship at UFC on Fox 1 from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. A short while later, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez engaged in a heated back-and-forth war that saw "Pacman" come away with a nail-biting majority decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. We covered both fights here at MMAmania.com (check out all the boxing coverage right here and all the UFC on Fox coverage right here), and we're curious. Which of the two match-ups did you prefer? Poll Which megafight did you prefer last night? Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez or Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos? Pacquiao vs. Marquez. Better fight, bigger names. Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. Can't beat the UFC on FOX with the heavyweights. Too busy on YouTube watching Kimbo Slice get "street certified."   144 votes | Results

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After all the talk, speculation and hype, the door is now closed on UFC on Fox 1. Last night (Nov. 12, 2011), big winners emerged from the fights between Cain Velasquez  vs. Junior dos Santos and Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson in front of the thousands in attendance at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and about 4.5 million more at home. The main event saw Junior dos Santos shock the world as he dethroned champion Cain Velasquez with an overhand right to the temple that sent him spiraling to the canvas. In the co-main event, which aired on Facebook and FOXSports.com, Ben Henderson registered a thrilling three-round unanimous decision victory over Clay Guida in a number one contender eliminator match. Hair and hands flew in abundance. It was an affair to remember. After the jump, we'll talk about what's next for last night's big winners, "Cigano" and "Smooth:"  For Henderson, the future picture is much clearer. He will fight UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar for his 155-pound world title on Feb. 25, 2012, when the promotion travels to Saitama, Japan. UFC President Dana White announced the exciting match up, which will presumably serve as the headlining bout, during the UFC on FOX 1 post-fight press conference (watch the video here). If you thought watching Henderson and Guida go at it for three rounds was fun, just strap on your seatbelt. We are going to get to see Henderson and Edgar fly around the Octagon for five rounds, potentially. And if you can't get up for that, something just ain't right. The fight will feature a mash up between the current UFC strap holder and the former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion. Who will win when worlds collide? Stay tuned. Unlike Henderson, "JDS" will be forced to wait to see who his next opponent will be. On Dec. 30, the day before New Year's Eve, two mixed martial arts (MMA) monsters will meet as former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar squares off against former Strikeforce heavyweight title holder Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 in "Sin City." The winner will be first in line to challenge dos Santos for his newly acquired championship belt. It's anyone's guess who will come away victorious. That said, it's really a "win-win" for the UFC. Whether dos Santos takes on Lesnar or Overeem, it will be a fight that sells itself. If Overeem comes out on top, we will see quite possibly the two best heavyweight strikers in all of MMA exchanging leather in the cage until someone gets caught and goes to sleep. Should Lesnar get the nod, we will see a pairing that was originally planned when the two coached opposite each other on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 before Lesnar was forced to withdraw because of a second bout with diverticulitis. How excited are you Maniacs about seeing Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar go toe-to-toe? Can Brock Lesnar or Alistair Overeem give Junior dos Santos a serious run for his money? Let's hear it.

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That's the question being asked UFC President Dana White after Cain Velasquez lost the heavyweight championship to Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1 last night (Nov. 12, 2011) in Anaheim, California. The fight, which aired on network television in a landmark broadcast that pulled less than desirable numbers, lasted just 64 seconds. Velasquez feebly attempted just one takedown. It was shaken off easily by "Cigano," who later admitted to hurting his knee just 10 days before the bout. And that led to a Cain standing in the pocket and trading punches with the most dangerous striker in the heavyweight division. It's no surprise, then, that the fight ended by way of knockout, or at least it shouldn't be. What is surprising is the fact that Velasquez didn't appear to have the smartest game plan, or if he did, failed miserably in implementing it. White lamented the performance of the former champ and absolutely swung away with verbal jabs of his own during the post-fight show. "Listen, I'm no strategist and I'm nobody's coach but I don't understand why they didn't go for the shot early. They should have shot in on Junior Dos Santos knowing that he has the power early in the fight and tries to knock you out. But the truth is that Junior Dos Santos gets tired at the end of fights, you know? Here he is standing right in front of him trying to trade and bang with Junior Dos Santos and gets hit with that big right hand right behind the ear and down he goes. Down goes his heavyweight championship. I'll say it again, not saying that I'm some strategy coach but I don't know why they wouldn't take the shot on him and wrestle early. It's one thing to feel a fight out but when you're standing right in front of a guy that you know his biggest weapons are his hands and he can knock you out and this thing is a five round fight. Get in there and start working him. Stay busy and put him against the fence. Rough him up and tire him out a little bit and bring it into the later rounds where Junior Dos Santos is well known for getting tired." One possible explanation for Velasquez's puzzling strategy is the fact that he, too, was struggling with knee issues. In fact, color commentator Joe Rogan said he knew "for a fact" that Cain was hurt and actually had to have a cortisone shot before he was able to compete. Hmmm. That would certainly shed some light on a troublesome night for Velasquez, who not only suffered the first knockout of his career but also his first defeat. Rough night. Is an injured knee enough reason for the fight to go the way it did? After all, dos Santos had a bum knee of his own, at least according to he and his doctor. Is injury to blame for this fight? Or was it just a bad night for Velasquez? For more on the fight between dos Santos and Velasquez, including our quick blow-by-blow report, click here and here. To check out all our amazing coverage of UFC on Fox 1 before, during and after the historic event, click here.

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By Darnell Myrick Yesterday night, we all were treated to the debut of the UFC on FOX. The debut of the UFC kicked off with a bang. The one hour live telecast featured a heavyweight title fight between UFC Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez, and number 1 contender, Junior “Cigano” dos Santos. It only took 64 seconds for a victor to be decided. Dos Santos landed a right hand to the temple of Velasquez that dropped him and dos Santos was able to finish the fight with ground and pound which marked the end of Cain Velasquez’s reign as UFC Heavyweight Champion. Dos Santos also one Knockout of the Night, which was a 65K bonus. At the post-fight press conference, Junior said that he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee 11 days before the fight while training. His training partner, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, said that he was on crutches for five days. He did not want to pull out of the fight, because it was the biggest fight of his career. With assistance from his doctor, Fabio Costa, he was able to pull through and he received clearance to fight. However, dos Santos will require surgery to repair his knee. Costa anticipates that it will take Junior a month to recover from surgery. In defeat, Cain Velasquez (9-1) gave Junior credit and he believes that the stoppage was a good called as he lost he equilibrium when he went down and he was pounded out. Velasquez apologized to his family, friends, and fans for disappointing them. Then, he vowed that he would be back and that he will get his belt back. Dos Santos (14-1) is currently riding a 9-fight winning streak. He is expected to make his first title defense sometime next year. I expect him to defend the title in the spring. He will defend the belt against the winner of the UFC 141 main event between former UFC Heavyweight Champion and opposing coach on the Ultimate Fighter Season 13, Brock Lesnar, and former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion and UFC newcomer, Alistair Overeem. This fight will take place on December 30 in Las Vegas.

Posted in: ufc, fight, heavyweight, champion, do

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Less than 24 hours after achieving his dream of becoming UFC heavyweight champ, newly crowned king Junior dos Santos already has his next challenge lined up and it isn’t the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem. According to the Brazilian’s team, Dos Santos injured his meniscus a few weeks before last night’s momentous match-up with things flaring up again with less than an hour to go before his bout with Cain Velasquez. As a result of what his doctor dubbed a “lesion”, “Cigano” will be sidelined for a month meaning he should fortunately be good to go early next year for the first defense of his title. Though Dos Santos referred to his health in the wake of beating Velasquez, the details of his status were provided by Fabio Costa in a conversation with MMATraining. Dos Santos improved his overall record to 14-1 by beating the formerly undefeated Velasquez about a minute into their historic fight on FOX. He is now 8-0 in the Octagon with some of his other notable victims including Fabricio Werdum, Mirko Filipovic, Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson, and Shane Carwin. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Video: Highlights: Velasquez/dos Santos Junior dos Santos shocked the mixed martial arts (MMA) world last night (Nov. 12, 2011), stopping heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in devastating fashion in the first-ever UFC on Fox 1 main event. And it only took him 64 seconds. In the Junior dos Santos vs Cain Velasquez fight video above, which is a highlight package that also includes his post-fight speech, the overhand right that set up the finish is repeatedly replayed, demonstrating the knockout power that has led "Cigano" to the pinnacle of the sport. On it's biggest stage, too. For more on the fight between dos Santos and Velasquez, including our quick blow-by-blow report, click here and here. To check out all our amazing coverage of UFC on Fox 1 before, during and after the historic event, click here. 

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It was a good thing that the UFC and FOX had a solid plan in place for their initial television broadcast because the main event between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos lasted a mere 64 seconds.  Not many people thought that the fight between Velasquez and dos Santos would go the five round distance, including it seems, the UFC since they started the fight well after 9:30 p.m. ET, meaning a five-round fight would have ended after the 10:00 scheduled end time.  With that being, said most

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It comes as no surprise that dethroned UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was the victim of unrealistic expectations in the aftermath of his knockout loss to Junior dos Santos on Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. After all, we've been spoiled by the impressive rise of the former champion, maintaining an unblemished record while destroying every opponent put in front of him. Surprisingly, Cheick Kongo was the only man to give Velasquez trouble on his climb to the summit, yet even in that fight, we could glean the thought that Velasquez has the mental fortitude to overcome anything. In the lead-up to the fight, informed fans knew the dangers that awaited Velasquez inside the Octagon. Junior dos Santos was a devastating striker who was a far more technical boxer than Cheick Kongo. If Kongo could land combinations on Velasquez, what's to stop Dos Santos from finding a home for his powerful right hand?  During the post-fight coverage on Fox, however, UFC President Dana White's comments made it sound like this should have been an easy fight for Velasquez, suggesting that the former champion should have immediately worked for takedowns. Even UFC commentator Joe Rogan spoke of the questionable rational of Velasquez when he spoke with MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani after the fight. My question is when did it become so easy to just take fighters down? Dana White wanted us to believe that it shouldn't take more than sixty-four seconds for a NCAA Division I wrestling champion who trains with world class wrestlers like Muhammed Lawal and Dan Cormier to take down the Brazilian striker. Forget about setting up the takedowns with strikes. Just come out and bullrush Dos Santos and take him down! Even the most credentialed wrestler can't do that when punches are involved.  Let's also not forget that Junior dos Santos has a history of being tough to take down. He hasn't been tested by a NCAA champion, but that's not what stands out in my opinion. Shane Carwin was supposed to challenge Dos Santos with his strength and better wrestling abilities, and like Velasquez -- Dos Santos used his footwork and movement to evade the pressure and batter his opponent from range. Furthermore, Dos Santos didn't pop off combinations that featured four or five punches. He limited his output in order to lessen Velasquez's window of opportunity. It's unfair to criticize Velasquez after spending such a short time inside the Octagon. It isn't like Dos Santos was a layup win for Cain. He was the #1 contender for a reason, and he showed fans in his previous bouts that he has the crushing force in his punches to level anyone in a split second. How that got lost in the aftermath of this fight is beyond me. Instead of focusing on Dos Santos' triumph, we witnessed a rant about how Velasquez should have worked for the takedown immediately. Apparently more immediate than sixty-four seconds. As fans, we tend to thrust unrealistic expectations onto many of the best fighters in the sport. I can handle the everyday arguments I have with casual fans. It's fun to argue with some level of ridiculousness from time to time. I can't, however, stand to watch gifted athletes like Cain Velasquez be thrown under the bus because expectations were high that he should take down a brilliant fighter like Junior dos Santos whenever he wants. This isn't ten years ago when there were only a handful of fighters who possessed well-rounded skill-sets. This is the modern era, a time when nearly every fighter at the apex of a division has the skills to compete in any area of a fight. The new champion used his strengths to win, and Cain didn't have time to set up his takedowns and capitalize. It's as simple as that. Focus on the positives that Junior dos Santos displayed in victory, not the unrealistic expectations that Velasquez didn't meet. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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-The Junior Dos Santos 66 second win over Cain Velasquez was the second fastest UFC heavyweight title victory in the promotion's history. Andrei Arlovski's 15 second knockout of Justin Eilers still holds the record of quickest UFC heavyweight title win. -In eight career UFC fights Dos Santos has five first round finishes -The 66 second win for Dos Santos was third fastest of his career-After five straight UFC wins over foreign born fighters to start his Octagon career Dos Santos last three wins have come versus US born fighters. - The loss was the first of Velasquez's five year MMA career-Velasquez was UFC heavyweight champion for 385 days-Win or lose seven of Velasquez's ten career fights have ended in the first round-Per Fight Metric Dos Santos connected with 8 of 13 significant strikes for a 62% accuracy rate -Ben Henderson is now 3-0 in his UFC career with all three wins via unanimous decision -Henderson has won 13 of his past 14 fights-The win moves Henderson to 2-1 versus ex WEC, UFC and Strikeforce champions-The loss snaps a four fight winning streak for Guida-Guida is 9-6 inside the UFC-Guida attempted four submission attempts during the fight, all were guillotine chokes - The Fight Metric Effectiveness Score had Henderson over Guida 219 to 96. In the ten point must system Fight Metric scored the fight 30-27. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} -Betting favorites went 5-4 at UFC on Fox 1. Darren Uyenoyama ‘s +290 upset of Norifumi Yamamoto was biggest win for underdogs on the night. -The UFC returned to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California for the first time since UFC 121 in October 2010. UFC 121 was headlined by a title fight between Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez. Below is attendance and gate comparison for the two events. UFC 121Attendance: 14,856Gate: $2.2 millionUFC on Fox 1Attendance: 14,019 Gate: $1.1 million

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UFC champion Cain Velasquez emerged from the depths of the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on Saturday night to a loud, pro-Velasquez crowd screaming at the top of their lungs with support for the Mexican-American fighter. The environment was undeniably new to the champion considering the magnified importance of the event he was headlining. Velasquez, alongside Junior dos Santos, was the focal point of the UFC's introduction to the even larger casual sports' fanbase, and in a sixty-four second flash -- Velasquez's reign came crumbling to an end. That's all it took for Brazilian heavyweight striker Junior dos Santos to connect with a stunning right hand to the back of the ear of the champion. The shock of the punch disrupted the Velasquez's equilibrium, causing him to stumble around on the canvas as Dos Santos' assessed the situation and found the quickest route to his chin again. Dos Santos delivered, finishing Velasquez quickly and efficiently to become the new UFC heavyweight champion. As expected, MMA's fickle fanbase couldn't decide whether this was a monumental success or a horrible turn of events. UFC President Dana White seemed to be frustrated the fight only lasted sixty-four seconds despite his speeches throughout the promotion of the event that it may only last thirty seconds. Many fans felt that the brief introduction wasn't enough to grab the attention of casual sports' fans tuning in for the first time. Historically, however, the ranting from fans is generally the opposite. Fighters like Jon Fitch and Georges St. Pierre are generally the focus of fan criticism due to their inability to finish off their opposition despite dominating them for the entirety of a fight. We can draw the same criticisms from the boxing fanbase as well, particularly around the style of Floyd Mayweather.  So which is it, fans? Does every fight have to strike a delicate balance between length and action? Do we need to have Clay Guida and Ben Henderson fight on every Fox card to please the masses? History says that shorter, more destructive fights are far more pleasing to the eye than a boring decision that fans can ride hard against for weeks after the fight.  Hindsight is 20/20, and Henderson vs. Guida was predicted by many analysts to be the barn burner the UFC would need to connect with fans. Unfortunately, Fox didn't see their names as a selling point, which may have been the right move. The fight just doesn't have the allure that comes with a UFC heavyweight title showdown, nor does it have the stories that new fans witnessed in the lead-up to the main event. At the end of the day, the UFC's debut on Fox was a monumental success. They were able to promote Brock Lesnar's fight coming up in December, air a number of commercials alerting fans to next week's UFC 139 pay-per-view, sell Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos for twenty solid minutes of UFC Primetime footage, and have enough time at the end of the broadcast to catch Junior's priceless reaction to becoming the new UFC heavyweight champion. The UFC got what they should have been hoping would come from either fighter, a highlight reel finish with all of the wow factor the UFC needs to draw in casual sports' fans. Isn't that, after all, what many casual fans want to see? SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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Video: Highlights: Velasquez/dos Santos Junior dos Santos came, he saw, and he conquered last night at UFC on Fox I at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. After avoiding a brief takedown attempt and bevy of leg kicks from the champion, Dos Santos zapped champion Cain Velasquez with a beautiful right, downing the champion and allowing Dos Santos to swarm for the finish.  It was revealed after the fight that both men suffered knee injuries during training camp. Dos Santos suffered a torn meniscus on a week-and-a-half out from the fight while Velasquez had a cortisone shot injected into his knee so that he could fight on Saturday night.  Above is the FoxSports.com highlight package, showing all of the great action that could be gleaned from the short, sixty-four seconds of fight time in the Octagon. The video includes the knockout, all of the post-fight replays, and the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, which I consider one of the best we've seen in awhile. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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After weeks of build-up, an hour long "UFC Primetime" special and 40 full minutes of build-up, Ultimate Fighting Championship's network debut on FOX barely lasted one full minute last night (November 12, 2011). But boy, oh boy, was it a wild minute. Despite apparently suffering from a torn meniscus ligament in his knee, Junior dos Santos cracked champion Cain Velasquez with an overhand right and finished the American Kickboxing Academy fighter with swarming ground and pound. With the victory, "Cigano," one of the nicest fighters in the sport, proved true his recent talking point in the lead-up to the fight that, "good things happen to good people." His emotional post-fight reaction combined with his dominant stoppage hopefully put him over with mainstream America and he instantly became superstar in Brazil. So how did dos Santos pull it off? And where do both talented heavyweights go from here? Perhaps knowing about the knee injury or simply looking to wear down his opponent's lead leg, Velasquez attacked dos Santos with repeated leg kicks early. "Cigano" countered with a nasty overhand right, setting it up with a lead left hand to the chest to catch Cain by surprise. It worked, but the shot wasn't at full force, although we'd be seeing that exact same strike very shortly. The most important part of the bout was nearly 30 seconds in. Dos Santos threw a push kick that was caught by the champion. As Velasquez pushed forward looking for a takedown, the Brazilian challenger pulled his leg back and spun away from danger. He'd never be threatened by a takedown attempt again. Velasquez landed a nice left hook during an exchange and this was probably a bad thing for the champion. Giving him some confidence in his stand-up, he put himself in the perfect position for the fight-ending sequence from dos Santos. Watch how Velasquez is flat on his feet, and simply not in a good position to get out of the way of the incoming assault from the challenger. Just like he did 18 seconds in, dos Santos stepped forward deep with his lead left leg put his left hand on the champion's chest and came over the top with a HUGE overhand right that clipped Velasquez behind the year. Just like previous title bouts featuring Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua 2, Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture and Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre, the punch behind the ear completely destroyed the champion's equilibrium. Velasquez dropped and unlike his fight with Cheick Kongo, there was no escaping danger by using his wrestling. He was simply hurt too much and dos Santos swarmed him with heavy punches on the ground that forced him to turn away from danger. Once "Big" John McCarthy stepped in and put a halt to the onslaught, Junior dos Santos was the new UFC heavyweight champion of the world. For Cain Velasquez, he's obviously devastated. The UFC's marketing campaign had worked and he'd been put over with the budding latino MMA fanbase. A quick glance at the pro-Velasquez crowd in Anaheim last night was a testament to that. While the dreams of creating a similar buzz with Mexican fans in MMA as they have in boxing isn't dead, it was definitely delayed last night. Those who jumped all over the champion for his performance last night need to give it a rest. Velasquez attempted a takedown and it's not like he'd have been a tremendous success if he'd gone in diving at dos Santos' legs from the opening bell. He needed to stand a bit to make his takedowns more believable, he just didn't get enough time to do it properly before he got caught. There are a few options for his next fight. A rematch against recently resurrected Cheick Kongo would make sense, as that was the toughest fight Velasquez had before dos Santos. Other options include recent Strikeforce Grand Prix losers Antonio Silva or Fabricio Werdum. For Junior dos Santos, what more can be said about his stellar showing? While we wish we could have seen him work a little longer, there's no complaints about what he accomplished. He finished a man who seemed potentially unstoppable in 64 seconds, and he did it with a torn ligament in his knee. Hopefully the UFC seizes this opportunity and begins marketing him as one of the most dangerous men in the world, capable of knocking anyone out in a minute if he can connect. There's no big secret who he'll face next. "Cigano" will square off with the upcoming UFC 141 main event winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem. With a season of The Ultimate Fighter previously building up the Lesnar match-up and an Overeem fight that would feature the two best heavyweight strikers on the planet, prospects are definitely good for another thrilling heavyweight title fight. Hopefully dos Santos won't be sidelined too long while recovering from the torn ligament. So what did you think, Maniacs?  Were you blown away by dos Santos' stunning knockout of the previously undefeated Velasquez? Or did you see it coming all along? How do you like his chances against the Lesnar vs. Overeem winner? Sound off! For complete UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. dos Santos" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here. All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The biggest loser last night was not Cain Velasquez, but Dana White and his ill timed comments on the Fox debut. The heavyweight fight ended in surprising fashion, with Junior dos Santos finishing Cain in two minutes of the first round. Not exactly what the UFC brass were looking for in terms of displaying the UFC to a new audience, and his frustration was very evident in his post fight comments. Listen, I'm no strategist and I'm nobody's coach but I don't understand why they didn't go for the shot early. They should have shot in on Junior Dos Santos knowing that he has the power early in the fight and tries to knock you out. But the truth is that Junior Dos Santos gets tired at the end of fights, you know? Here he is standing right in front of him trying to trade and bang with Junior Dos Santos and gets hit with that big right hand right behind the ear and down he goes. Down goes his heavyweight championship. I'll say it again, not saying that I'm some strategy coach but I don't know why they wouldn't take the shot on him and wrestle early.It's one thing to feel a fight out but when you're standing right in front of a guy that you know his biggest weapons are his hands and he can knock you out and this thing is a five round fight. Get in there and start working him. Stay busy and put him against the fence. Rough him up and tire him out a little bit and bring it into the later rounds where Junior Dos Santos is well known for getting tired. These kinds of remarks are unacceptable by someone in his position, especially now that they have the attention of much more respected media outlets. He not only discredits the previous champion, he also trashes his current champion in the process. I understand he was frustrated the fight didn't go longer, the UFC has put a lot into this night and a lot was riding on their performance, but it's a fight. Things happen that you can't predict and Dana of all people should understand that. He's now inadvertently hurt Junior's creditability as a champion, and did so on Fox in front of possibly millions of viewers. Instead of praising the champion for not only coming into the fight injured, but defeating the champion in impressive fashion, he decides to attack JDS's cardio. This is easily one of the most foolish things Dana has ever done, and for his sake, I hope the mainstream media doesn't pick up on these comments. So is Dana White the wrong person to represent and introduce the UFC to a new audience (and a potentially more conservative audience)? In the past, people have connected with his brash honest approach to running a company, but now the UFC is attempting to become recognized as a mainstream sport and the majority of his comments would be deemed offensive and out of place by most media outlets. We all know his history with running his mouth at the wrong time, and now it seems he's done it again. It's time for either Dana White to change, or for the UFC to find a new man to represent their product.

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If there was a downside to the UFC's first Fox show, for me it wasn't the short length of the Heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Instead it was Dana White's apparent burial of Cain Velasquez as a fighter and his failure to build up Junior Dos Santos in his win, either, in his post fight show remarks. Maybe Dana White and co. had hoped the fight would go longer, but then he was the one who kept saying it didn't matter if it went 30 seconds or 30 minutes because of his faith in the fighters delivering. Junior Dos Santos' knockout power delivered in spades. Matthew Roth touched on Dana White's comments in his Post Fight analysis, and provided a transcript of the particular comments that quite a few others took issue with. To his credit, White admits up front he's not a coach or strategist but his words as the very public figurehead of the UFC will always carry weight in influencing the opinion of new and casual fans. When Dana White says "I don't understand why they didn't go for the shot early" and "They should have shot in on Junior Dos Santos knowing that he has the power early in the fight ...", to the uninitiated he makes it sound like it's all too obvious and that Cain Velasquez is a fighting simpleton. As if shooting in for a takedown with no setup has no consequence, as if a well timed knee or uppercut could never happen. We know these possibilities and the benefit of setting up takedowns using strikes, but the brand new fans the UFC were going after only have Dana White's word to go on. White then says almost immediately afterwards "But the truth is that Junior Dos Santos gets tired at the end of fights, you know?". He's just told this new audience that could help the UFC's growth that the new Heavyweight champion isn't physically fit enough to go the distance. That's not exactly a glowing endorsement of a fighter you're meant to be marketing and making money off of, nor does it help a fighter build a bigger fanbase so they can financially benefit as well. White spends more time on what Velasquez did wrong than what Dos Santos did right and it benefits neither man or the UFC in general. With Pay Per View buys being significantly down year on year due to obvious factors like the lack of Brock Lesnar and Georges St Pierre, the UFC needs to do a far better job promoting its other fighters as it can not afford its mouthpiece stripping them of their value because of the lack of thought that goes into his opinion. Yes, Dana White prides himself on his honesty and frankness and No, I don't expect him to completely bullshit the audience if there's a bad fight or if a fighter under-performs. But when he puts more effort into being a character witness to defend a fighter that slips up using Social Media than he does in making people want to watch the former and current Heavyweight champion fight again it's clear his energy as a spokesman often isn't focused where it needs to be. After the page-break, Matthew Roth's transcript of the comments in question.  Listen, I'm no strategist and I'm nobody's coach but I don't understand why they didn't go for the shot early. They should have shot in on Junior Dos Santos knowing that he has the power early in the fight and tries to knock you out. But the truth is that Junior Dos Santos gets tired at the end of fights, you know? Here he is standing right in front of him trying to trade and bang with Junior Dos Santos and gets hit with that big right hand right behind the ear and down he goes. Down goes his heavyweight championship. I'll say it again, not saying that I'm some strategy coach but I don't know why they wouldn't take the shot on him and wrestle early. It's one thing to feel a fight out but when you're standing right in front of a guy that you know his biggest weapons are his hands and he can knock you out and this thing is a five round fight. Get in there and start working him. Stay busy and put him against the fence. Rough him up and tire him out a little bit and bring it into the later rounds where Junior Dos Santos is well known for getting tired.

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Former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion and PRIDE legend Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira shared his thouoghts about Junior dos Santos' performance against Cain Velasquez in the main event of UFC's debut on FOX. Nogueira revealed dos Santos was on crutches just 10 days before fighting Velasquez, due to a torn meniscus in his knee. Dos Santos himself confirmed the injury during the post-fight press conference, also adding that he was "scared" to go 5 rounds with Cain Velasquez while not being 100% ready

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Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, UFC on FOXThe first UFC fight on network television drew approximately 4.6 million viewers, according to early estimates. Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez, the heavyweight title fight that the UFC was banking on to bring in a whole new audience on Fox, turned into something of a ratings disappointment, perhaps because the fight lasted only a minute: A longer fight would have drawn in more people who are flipping through the channels and happen to catch the fight and decide to stick with it. Dos Santos knocked Velasquez out so quickly that there was no time for that kind of audience to find the fight. According to TV By the Numbers, there's better news inside the coveted 18-49-year-old demographic: Within that group the UFC got a 2.4 rating and a 7 share. That's about the same as the Stanford-Oregon game that was on at ABC at the same time; that matchup of Top 10 college football teams did a 2.5 rating and 7 share in the 18-49 demographic. The college football game did much better among older viewers and had an audience of 7.1 million. The most frustrating part of this news from the perspective of the UFC and Fox will be that the broadcast fell short of the 2008 Kimbo Slice EliteXC broadcast on CBS. Hard-core MMA fans know that Velasquez vs. Dos Santos was a much better matchup, but Kimbo had attracted national attention leading up to his fight in a way that Velasquez and Dos Santos hadn't. Kimbo also didn't have the kind of tough competition among sports fans that the UFC had with the Stanford-Oregon game. The good news for the UFC is that these ratings may end up being adjusted when more data is made available, and the number of people watching during the one minute of fighting -- as opposed to the 59 minutes of pre- and post-fight interviews -- may turn out to have been significantly higher than the 4.6 million for the full hour-long broadcast. More detailed numbers should be available later Sunday. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXIt's a little bit funny and a little bit sad that there are probably a million or more people who watched the UFC on Fox Saturday night -- people who had never seen a UFC fight before -- who came to the conclusion that Cain Velasquez is a bum. Velasquez lasted only a minute before Junior Dos Santos finished him off with a right hand to the ear and several punches on the ground, and to the uninitiated it might have looked like Velasquez just isn't all that good. But although we all have a tendency to overreact when a fighter suffers a dramatic knockout loss, let's take a step back for just a moment to remember that Cain Velasquez is really, really good. I'll be shocked if Velasquez doesn't fight for the UFC title again in the next couple of years. Velasquez will be back. More Coverage: UFC on FOX Results | UFC on FOX Post-Fight Press Conference What makes me so confident in Cain? The fundamental reason is that Velasquez is simply one of the most talented heavyweights that MMA has ever seen. We've been hearing it since 2006, when Velasquez first decided to fight professionally: Everyone in the MMA world who saw him then agreed that he was the perfect physical specimen to become an elite MMA fighter. The strong wrestling base, the speed, the power, the athleticism. This guy is the total package. That hasn't changed because of one bad night against Dos Santos. The other reason I feel so sure that the 29-year-old Velasquez will be back is the other thing we've heard about Velasquez since Day One: He has a phenomenal work ethic. Velasquez isn't the type to deal with a setback by packing it in. Velasquez is the type to get right back into the gym and immediately start working to get better. The one caveat I should add there is that I think Velasquez may have been a bit out of shape for this fight. I spoke to Velasquez during his recovery from shoulder surgery, and he mentioned that he wasn't able to run while his shoulder was immobilized, and that as a result he had gained weight. He came in at 249 pounds for the Dos Santos fight -- five pounds heavier than he weighed against Brock Lesnar -- and he looked puffier and less defined than he had previously. A big part of trusting in Velasquez's work ethic is trusting that he'll be in better shape for his next fight than he was against Dos Santos. But I do trust that, and I trust that Velasquez is going to be competing for a UFC title again. The heavyweight division in the UFC is not particularly deep, and I'd probably pick Velasquez to beat anyone other than Dos Santos right now. If Velasquez gets back in the ring and gets better, there's no reason to think he won't earn a rematch with the man who's just beaten him. UFC on Fox notes -- It's too bad Fox decided only to broadcast one fight, because Ben Henderson's unanimous decision victory over Clay Guida deserved to be seen by more than just the hard-core fans who watched the online stream. Henderson put on a great show, and he'll be a tough opponent for UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Too bad that show was seen only by thousands online, instead of millions on Fox. -- The ending of the Robert Peralta-Mackens Semerzier fight was extremely unfortunate: The two men accidentally clashed heads, Smerzier took the worse end of the collision, and Peralta was able to capitalize and finish Semerzier off with punches. If referee Big John McCarthy had seen the accidental head butt he would have called a halt to the action to give Semerzier time to recover. But McCarthy missed it, and Peralta got the win. -- Ricardo Lamas is now 2-0 since dropping down to featherweight this year, and he's looked great in both fights. He forced Cub Swanson to tap out to an arm-triangle choke on Saturday night. UFC on Fox quotes -- "I didn't want to follow up. There's no need to be an A-hole." -- DeMarques Johnson on why he let up before the referee stepped in after knocking out Clay Harvison. -- "I came in here the best I've ever been." -- Dustin Poirier, after forcing Pablo Garza to tap to a D'Arce choke. The 22-year-old Poirier is now 3-0 since dropping to 145 pounds, and I agree with his own assessment that he looked better than ever. He looks to me like a future featherweight champion. Good call McCarthy deducted a point from Matt Lucas for losing his mouthpiece three times. That's an unusual reason for a point deduction, but it was absolutely the right call: It's every fighter's responsibility to keep his mouthpiece in his mouth, and McCarthy enforced the rule properly. "You've got to keep your mouthpiece in your mouth," McCarthy told Lucas, in an instruction that should be so obvious it doesn't need to be said. Amazingly, Lucas lost his mouthpiece one more time after the point deduction. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-139230% Bad call Aaron Rosa ended up beating Lucas by majority decision, 30-26, 30-26 and 28-28. I don't know who the judge was who gave Lucas two of the three rounds against Rosa, but that judge couldn't have been more wrong: The issue with the mouthpiece aside, Rosa clearly deserved to win the fight. Stock up During his stint on The Ultimate Fighter, Alex Caceres was known more for his brash personality and his amusing nickname -- Bruce Leroy -- than for his ability to fight. But Caceres moved down to bantamweight and got the first win of his UFC career in a very impressive unanimous decision victory over Cole Escovedo. Caceres has always had a flashy striking style, but what I really liked about him on Saturday was that he showed off a much more sophisticated ground game than we had ever seen from him in the past. Bruce Leroy is heading in the right direction. Stock down In 2007, Kid Yamamoto was considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Since 2007, Yamamoto is 1-4, including a unanimous decision loss to Darren Uyenoyama on Saturday. This fight was a beatdown: The judges scored it 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26, and I agreed with the judge who had it 30-26, as I thought Uyenoyama deserved a 10-8 for the first round. It's sad to say this about Yamamoto, but he just doesn't have anything left. Maybe the UFC will keep him around for one more fight on its Japan card in February, but if so, that will be his retirement match. Fight I want to see next Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem. The winner of the upcoming fight between Overeem and Brock Lesnar gets the next crack at Dos Santos, and although I have nothing against Lesnar, I think Overeem would be a more interesting fight because I believe Overeem and Dos Santos are the two hardest hitters in the heavyweight division. Overeem vs. Lesnar takes place on December 30, and Overeem vs. Dos Santos is my way-too-early pick for Fight of the Year in 2012.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXAt the first event of the promotion that would come to be known as the UFC, things did not get off to a particularly promising start. In introducing the night's action, play-by-play commentator Bill Wallace incorrectly referred to it as the "Ultimate Fighting Challenge" twice within 10 seconds. Eighteen years to the day later, UFC on FOX marked the promotion's debut on network television, with a single fight broadcast around the nation. Like UFC 1, it was essentially an informercial, designed to pull in sports enthusiasts and channel surfers in hopes of creating new fans. As a general broadcast, UFC on FOX was a success. The production was slick, the spirited crowd gave it a big-show feel, and it came across as a major event. On the flipside, the heavyweight championship match between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos went just 64 seconds, robbing the UFC of a chance to give new viewers a deeper look at a textured sport. More Coverage: UFC on FOX Results | UFC on FOX Post-Fight Press Conference Overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Let's take a look at the broadcast and break it all down. 9 pm ET: FOX opens the show with a black and white card which reads, "The following might be the most exciting live sporting event in the history of television, and it's our duty to say: Viewer discretion advised." Cool. 9 pm: The FOX Sports theme music kicks off as host Curt Menefee announces the UFC is part of the FOX family. A nice touch, and for football fans especially, a clear signal that this is going to be a big deal. 9:01 pm: FOX shows a quick montage with a brief history of the promotion, and introduces Velasquez and dos Santos. A good idea, but not in-depth enough to offer any real insight into the UFC's wild ride. 9:03 pm: Menefee and UFC president Dana White are at the FOX Sports anchor desk inside the arena to discuss the significance of the fight and the event. I have no problem with White having a presence and speaking about the company's rise. But to have the company president as the fight analyst doesn't make for optimal presentation. It would be a much better idea to have a retired fighter giving unbiased analysis without a promoter's slant. 9:09 pm: Brock Lesnar joins White and Menefee to discuss the fight. Lesnar mentions he'll fight the winner of Velasquez-dos Santos, getting in a nice plug. Given Lesnar's status as perhaps the most well-known UFC fighter, his presence was practically mandatory. Lesnar wasted no time doing some verbal sparring with White, though he incorrectly predicted Velasquez would be able to take dos Santos down and keep him there. He wasn't the only one. 9:13 pm: FOX shows a segment on dos Santos that describes his early life, including an interview with his mother in which she tells a story of when as a youth, he refused to fight back against a bully because he didn't like to fight. This was a good, humanizing piece for those people who still insist fighters are thugs. 9:20 pm: A similar segment on Velasquez airs, detailing his father's sacrifices as a manual laborer to build a better life for his family, and how Cain learned his work ethic from him. Although this is a story many of us have heard before, it's important for the rest of the world tuning in to gain a little personal knowledge of the fighters. 9:25 pm: Menefee throws the fight to Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan for more analysis. Rogan describes dos Santos as sort of a throwback to the early days of the UFC for his reliance on one art: boxing. It's not too far off, but it downplayed dos Santos' wrestling brilliance, the fact that he's a jiu-jitsu brown belt, and that he's extremely athletic. 9:29 pm: dos Santos makes his way to the cage to the "Rocky" theme song and a chorus of boos. A great walkout song, but have fighters forgotten he loses? Rogan presciently asks, "The big question for him in this fight is, can he land the big shot standing up?" 9:33 pm: Velasquez makes his walk to the cage. At this point we're over a half-hour in and haven't seen a punch, so most people are probably getting a bit edgy. I understand the need for a pre-fight show but this is on the longish side. Hopefully that's because it's the first one, and in the future we can cut it down. 9:36 pm: Bruce Buffer begins introductions. Now we're in business. dos Santos looks calm and composed. Velasquez's body language isn't great. His gaze is downward as he walks side to side. 9:39 pm: Ref John McCarthy gives the "Let's get it on" opener. Let's. 9:40 pm: It's over. What? Look, many mainstream media members and other sports fans took shots at the UFC after dos Santos needed just 64 seconds to beat Velasquez, but those numbskulls should know that sports are unpredictable. There were three big sports events last night. This was one. In the second, Juan Manuel Marquez was robbed by the ringside judges in a loss to Manny Pacquiao. In the third, No. 4 Stanford was blown out by Oregon by 23 points in college football. Sports are unpredictable. We can't control that. That said, it clearly would have been beneficial for UFC to have a longer, technical fight that showcased more of the "mixed" part of MMA. But that's life. 9:54 pm: After post-fight interviews and some Rogan/Goldberg banter, we're back at the FOX Sports desk. White immediately questions Velasquez's strategy, asking why he didn't go for the takedown. This is a good question. But the entire post-fight analysis between the two is spent criticizing Velasquez while no credit is given to dos Santos for executing his plan. In essence, White acted more like an analyst than a promoter here, because he probably should have spent the time pumping up his new champion. That's good and bad, and it's another example of why White shouldn't be in the role. He can't serve the audience and his company, and he shouldn't have to. Just to be clear, it wasn't his idea. FOX Sports requested him there, but the network would do better to bring in their own analyst for these situations. UFC 1 didn't exactly get off to a great start and things worked out OK. UFC on FOX had its issues, from timing to analysis. The fact that we only got 64 seconds of action in 60 minutes probably left a few hungry for more, but hopefully that just means they'll be back for another bite. With a seven-year FOX deal, there will be plenty more shows to choose from. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-139230% Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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ESPN brings us highlights from the UFC on FOX 1 main event heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

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Here is ESPN's highlight video from the monumental UFC on FOX card that featured the heavyweight championship bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. It shows a few portions of the fight, but it doesn't show the key moments, so I do suggest catching the entire fight as a whole. It didn't last that long, but here's the entire play by play from our live blog of the bout: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos Round 1: HERE WE GO! The energy is insane. Cain lands a leg kick. Right hand from JDS. Junior tries a front kick and is nearly taken down. Body punch from Dos Santos. Cain looking to attack the lead leg. HOLY CRAP! Junior lands a ridiculous overhand that drops Cain. Junior swarms and lands several punches. Cain looked out and Big John steps in and stops the fight.  Official Result: Junior Dos Santos via Knockout at 1:04

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MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani caught up with Junior dos Santos, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Joe Rogan, Dustin Poirier, Alex Caceres, DaMarques Johnson and Ricardo Lamas following UFC on FOX 1 to talk about the fights.

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Junior dos Santos was scared heading into his UFC on Fox fight with Cain Velasquez. Nevertheless, he already had a place in his home scouted out to display his new belt.

Posted in: ufc, do, fox fight, place, ufc belt

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Junior dos Santos talks about the injury that he wouldn't let keep him from the UFC heavyweight title, what the win means to him, and who he thinks he'll fight next.

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Junior dos Santos' longtime coach and friend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira says that his student's performance was even more amazing considering he was on crutches just 11 days ago.

Posted in: day, do, coach, students performance, crutch

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Though tabbed as a betting underdog prior to his heavyweight title showdown with Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1, Junior dos Santos now sits atop the UFC’s heavyweight division as the undisputed champion.

Posted in: ufc, title, heavyweight, do, pegs lesnar

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Brock Lesnar was at UFC on FOX on Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011) as a special guest analyst for the main event title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, which blew the roof off the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. "Cigano" became the new heavyweight champion via first round knockout. Lesnar, himself a former division champion, tipped his hat to the Brazilian bomber, but had a few questions in the post-fight show regarding Cain's strategy come fight night: "I’ll tell ya, this heavyweight belt cannot stay in one man’s hands for very long. My hat’s off to Junior dos Santos, but that’s the truth. All it takes is the right punch at the right time and it’s a matter of a minute and four seconds. I was very surprised that Cain was so apprehensive in this fight. To me, it looked like he was trying to feel it out a little bit and I thought, ‘This guy should be pressuring him. He needs to be pressuring him.' Maybe it was a confidence thing. Maybe Cain wanted to come in and feel this thing out, but as it was shown, that was the wrong decision. He has a track record here too. Junior dos Santos is a knockout artist, okay? And I’ll be watching this and analyzing this, but I absolutely thought Cain should have pushed the fight and closed the distance and utilize what got him to the big event: His wrestling." Lesnar was stopped by Velasquez at UFC 121 just over a year ago and following surgery for diverticulitis, booked his return to the Octagon at UFC 141 on Dec. 30 to face former Strikeforce and K-1 champion Alistair Overeem for a shot at reclaiming the belt. Velasquez now has some battling back to do of his own, with rumors of a knee injury plaguing him two weeks before his return to the cage. While the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) product was coy about the extent of his injuries in the post-fight press conference, a bum knee can spell disaster for a fighter with a wrestling-based attack. Not to mention he was sidelined for over a year to have shoulder surgery. Any fight fans out there agree with Lesnar? Or have pundits moved too quickly to criticize Velasquez -- and not give the proper credit to Dos Santos? What say you? For UFC on FOX results and live play-by-play for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" click here.

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As if winning the UFC heavyweight title in 64 seconds wasn't impressive enough, Junior Dos Santos did it all with a busted up knee. Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting confirmed the news via twitter that the new champion went into the fight with a major knee injury.  @arielhelwaniAriel Helwani JDS and his dr. just confirmed that he tore his meniscus 11 days ago, was on crutches for 2 days after. Couldn't walk.Nov 13 via EchofonFavoriteRetweetReply   My play by play of the fight: Round 1: HERE WE GO! The energy is insane. Cain lands a leg kick. Right hand from JDS. Junior tries a front kick and is nearly taken down. Body punch from Dos Santos. Cain looking to attack the lead leg. HOLY CRAP! Junior lands a ridiculous overhand that drops Cain. Junior swarms and lands several punches. Cain looked out and Big John steps in and stops the fight.  Official Result: Junior Dos Santos via Knockout at 1:04 Junior Dos Santos is the new UFC heavyweight champion, dethroning Cain Velasquez with his monstrous power. He'll defend his belt against the winner of Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem later in 2012.  SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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ANAHEIM, Calif. - Junior Dos Santos suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee a week-and-a-half prior to his fight with Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX. "I was feeling my knee a little bit, and I was worried about it," Dos Santos told MMAjunkie.com. Dos Santos was advised by doctors that the injury wouldn't preclude him from fighting. But he now plans a follow-up to see what his immediate future holds.

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Hosts Jay Glazer and Kenny Florian discuss the UFC on FOX main event between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, which went down on Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011) from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. After replaying the knockout, which crowned Dos Santos new heavyweight champion, both were upset that Cain did not go for another takedown after his first failed attempt. Kenny states that once you get hit in the ear, you lose all your equilibrium and it can be hard to get control. Back down to Nicole at the UFC party as she interviews Surfing Champ Kelly Slater: "Wasn't a great night for Cain, but Junior seems like a great guy. Cain didn't look like himself tonight and got caught." Talks about his eleventh world title in surfing. "Brazilians are so good in all sports." Glazer and "KenFlo" discuss Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson fight. Kenny: "it was just hair flying around the Octagon." Henderson scored a title shot against Frankie Edgar with the unanimous decision win. Stephan Bonnar interviews "Smooth" backstage: "Always happy to get the 'W,' but I can be better, but I'll take the 'W.'" Give techniques to escape guillotine chokes and says he matches up great with Frankie and it will be a great fight. Henderson will now battle "The Answer" on Feb. 25 in Japan Florian says he brought "Bendo" in to prepare for his previous fight with Guida and says the former WEC champ had a toothpick in his mouth the whole time they sparred. Shots of the UFC afterparty. Bonnar interviews new UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos. "The American Psycho" asks to touch the belt for good luck. Dos Santos: "I'm feeling amazing, this fight was important for my life and my family and I did it." Bonnar asks about leg kicks: "The kicks don't hurt me." Dos Santos on the Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar fight at UFC 141: "It's gonna be a good fight, I'll be there to watch for sure. I am going home to Brazil and make a big party for all my family and partners. BBQ in Brazil" Bonner speaks his best Portuguese. Jay Glazer and Kenny Florian talk about how likeable Junior is and reveal "Cigano" learned to speak English by watching The Simpsons. Florian says fight between Dos Santos and Alistair will be more exciting due to the striking aspect of the fight. Back to Bonnar with Cain Velasquez: "I felt good; I think in the fight I thought I could time him better. But I steered away from the gameplan and he got me with a great overhand right. He timed me perfectly. It was hard to get back to 100-percent. But in the fight game it happens, and I'm ready to come back and do it all over again. I felt 100-percent ready to go. He did what he was supposed to do." Florian discusses how Cain will come back stronger than ever. This is the crazy thing about the sport, all the analyzing does not matter, anything can happen. Shot of JDS and his team dancing in his locker room followed by a shot of Jon Jones taking pictures with a Marine at the UFC afterparty. Down to Nicole as she interviews Travis Barker: "I wish it would have went longer and I wish Cain would have wrestled a bit more. I was rooting for Cain, but in MMA anything can happen, it's unexpected. I'm looking forward to seeing Cruz, Guida and Travis Brown." Back to Jay and he discusses Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza. Shows highlights of the fight and the "Diamond's" win. Florian talks about his weight cuts. Says he weighs 165 and that the weight cut is brutal. Says Chad Mendes can give a lot of problems to Jose Aldo but that he won't get the victory. Shot of a distraught Cain in his locker room. Checking his messages on his phone. Florian talks about his title losses and the time it takes to recover, says, he is not sure if you ever recover from a title fight. Says that he feels for Cain. Nicole talks to Jon Jones: "Man it was a great fight,. Junior did a great job, he has heavy hands. Cain doesn't have the strongest chin. Junior has come up to win the title and it's a dream come true. The party is nuts, celebrities everywhere." Says he gets to hang out with Mandy Moore. Glazer and Florian say there is no one close to Jon Jones talent-wise. That the things he does is ridiculous and talk about his 84 inch reach and that he is difficult to prepare for. Announcement that UFC begins on FUEL TV with over 2200 hours of UFC programming starting on New Year's Day. The booth now has Bonnar, Florian and Glazer. Bonnar was the only one to predict the fight correctly in choosing Dos Santos. Down to the press conference: Dana: "As soon as the fight starts, we can't control them. I was not critical, I just don't understand why Cain wouldn't go for the shot and put him in the fence and not bang with Junior. But who the hell am I, I'm no ones trainer." JDS: "My conditioning was great, I was feeling a bit in my knee, and I would not like to fight five rounds with Cain because he has good stamina. I felt good in the fight but a lot of pressure." Cain: "My knee was fine. It was my fault I didn't pressure enough. I played Dos Santos's game and he caught me, it was my fault. Yeah, it was a great stoppage." Dana on whether the next UFC on FOX will have more fight: "Just so everyone understands, the deal doesn't start until January; this fight was not part of the deal. The deal is for seven years. It was FOX's idea to do a great fight on TV. An upset Dana White says "People who like to bitch, can shut up and buy a ticket if you don't think there not enough fights shown on TV." Dana: "I don't know what's next for Cain, he will be back." Cain in Spanish: "Junior caught me with a great punch, and well you saw what happened." Dos Santos speaks in Spanish: Says Cain is a great wrestler and is happy to win the fight and did not want to go five rounds and is happy to be the first to beat him. Ben Henderson: "I'm happy to get the 'W' anyway I can get it." He was not happy with his performance and that he is going to do better. "Our fight will be aired at some point in time." Clay Guida: "Ben's a warrior and he always come to scrap. I think everyone wanted two more rounds in this fight. Don't forget about the Cain." Cain talks about his gameplan: "Establish the punches and kicks and go forward and take the takedown if it was there and to not force anything. Just to put a bit more pressure and I went against the gameplan. It's just the name of the game, when you fight someone talented like Dos Santos things like this happen and it's not the end for me. You learn a lot from losses, I'm going to learn not to stray away from the gameplan even for a little bit." Jay Glazer talks about how classy Cain is and does not talk about his knee injury. Florian talks about when fighters go in injured into a fight. Say if you go into a fight 100-percent, you probably didn't train hard. Gives Cain props for not making any excuses. Nicole interviews Tito Ortiz: "WOW, that's all I got to say. I'm a big Cain fan, but JDS, it couldn't have happened to a better man. He finished the fight and he is the new world heavyweight champion. He's very positive, has great people around him. It's kind of like an Oscar afterparty." Says he's excited to see GSP and Chuck Liddell. Glazer says Tito is stealing his look. Highlights of Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas fight. Lamas wins via arm triangle choke and wins submission of the night. Discuss upcoming fighters coming up the ranks. Bonnar says Dustin Poirier is an up-and-coming fighter to watch. Nicole with Hershel Walker: "Junior came out and did what he was supposed to do. Cain will come back, but you have to take your hat off to Junior. It was the overhand right that caught him in the war which knocked him down. MMA is such a great sport and now all the people on FOX can see it." Walker Say "Bones" Jones is one heck of an athlete and loves what he does inside the cage. One final look at Junior Dos Santos knocking out Cain Velasquez" and that's it for the Fuel TV post-fight show and coverage on FOX: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." What are your final thoughts on tonight's production? For UFC on FOX results and live play-by-play for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, do, florian, bonnar

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There's never much rest for a champion and even after a historic night where the UFC debuted on Fox and Junior dos Santos captured the UFC heavyweight title, everyone is already talking about what's next.

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UFC on Fox 1 took place tonight live from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The event marked the first time the UFC appeared on Fox and while the main event did not last long, the entire card provided memorable action through out the night. Clay Guida, Ben Henderson, Ricardo Lamas, and Junior Dos Santos each picked up $65,000 for their performances. Henderson wins a wild one with Guida, awarded title shot Clay Guida and Ben Henderson was expected to be a fast-paced war and it did not disappoint as the two picked up “Fight of the Night.” While the fight was a unanimous decision victory for Henderson, each round contained enough back and forth action to fill an entire fight. With the win, UFC president Dana White announced Henderson will face UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar when the UFC heads to Japan in February. Dos Santos picks up “Knockout of the Night” Newly-crowned heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos dream night got even better as he picked up “Knockout of the Night” for his knockout victory over Cain Velasquez. Velasquez was never able to get it going against Dos Santos with the fight ending after throwing a telegraphed hook that Dos Santos timed perfectly with an overhand right. Dos Santos quickly followed up on the ground before the dazed Velasquez could recover. Dos Santos is expected to face the winner of Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. Lamas taps Swanson to pick up “Submission of the Night” Ricardo Lamas recovered from a tough first round to choke out Cub Swanson and pick up “Submission of the Night.” Lamas was caught in a deep guillotine choke in round 1 but refused to tap and managed to survive. Lamas then set up a beautiful arm-triangle in the second round that Swanson was unable to escape from. Other notes from the post-fight conference: Attendence was announced at 14,019 with a live gate of $1.1 million. The UFC’s Japan event is being called UFC 144 Dana White stated that TUF Brazil is set to begin very soon but that the coaches have not been determined. White added that Brazil has become the “New Canada” for the promotion.

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"This is the moment UFC fans around the world have been waiting for" - Bruce Buffer.    Bruce Buffer summed up the very thoughts that MMA fans have been feeling since the UFC announced the deal with Fox. It was OUR night. This is OUR sport. And WE finally have hit the big time. The night was the UFC's coming out party to a much larger audience and FOX put forward all the bells and whistles to make sure that it looks like a legitimate sport with their production. The fight unfortunately didn't live up to the expectations with Junior Dos Santos finishing Cain Velasquez in 64 seconds to capture the UFC heavyweight belt.  Due to contract restrictions the UFC was unable to air the undercard on FX or Fuel, instead having to put four fights on Fox Deportes. It is a shame since these four fights were extremely entertaining and displayed everything that we love about MMA.  There will be two viewpoints on the Fox broadcast. The first is that the only purpose was to build a star. If that is the case then it worked out well since Junior can be sold as the heavy handed champion who has soul-sucking power. The other is that the only reason for the broadcast was to build up an audience. In order to do so many pundits predicted the fight would have to go at least two rounds. It's a point of view supported by the fact that plans were for the first two rounds to air commercial free. If this is the case then the fight would be viewed as an absolute failure. My personal opinion? I'm not sure that either is entirely wrong. The broadcast definitely helped with establishing Junior as a monster. Unfortunately, ending a fight in a minute definitely hurts some of the audience building hopes.  As far as the production, I loved what Fox brought to the table. Judging by twitter I'm alone in this opinion as most MMA media types were pretty outspoken about it having a cookie cutter feel. There's a reason for that since that is what non fans expect from sports. They don't want Gladiator intros. They don't want Dana White and Joe Rogan yelling at each other. They want suits and professional feel. That's what Fox delivered.  Hindsight being 20-20 the UFC would have been better served airing Ben Henderson vs Clay Guida on the broadcast. The fight was a FOTY candidate and would have been perfect to introduce fans to the sport. I get the reasoning for not airing the fight as you need to put the best product forward and there's no better product on paper than a heavyweight championship.  Junior's post-fight speech is exactly why I love MMA so much. The ability to interview a fighter right after such a big moment allows for raw emotions. That was as genuine a reaction as you'll ever get in life. The tears in his eyes were those of joy and this fight means as much for him as it does for Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera and the rest of his team.  Dana White's comments in the post-fight analysis booth left much to be desired. I understand the frustration that his champion got finished in a round but there's no reason to let those negative emotions come through on a broadcast. When he's sitting in that chair he's supposed to be the objective promoter, not criticize a fighter and camp. His exact comments were:  Listen, I'm no strategist and I'm nobody's coach but I don't understand why they didn't go for the shot early. They should have shot in on Junior Dos Santos knowing that he has the power early in the fight and tries to knock you out. But the truth is that Junior Dos Santos gets tired at the end of fights, you know? Here he is standing right in front of him trying to trade and bang with Junior Dos Santos and gets hit with that big right hand right behind the ear and down he goes. Down goes his heavyweight championship. I'll say it again, not saying that I'm some strategy coach but I don't know why they wouldn't take the shot on him and wrestle early. It's one thing to feel a fight out but when you're standing right in front of a guy that you know his biggest weapons are his hands and he can knock you out and this thing is a five round fight. Get in there and start working him. Stay busy and put him against the fence. Rough him up and tire him out a little bit and bring it into the later rounds where Junior Dos Santos is well known for getting tired.    I can't agree with the President's opinions on the champion or his decision to bury his new crowned champion. It's bad for business and a bad decision to say these things in front of a new audience. The time would have been better served building Junior Dos Santos up as a force in the decision. I'm sure that Dana will look back and see this as well.  Additional thoughts after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos The Facebook/FoxSports.com prelims were pretty good. While there weren't any finishes besides the weird ending to Robert Peralta and Mackens Semerzier's fight, they turned out to be decent scraps. The UFC has been trying to build up Alex Caceres since he made his debut on the Ultimate Fighter and tonight definitely established him. It was the absolute best that Bruce Leeroy has ever looked. On the flipside, the highly touted signing of Norifumi Yamamoto should be considered a bust at this point. He's now 0-2 in the UFC and just hasn't been able to find the exciting style that made him a star in Japan. His loss is Darren Uyenoyama's gain as he now has a big win over an established name. Nice to see new blood in the bantamweight division.  The final four fights continued on Facebook or fans were able to switch on their televisions and watch them live on Fox Deportes. The Spanish announce team is extremely excited during fights which makes for a great experience. With two submissions, a knockout, and a fight of the night in the final four prelims, they definitely set the tone for the main event. Dustin Poirier may be a win or two away from a featherweight title shot and Ben Henderson was awarded a shot at Frankie Edgar's title.  Overall, this was a solid night of fights. It may be the emotions from finally being able to say that MMA has made it but there's no disappointment in the evening. Fox did a great job at promoting the product in the lead up and the presentation tonight was fantastic. It was a night and day difference than Strikeforce and EliteXC's attempts at network broadcasts and hopefully things improve in the future. 

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UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, has officially wrapped, which means it's time for those select fighters who went above and beyond in their respective fights to get a little extra grease for their efforts. To the tune of $65,000 each. The promotion dished out its standard post-fight monetary bonuses to four out of the 20 fighters on the card, and it's probably no surprise who's leaving "The Golden State" with a second sack of simoleons. In one of the biggest landslides in UFC history, freshly crowned heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos' waistline is sagging big time with the addition of a 12-pound belt and 70K after his first round "Knockout of the Night" over Cain Velasquez. Welcome to the mainstream, fellas. Also hauling in a wheelbarrow full of cash is Ricardo Lamas, who impressed Facebook and FOXSports.com viewers with a sweet "Submission of the Night" winning arm triangle choke of Octagon debutant Cub Swanson. Look out, featherweights, here he comes. Finally, Ben Henderson and Clay Guida took home "Fight of the Night" honors for their thrilling back-and-forth war of attrition that saw "Bendo" earn a lightweight championship bout against Frankie Edgar early next year thanks to a unanimous decision victory. It's just too bad the folks on FOX didn't get to see it. Here are the special fight bonuses for UFC on FOX 1: Knockout of the Night -- Junior dos Santos Submission of the Night -- Ricardo Lamas Fight of the Night -- Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida Again, each fighter received $65,000 extra for their performances in addition to their respective base salaries, which we will pass along as soon as possible. For complete UFC on FOX 1 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here. 

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ANAHEIM, Calif. - Saturday's "UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event drew a reported 14,019 attendees and generated a live gate of $1.1 million. UFC president Dana White revealed the figures at the evening's post-event press conference, which MMAjunkie.com attended. Featuring a heavyweight title fight between new champion Junior Dos Santos and former beltholder Cain Celasquez, "UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" marked the UFC's live debut on network television and served as a teaser to the two companies' seven-year deal, which officially begins in 2012.

Posted in: ufc, fox, do, network television, celasquez ufc

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Tonight in Anaheim, with the UFC debuting on Fox to millions of new viewers, with all the eyes of the sport upon him,  Junior dos Santos said, "This is MMA." With reflexive anticipation of Cain Velasquez's left hook, he ducked down and launched an overhand right - the most famous move in the sport, popularized by vintage Chuck Liddell - landing flush on his opponent's temple. With Velasquez's equilibrium scrambled, dos Santos followed his severely dazed opponent to the mat and unleashed a series of devastating blows that forced referee John McCarthy to step in and save the champion. It took just over one minute for "Cigano" to make his statement. Hailing from the best fight camp in all the sport, his eloquence should never have been in question. This, after all, is the most persistently violent sport in all of North America. And, though some may be hesitant to admit so, we all watch it for the violence. Perhaps that isn't one's primary motive, but it must be part of the appeal of the sport. The oft-drawn, trite parallel between mixed martial artists and Roman gladiators is actually quite valid; to some degree, we watch to see one man draw blood from another. It's a primal urge, something we lack in our daily lives. One of the most thrilling scenes in all of film comes from Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, when the primate realizes he can reclaim his territory via violence - he uses a weapon, and sets himself down the path to humanity. It's a stunning look at what sets us apart from the lesser species. It's a statement to our superiority. And so we have these combative athletes who, bound by the laws of civilization, turn their bodies into weapons, embodying physical dominance. It's what made boxing a fixture of this culture for more than a century. And now it is what brings MMA to the widest audience possible. Boxing, of which I am a fan, has become heavy, laden with egos, pretentions, and flawed ethics that seem to seep into the raw sport far too often. There are no ethics in Junior dos Santos leaping atop his downed foe, raining down blow upon blow, expressing poetry by motion, and claiming to another man, "I am your superior." If nothing else can be said of MMA, then let it be known that this is the most honest of all sport, and tonight, "Cigano" gave all the nation a lesson in truth. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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Junior dos Santos stopped Cain Velasquez just 1:04 into their UFC heavyweight title bout Saturday night.

Posted in: title, do, velasquez, downs velasquez, claim title

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The first ever historic UFC on Fox show lasted an hour, but it only took Junior dos Santos just over one minute to claim the UFC heavyweight title with a knockout of Cain Velasquez.

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXANAHEIM, Calif. -- Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez had more in common heading into their UFC heavyweight title fight on Saturday night than either of them could have realized. While each was worried about his own lingering knee injury, neither had any way of knowing that the other was going through almost the exact same thing in the opposite locker room. Dos Santos took the title with a 64-second TKO victory, but less than two weeks ago he could barely walk following an injury during his jiu-jitsu training, he told reporters. "I got a very serious injury in my knee, my meniscus," said the new champion. "You know, ten days ago I couldn't walk very well. I stayed two days with [crutches], but I asked my doctor to help me because it's the fight of my life and I can't miss that fight." That doctor, Fabio Costa, told MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani that dos Santos has a large lesion on his meniscus that will require surgery to fix, and which nearly forced him out of the bout entirely. "Ten minutes before the fight he told us, 'My knee, I have something in my knee.' [We] said, 'Calm down. You are a tough guy. You are our warrior. You can go.' Now he's the champion." Velasquez's story remains a bit murkier, and the former champ seemed uninterested in shedding much light on the situation. Coming into the bout there were rumors that he'd suffered a rather serious knee injury in training and had almost been forced to withdraw from the fight as well. His camp denied those reports and Velasquez himself downplayed the extent of the injury in the post-fight press conference, saying he was suffering from "just little nagging injuries here and there, just the usual." But UFC president Dana White appeared to realize that it more than just bumps and bruises, saying that he'd have to wait for Velasquez to return to full strength before he could think about his immediate future in the UFC. "Like he said, his knee's bothering him. Let him get his knee better and we'll go from there," White said. As for dos Santos, he was saved by physical therapy and "shots and medicines and lots of things," he said. The injury disrupted his training, he said, and made him apprehensive about the possibility of going five full rounds, so the quick finish was an ideal outcome in his first shot at a major title, not to mention the first UFC bout ever broadcast on network TV. "I'm feeling amazing. I can't explain how I'm feeling. It was a really, really important fight for the whole MMA, and especially for me and for Cain Velasquez. But I'm really happy to win this fight. Now I'm the champion and it's amazing." After the fight, White pointed to both dos Santos and Velasquez's personal stories of struggles against the odds, saying they were the exactly the tales of resilience and perseverance that the UFC wanted to get across to new viewers in the FOX broadcast. Velasquez was the son of Mexican immigrants who went on to be an All-American wrestler at Arizona State, he pointed out, and dos Santos grew up in extreme poverty in Brazil where he could have easily turned to crime but "what does he say? 'I used to sell ice creams and newspapers and then I washed dishes,'" White said. "...These are the stories we have to tell to mainstream America." Just by gritting their way through injuries and making it into the Octagon, both Velasquez and dos Santos continued to show just how resilient and determined they are. In that sense, each man wrote his own story of triumph on Saturday night, even if only of those stories had a happy ending. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Junior dos Santos needed just 64 seconds to take the UFC heavyweight title from Cain Velasquez in the company's network TV debut.

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Junior dos Santos knocked out champion Cain Velasquez 1:04 into the first round to win the UFC heavyweight championship in the promotion's debut on the Fox network.

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All Junior dos Santos needed was one punch, and he landed it.

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Junior dos Santos knocked out UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in just 64-seconds to win the title as the UFC made its network debut on Fox on Saturday night from Anaheim, California. Dos Santos caught Velasquez with a punch to the ear that sent the champion stumbling to the canvas and followed up with unanswered punches on the ground that forced referee “Big” John McCarthy to stop the fight just over a minute into the scheduled five-rounder. In the UFC on Fox co-main event, lightweight contender Ben Henderson outpointed Clay Guida to earn the next shot at champion Frankie Edgar.  

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It didn't take Junior dos Santos long to prove he's the world's best heavyweight as he knocked out Cain Velasquez in only sixty-four seconds into the first round to become the new UFC heavyweight champion.  Cain started off strong with leg kicks, but Dos Santos stunned Velasquez with a heavy overhand right during the toe-to-toe action that downed the champion. Dos Santos followed up with brutal ground and pound strikes that eventually led to the referee stopping the action. Velasquez entered tonight's contest undefeated at 9-0. He won the UFC heavyweight title last October in a Knockout of the Night performance against Brock Lesnar. He previously defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a title eliminator match-up at UFC 110 in February of last year.  Dos Santos only has one blemish on his record, a loss to Joaquim Ferreira from a bout in Brazil back in 2007. Since that loss, Dos Santos has gone 8-0 with his last win coming by way of a dominant, one-sided beatdown of Shane Carwin at UFC 131. The victory served as a title eliminator, solidifying Dos Santos' spot as the #1 contender. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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The historic UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" broadcast has officially wrapped from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In the main event of the evening, and the only fight to make the one hour primetime special, Cain Velasquez defended his heavyweight title against Junior dos Santos. Well, he didn't defend it. He lost it, actually. That's because Dos Santos came in hard and fast with a big overhand right and put Velasquez to the mat. Some follow up shots turned the champion over and that was it. Junior dos Santos defeats Cain Velasquez to become the UFC heavyweight champion on the very first UFC on FOX network broadcast. And he did it in just over one minute. Dos Santos landed a nice right hand in the early going but Velasquez walked through it. A takedown attempt failed early from the champion. The crowd was electric for everything.  Just one minute into the round and with "Cigano" looking as comfortable as ever, he landed hard and clean just above Velasquez's temple and near his ear. That's the sweet spot, ladies and gentlemen. Follow up ground and pound finished the job for a short but electrifying heavyweight title fight. Was it as good for you as it was for Dos Santos? Click here for all the results and live blow-by-blow of the UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event action from Anaheim, California.

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National Football League (NFL) personality Jay Glazer joined Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stalwart Kenny Florian to kick-off the UFC on FOX: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" pre-fight special live from the red carpet at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Stephan Bonnar took viewers backstage with the promise of fighter interviews throughout the evening. Gets props from the emcees for helping push mixed martial arts (MMA) to the next level with his epic fight against Forrest Griffin at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 1 finale way back in 2006. A jovial Brock Lesnar arrives and quickly tells Glazer: "I almost feel like the heavyweight champion." He also picks Cain Velasquez to retain the heavyweight title, says he hits hard and has a distinct wrestling advantage. Leaves with: "Brock Lesnar is back and on Dec. 30 I'm gonna prove it." "Cigano" is profiled. Says he's not out for revenge (Velasquez knocked out his mentor, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira), rather he wants Cain because Velasquez has the belt and is considered the best heavyweight in the world. Howie Mandel talks cage fighting (sans doctor's glove over the head) and calls for a flash mob of UFC fighters -- but doesn't do it in his squeaky "Howie from Maui" voice. Bummer. Gina Carano stops by to talk her "Haywire" movie and butt-kicking. And yes, she is still smokin' hot. UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta stops by. Says the "matchmaking Gods" assisted in the "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" match-up, which he calls a "no-brainer." Also talks about the anniversary of UFC 1, which happened on Nov. 18, 1993. For more on the UFC's 18th birthday, click here. They cut to an MMA champion's roundtable featuring Jon Jones, Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell and Frank Mir. Each fighter weighs in on "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." ESPN-turned-UFC analyst Jon Anik gets introduced to the viewers at home and picks Velasquez to win by third round technical knockout. Says it's Cain's fight to lose. The stunning Mandy Moore (even sick) concurs. Stephan Bonnar gets his hands on Alistair Overeem and asks him how he ever made light heavyweight. "Demolition Man" seems to have no recollection and Bonnar awkwardly moves on. "The Reem," who's talking like he just woke from a coma, breaks down his preparations for Brock Lesnar, his opponent at UFC 141 on Dec. 10 in Las Vegas. Back in the booth and Glazer pimps submissions and asks "KenFlo" to choke him out. He should have just read Ain'tNoSunshine's breakdown here and saved himself the blood restriction. We return to the champion's table and it doesn't sound like anyone is convinced Dos Santos can overcome the well-rounded skills of Velasquez. Mir says JDS has the best boxing in the division, but may be too one dimensional to win. Former Giants defensive great Michael Strahan hits the red carpet and rags on Glazer. He also admits to wishing he had spent some time in his NFL career training in MMA. Picks Cain to retain. Velasquez gets his turn to talk up the fight. Puts over his Brazilian foe as a major threat and expects the fight to go all five rounds. Recaps his win over Lesnar and the road back from shoulder surgery. Bonnar gets Junior back in the locker room and as usual, "Cigano" looks "verrr-ee happee." He's smiling and confident and did I say smiling? Impossible not to like this guy. Champion's roundtable with official picks: Chuck Liddell: Cain VelasquezJon Jones: Cain VelasquezFrank Mir: Cain VelasquezForrest Griffin: Junior dos Santos Big focus on the Marine Corps and no military promo would be complete without the inclusion of UFC middleweight Brian Stann, who was awarded the Silver Star for his contributions overseas. Bonnar gets a pre-fight interview with the champ, who says his body is feeling good and doesn't expect any hindrance from his surgically-repaired shoulder. As the segment starts to wind down, former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten plugs his new show "Punk Payback," which in no way, shape or form resembles "Bully Beatdown" (cough). "El Guapo" picks Velasquez by epic stamina. UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre stops by to give his prediction and like the Fuel TV fan poll, it's all Cain Velasquez. Stephan Bonnar bucks the trend and picks Dos Santos by knockout. Kenny Florian disagrees. Do you? That's it for the Fuel TV pre-fight show and coverage for UFC on FOX: "Velasqez vs. Dos Santos." What were your initial impressions? Over-produced? Under-produced? Just right? What say you? For UFC on FOX results and live play-by-play for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" click here.

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Filed under: UFC, News, VideosANAHEIM, Calif. -- Following the UFC on FOX event, Junior dos Santos discussed the meniscus tear that he suffered just 11 days before Saturday night's fight. Watch below to hear his comments on how severe the injury was.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Tonight we celebrate UFC on FOX: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." But 18 years ago to the day, an event, unlike anything anyone had ever seen, took place in Denver, Colorado. The event was called "The Ultimate Fighting Championship" (UFC). The purpose? To see who was the best fighter in the world. Fighters from all disciplines, from all over the world, came to test their skills against one another. Though the event was billed as "no holds barred," there were a few rules in place to protect the competitors, like no biting and no eye gouging. There were no weight classes which meant that, since it was tournament format, any fighter could easily outweigh his opponent by more than 25 pounds. The fight card consisted of athletes that at that point, no one had ever heard of before. Gerard Gordeau, Teila Tuli, Kevin Rosier, Zane Frasier, Art Jimmerson, Ken Shamrock, Patrick Smith, Trent Jenkins, Jason DeLucia and eventual tournament winner, Royce Gracie, all convened in "Mile High City" to see who truly was the best. Gracie, who was the smallest competitor in the tournament, amazed everyone with a fighting technique that not many people had heard of before. The discipline was known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). The undersized Gracie submitted Art Jimmerson, Ken Shamrock and Gerard Gordeu as he became the first-ever winner, taking home bragging rights along with a $50,000 check. Throughout the years to come, the UFC fought tooth-and-nail to get the recognition and respect it deserved. From battling politicians such as Senator John McCain, who labeled the sport "human cockfighting," to trying to gain fans to accept a new style of fighting, it took 18 years but the UFC has truly come full circle. Thanks to Zuffa, the UFC has received a complete makeover. From adding rules, weight classes and getting sanctioned by the majority of stateside athletic commissions (as well as traveling to countries all over the world), the UFC is now one of the biggest and richest sports organizations on the planet. The days of people shying away from the sport may now be over. Now, blue chips sponsors such as Harley Davidson and Bud Light proudly display their product throughout the UFC and it seems that everyone is knocking at the door trying to get a piece of the MMA pie. From dominating the pay-per-view arena, to making millionaires out of countless fighters, to selling out arenas all over the world, the UFC, with its new FOX partnership, has finally been accepted into the mainstream world. The UFC will hold its first title fight on free cable TV tonight (Nov. 12), as it debuts on the FOX network. The same FOX network that carries the NFL's Super bowl and MLB's World Series. Unlike UFC 1, in which a young and undersized fighter dominated the night, two of the biggest and best heavyweights in the world will take center stage at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos will battle for the right to be called UFC heavyweight champion of the world. Like Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin at the first ever Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Finale, Velasquez and Dos Santos have a chance to do something special for the UFC. The two heavyweights will be responsible for introducing the sport of MMA and the brand that is the UFC to a whole new audience and in the process, usher the promotion into a whole new era that will change the landscape of MMA for the years to come. Happy 18th birthday, Ultimate Fighting Championship. For UFC on FOX results and live play-by-play for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" click here.

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Tonight (Sat., Nov. 12, 2011), Junior dos Santos will stand across the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) cage from heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, as the two prepare to do battle for the belt inside the Honda Center at UFC on FOX in Anaheim, Calif., airing on network television at 9 p.m. ET. The crowd will roar as the voice of the Octagon, Bruce Buffer, introduces the fighters in his patented, enthusiastic manner. Undoubtedly, Buffer will refer to dos Santos by the nickname that fans have come to know him by, "Cigano." The moniker has become part of his identity, but what is its origin?  In an interview with Combate, dos Santos gave the down-low on where the nickname came from: "When I had long hair, I used to tie it back. So the guys would say I would look like the 'gypsy.' I used to hate that, but the less you like a nickname, the more it sticks. Sure enough, that's what happened." The term "Gypsy" is an allusion to a character named "Igor," from the popular 90's telenovela "Explode Coração." The character was played by Brazilian actor Ricardo Macchi. The plot of the show centered around the love triangle formed by the protagonists and addressed the culture of the gypsies in Brazil. Ironically enough, Macchi actually spent some time studying boxing and is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) purple belt. He stopped training in 1993 when his soap opera career began to take off. It's a silly nickname. Not quite what you'd expect for a man who essentially knocks people out for a living. The fact that dos Santos is still willing to put up with the good-natured ribbing just goes to show how much of a gentle giant he is. But, is he too nice? Will he be able to harness his inner telenovela "villain" to take down the current unbeaten heavyweight champion?  Weigh in, Maniacs!

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Saturday night’s ‘UFC on FOX 1’ event saw a new heavyweight champion crowned.Junior Dos Santos needed just 64 seconds to put Cain Velasquez...

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Junior Dos Santos, Ricardo Lamas, Ben Henderson and Clay Guida were the bonus winners at UFC on FOX 1.Each pocketed a cheque for $65,000 for their efforts,...

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXANAHEIM -- UFC president Dana White showed up to the post-fight press conference after his organization's network debut on FOX looking more relieved than elated. "I feel great," he insisted almost defensively, before the question was even finished. "It's behind me. I've been waiting for this." In fairness, this was the end of an incredibly stressful period in White's life. The Cain Velasquez-Junior dos Santos bout he'd hyped as "the biggest fight in UFC history" had ended in just one minute and four seconds after a hard right hand from dos Santos sent Velasquez on the path toward defeat. As many viewers of the post-fight show on FOX noted, White's commentary about Velasquez's performance didn't make him sound terribly pleased about the effort he'd gotten from his champion on the big night. But as White told reporters inside the Honda Center on Saturday night, he knew the risks of putting two heavyweights in the cage from the very beginning. "I said it in the first press conference: this thing could go 30 seconds or this thing could go 25 minutes. We'll see. Either way it'll be a great fight and it was. That's what happens when you put two heavyweights in there who bang. Anything can happen. ...As soon as those fights start, whatever happens happens. There's nothing you can do about that. We can't control the fights." As for his remarks about Velasquez's game plan, questioning why he didn't try harder to use his wrestling skills and get dos Santos to the mat, White painted himself as just another observer with his own take on the proceedings. "I wouldn't say that I was critical," said White. "I had an opinion. When we went back to the post[-fight] show, I said, you know, I don't understand why Cain wouldn't have shot, gone in for the shot, try to work, pressure him, and not stay in his range and try to bang with Junior in the early rounds. But what the hell am I? I'm not anybody's coach or trainer. It was just my impression about the fight." A soft-spoken Velasquez admitted he'd strayed from his own strategy, brief though the fight was, saying his original goal had been to establish his striking game and "if the takedown is there, take it." "It was my fault," said the former champion. "I didn't pressure him enough. The game plan was to go in there and pressure." Even though the fight ended with a definitive TKO, White didn't seem particularly thrilled with how quickly it was over, and with good reason. A 64-second fight leaves little opportunity for ratings to build from the pre-fight show, and might make a poor impression on first-time viewers who haven't seen the sport before. Meanwhile, the undercard bout between lightweights Ben Henderson and Clay Guida was a three-round thriller that streamed on Facebook and FoxSports.com rather than airing on the network broadcast. Had FOX opted to air that fight as well, it might have helped ratings reach a greater peak for the main event, though don't tell that to White, who pointed out that this was a special introduction show -- not a part of the UFC-FOX deal. "For anybody to bitch about this fight and how they didn't get to see that fight -- shut up," he said. "You should have bought tickets if you wanted to see all the fights and you don't like to watch it on Facebook. Seriously, shut up. I don't even want to hear it." Regardless of what the ratings turn out to be in the U.S., White claimed that dos Santos' home country tuned in to the fast and furious fight en masse, with an estimated viewing audience of 60 million. "60 million people," White repeated. "There's 200 million people in the country. That's pretty crazy." Upon hearing this, a grin spread across dos Santos' face. "I'm famous," said the new UFC heavyweight champion. And regardless of how longtime MMA fans might criticize the UFC's presentation in its network debut, White termed it "the perfect night" from a production standpoint, and cautioned that broadcasting on FOX isn't as simple as some might think. "What you guys have to understand is tonight we were talking to people who had never seen the UFC before. We weren't talking to the hardcore fans. We weren't talking to the people who'd been watching for years. We were talking to and trying to educate people who'd never seen it before. Now that we're on a mainstream platform, many of you don't realize all the battles we fight behind the scenes. It's crazy. Every freaking weirdo comes out from everywhere. You know, 'fighting is on TV!' We've been on TV for six years, coalition of 'I have nothing better to do.' We have to ease into this thing." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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You saw the UFC on FOX set while it was under construction (if you didn't click here). Now take a look at the completed set design for the "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event taking place tonight (Sat., Nov. 12, 2011) just a few short hours from now at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. How do you like it, Maniacs? The UFC on FOX 1 primetime special will feature Cain Velasquez defending his heavyweight championship live on free TV against Brazilian knockout artist Junior dos Santos. But before they get down and dirty, Curt Menefee, Jay Glazer, Dana White, Kenny Florian, Brock Lesnar and others will get us ready with pre-fight shows on FUEL and FOX, respectively. Check out a pic of Glazer and Florian rehearsing today after the jump.

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Filed under: UFC, News, UFC on FOXJunior dos Santos completed his quick ascension up the heavyweight ladder, knocking out Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds to capture the heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC on FOX at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. It was a matchup hand-picked by UFC president Dana White because he felt sure that no matter how long it lasted, it would be exciting. It didn't last long, but the result certainly left the crowd buzzing. After a quick feeling-out process that saw Velasquez battering dos Santos' leg with kicks, the challenger floored the champion with an overhand right behind the ear, dropping him to the canvas. dos Santos then battered the floored Velasquez with left hands from the top. Velasquez then rolled on his side, where dos Santos smashed him with two right hands that forced referee John McCarthy to call a halt to the action, making dos Santos the heavyweight kingpin. "I have no words to say what I'm feeling," dos Santos said moments after the fight while fighting back tears. "It's amazing, my life. I want to say thank you to my team and family. I have a lot of good people around me. Thank you very much." dos Santos (14-1) later said that he came into the fight less than 100 percent and that he was "afraid to fight" with Velasquez because of it, but it certainly didn't affect his performance. For Velasquez (9-1), it was the first loss in a career that has been a series of victories until now. Due to the brevity of the bout, he never had a chance to get started, but he certainly didn't exhibit the ultra-aggressive attack that has been his trademark until now. "I just want to say sorry to all the fans, family and friends," Velasquez said. "I disappointed you. I will come back and I will get this belt back for sure." While Velasquez will return home to San Jose, California to lick his wounds and rebound, we already know what awaits dos Santos. The new champion will eventually face the winner of December 30's Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar bout.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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In the main event of UFC on Fox 1, Cain Velasquez (9-0; 7-0 UFC) faces Junior dos Santos (13-1; 7-0 UFC). This fight is for Cain's UFC Heavyweight championship, and is the only televised fight on the card. It's also a clash between the top two Heavyweight fighters in the world according to the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, where Velasquez is ranked #1 and dos Santos #2. The card airs on Fox on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. This is an interesting fight where the actual fight itself has taken something of a backseat to the business ramifications. Which, in many ways, is entirely understandable. This is a very important historic fight. It's the UFC's first foray onto Fox, and network television. We've also been promised a new look with a more sports-oriented presentation. In short, it's the dawn of a new era, and fans are excited to see what it brings. As for the fight itself - it's the top two Heavyweight fighters in the world clashing for the title. The two men hold only 1 loss between them, and both have steamrolled through all their UFC competition. This is going to be good. How do these two stack up? Velasquez: 29 years old | 6'1" | 77" reachdos Santos: 27 years old | 6'3" | 77" reach What have these two done recently? Velasquez: W - Brock Lesnar (TKO) | W - Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (KO) | W - Ben Rothwell (TKO)dos Santos: W - Shane Carwin (UD) | W - Roy Nelson (UD) | W - Gabriel Gonzaga (KO) How did these two get here? Cain Velasquez won the Heavyweight title a year ago. Injury sidelined him during the first part of this year, but that turned out to be somewhat advantageous as it put him in position for this fight. The champion is a perfect 9-0. Of those 9 fights, only 1 has gone to a decision, and that was the only fight where he ever looked in danger. He is a superb wrestler with incredible cardio and drive. He's added a top notch striking game to that wrestling to become a dangerous fighter in every aspect. If there's a weakness, it's the fact that he has been hit and hurt. Cigano, Junior dos Santos, is also undefeated in the UFC. He's a bit more one-dimensional than Velasquez, but it's quite a dimension. Dos Santos is a striker, and primarily a boxer. His strategy is simple - keep the fight standing and land those bombs in his fists on the champion. He's used those heavy hands to obliterate Fabricio Werdum, to break the face of Mirko Cro Cop, and to savagely beat down Shane Carwin among others. Cigano is the epitome of a fighter who can end his opponent's night in an instant, but he's also ready to keep up the pressure and wear his opponent down over multiple rounds. This is his first 5 round title fight. Why should you care? It's an incredibly close fight between two of the best in the world, competing for the sport's top honor. And it's free. Hopefully this is one that new fans do tune in for, because they won't be disappointed.  More UFC on Fox preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Vs. Junior Dos Santos Weigh In Highlight Videos - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Weigh-In Results: Velasquez - 249, Dos Santos - 239 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox 1: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox 1: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: Saying Goodbye to Gladiator Man With an Examination of Gladiatorial History UFC Sells Out Advertising Space for Debut on Fox, Attracts Big Name Sponsors - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs dos Santos Staff Picks and Predictions UFC on Fox: For Champions, What A Difference Five Years Can Make - Josh Nason UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 3 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC on Fox 1: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: Dana White, the Unlikely Man To Lead the UFC to Prominence - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem Targeted by UFC, Fox Marketing Push - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Talks Production, Pay-Per-View vs. Free Shows - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, Fabricio Werdum Predict Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 2 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Yamamoto vs. Uyenoyama and Escovedo vs. Caceres Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Round Table - Is Velasquez Vs. Dos Santos The Most Important Fight In UFC History? UFC on Fox Media Call News: Fuel To Have 2000 Hours Of Programming - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Press Conference Video and Coverage - Tim Burke UFC on Fox Promo Video Takes Bob Arum to Task - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: Historical Significance of Network TV for Heavyweight Title Fight Being Undersold - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: With Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson in the Dark, Lightweight Title Picture Gets Murky - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Ben Henderson Says Winning is More Important Than Being on TV - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 1 - Fraser Coffeen Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 97: UFC 138 Aftermath, UFC on FOX Discussion UFC on Fox: The Challenge of Promoting Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Predictions: Fighters Weigh In on Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: John McCarthy Likely to Referee Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Wants Title Shot After Ben Henderson Bout - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox 1 Fight Card: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXANAHEIM, Calif. -- This is the UFC on FOX live blog for Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos, the UFC heavyweight championship bout on tonight's UFC on FOX special from the Honda Center. Velasquez (9-0) will be defending his title for the first time since winning it against Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 in October 2010. Velasquez then underwent surgery due to a right shoulder injury suffered during the fight. Dos Santos (13-1) has been victorious in all seven of his UFC fights. In his most recent fight, Dos Santos defeated Shane Carwin by unanimous decision at UFC 131 in June. The live blog is below. More Coverage: UFC on FOX Results | Latest UFC News Round 1: Round 2: Round 3: Round 4: Round 5: %VIRTUAL-Gallery-139230% Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Live results for all fights on the "UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" card from Anaheim.

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In a Featherweight fight at UFC on Fox 1, Dustin Poirier (10-1; 2-0 UFC) faces Pablo Garza (11-1; 2-0 UFC). This is the second to last fight on the prelim card. Poirier is currently ranked #12 at Featherweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Garza is unranked.  The prelims will be streamed online at FoxSports.com and Facebook starting at 4:45 p.m. ET. This Featherweight fight is between two men who are somewhat mirror images of each other. Both came up through the US regional MMA scene. Both came into the WEC as Lightweights. And after suffering a loss at Lightweight, both men dropped to Featherweight and made the transition to the UFC. They're both 2-0 in the UFC and undefeated at 145 pounds. One of them will take their first Featherweight loss here, while the other tries to break out of the pack in this still developing division. How do these two stack up? Poirier: 22 years old | 5'9"Garza: 27 years old | 6'1" | 73" reach What have these two done recently? Poirier: W - Jason Young (UD) | W - Josh Grispi (UD) | W - Zach Micklewright (TKO)  Garza: W - Yves Jabouin (Sub) | W - Fredson Paixao (KO) | L - Tiequan Zhang (Sub)   How did these two get here? Despite the similarities in their backgrounds, Poirier has the higher ranking and profile thanks to the quality of his wins. In particular, he made an impression by upsetting #1 contender Josh Grispi at UFC 125. He's followed that up with a win over Jason Young. Despite that Grispi victory, Porier has not yet gained much traction in the division. A win here is another good step on the road to title contention, and would hopefully lead him to a higher level of opponent.  Pablo "The Scarecrow" Garza had a very brief UFC run on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck, where he was eliminated in the qualifying round. He moved over to the WEC as a Lightweight, and then dropped down to Featherweight when the WEC merged with the UFC. Like Poirier, he is 2-0 in the UFC, but his wins both come via spectacular stoppages - first a Knockout of the Night flying knee on Fredson Paixao, then a Submission of the Night flying triangle on Yves Jabouin. He's a flashy fighter, and is he pulls off another highlight reel win here, the UFC would be wise to give him some more exposure next time out.  Why should you care? This is a good fight between two interesting up and comers. Poirier is moving into contender status, and a win here will keep elevating him. But Garza is known for fireworks, and can make more of a name for himself by stealing Poirier's momentum, especially if he does so the way he has won his last two.  More UFC on Fox preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Vs. Junior Dos Santos Weigh In Highlight Videos - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Weigh-In Results: Velasquez - 249, Dos Santos - 239 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox 1: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox 1: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: Saying Goodbye to Gladiator Man With an Examination of Gladiatorial History UFC Sells Out Advertising Space for Debut on Fox, Attracts Big Name Sponsors - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs dos Santos Staff Picks and Predictions UFC on Fox: For Champions, What A Difference Five Years Can Make - Josh Nason UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 3 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC on Fox 1: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: Dana White, the Unlikely Man To Lead the UFC to Prominence - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem Targeted by UFC, Fox Marketing Push - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Talks Production, Pay-Per-View vs. Free Shows - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, Fabricio Werdum Predict Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 2 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Yamamoto vs. Uyenoyama and Escovedo vs. Caceres Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Round Table - Is Velasquez Vs. Dos Santos The Most Important Fight In UFC History? UFC on Fox Media Call News: Fuel To Have 2000 Hours Of Programming - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Press Conference Video and Coverage - Tim Burke UFC on Fox Promo Video Takes Bob Arum to Task - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: Historical Significance of Network TV for Heavyweight Title Fight Being Undersold - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: With Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson in the Dark, Lightweight Title Picture Gets Murky - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Ben Henderson Says Winning is More Important Than Being on TV - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 1 - Fraser Coffeen Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 97: UFC 138 Aftermath, UFC on FOX Discussion UFC on Fox: The Challenge of Promoting Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Predictions: Fighters Weigh In on Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: John McCarthy Likely to Referee Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Wants Title Shot After Ben Henderson Bout - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox 1 Fight Card: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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You know what's getting me excited? Hearing Bruce Buffer announce "IT'S TIIIIIIIIME FOR THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING" on Fox. I'm getting goosebumps thinking about it. Tonight is the the premier of UFC on Fox with Cain Velasquez defending his heavyweight belt against Junior Dos Santos. The fight airs live on FOX at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. The production will be different from what we as fans are used to seeing with UFC fights. While the broadcast kicks off at the aforementioned times, the fight probably won't start until 35 minutes into the hour. For the first 35 minutes the fans watching from home will be able to see live interview with the fighters as well as breakdowns of the fight from the broadcast team. Tonight is about introducing the sport to the non-fan and this time will be spent educating them on the sport. The first two rounds of the fight will be commercial free. And as Dana has said, it doesn't matter if this goes "25 seconds or 25 minutes" it will be the only fight shown on the broadcast.  SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Round 4:  Round 5:  Official Result: 

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Cain Velasquez vs Junior Dos Santos Fightlinker: I really think the UFC is gonna regret it's decision to show the Dos Santos / Velasquez fight and ONLY the Dos Santos / Velasquez fight. Dana White already seems sweaty enough about the production for this show, and it's gonna be interesting to see what they end up doing when Junior Dos Santos knocks out Cain Velasquez in round 2. That's right, I'm calling it for Junior. Probably because I have a man-crush on my precious Cigano, but also because he hits harder and when it comes down to two men slinging bombs you pick the guy with more megatons in his fist. Junior Dos Santos via KO, round 2.Grappo: My heart lies with Junior.  My head is leaning towards Junior as well due to Cain's long layoff, rumored knee tweaking in training, and the nature of the injury that has had him on the sidelines for so long.  I'm dealing with a torn labrum myself so I know how devastating it can be, and what a complete bitch it is to rehab.  Your shoulder is never the same.  That said, I still have to go with Cain.  I have little doubt that he can go full-bore for all 5, but I've seen Junior fade a bit in the later rounds against opponents that didn't pressure him nearly as much as Velasquez will.  Junior's best shot is to finish it quickly, but I don't see that happening here. Velasquez by TKO, 3rd Rd.Dick: Of course no one really knows what's going to happen here, but if Dos Santos couldn't put away Nelson or Carwin, I don't like his chances of putting away Velasquez. And if he can't put away Velasquez, Velasquez will have the opportunity to grind with wrestling and ground and pound for as long as it takes, while Dos Santos is likely based on his history to get tired in the later rounds. The longer the fight goes, the more it favors Velasquez, and the tall height of Dos Santos will make it easier for Velasquez to get takedowns once he's inside Dos Santos' reach. Velasquez won't let up. Velasquez TKO 4Subo: Do I have concerns about Cain's shoulder?  Of course I do - he tore his rotator cuff (a really, really bad thing to tear if you're a pitcher or a puncher) while beating Brock, and this will be his first time test driving the repaired vision.  However, I also have concerns about Dos Santos' cardio, as he went to the third round with Cro Cop and looked positively exhausted late against Nelson and Carwin.  Dos Santos can certainly Kongo Cain into oblivion, but I just don't see it.  Cain's DNA has had "SHOOT A DOUBLE" forcibly inserted, replacing "GO TO SLEEP", when confronted with near-concussive symptoms.  I've said it once and I'll say it again: wrestling uber alles. Velasquez by TKO, Rd 3Our Bendo vs Guida picks after the jump! read more

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Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos both made weight for Saturday's bout, but a big star captured most of the attention.

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A couple of guys that know a thing or two about Japanese MMA will meet in the octagon. One is a former pound-for-pound great that is looking for a career resurgence, and the other has left his JMMA political problems behind and will look to make his UFC debut a memorable one. Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (18-4, 1 NC, 0-1 UFC) meets Darren Uyenoyama (6-3, 0-0 UFC) in a bantamweight bout at UFC on Fox 1. Neither fighter is currently ranked on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, though either of them could easily crack the list with a couple of solid wins. This bantamweight UFC on Fox fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at approximately 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Yamamoto: 34 years old | 5'4" | 66" reachUyenoyama: 32 years old | 5'6" | Unknown reach What have these two done recently? Yamamoto: L - Demetrious Johnson (UD)  | W - Federico Lopez (KO) | L - Masanori Kanehara (UD)Uyenoyama: W - Shuichiro Katsumura (TKO) | L - Tomoya Miyashita (SUB) | W - Brad Royster (UD)  How did these two get here? Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto is a superstar in Japan and despite being very undersized, he was a top lightweight in K-1 Hero's a few years ago. A serious knee injury and marijuana scandal put him on the sidelines for all of 2008, and he's never been quite the same since. He's gone just 1-3 in the last 3 and a half years, and lost his only UFC fight by decision to Demetrious Johnson back at UFC 126 in February. He's a very skilled fighter, but does he have another run left in him? A win over Uyenoyama would be a great start. Darren "BC" Uyenoyama is a veteran of Strikeforce, DEEP and Dream and probably first got a lot of attention for an excellent bout with Hideo Tokoro at Dream 4. His biggest win was in his last bout, as he defeated then-Shooto featherweight (132 lb) champion Shuichiro Katsumura by TKO in a non-title bout. Shooto never followed through with their promise of a title shot or a bout with Masakatsu Ueda, and left Uyenoyama in limbo for a long time over the situation. Finally he gave up and made his way into the UFC, and this bout with Kid. Why should you care? It's a pretty good style matchup. Uyenoyama is an excellent grappler who can hang on the feet, and Yamamoto is a very good striker with good takedown defense. Who will blink first? More UFC on Fox preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos UFC on Fox 1: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox 1: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Weigh-In Results: Velasquez - 249, Dos Santos - 239 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matt Roth UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matt Roth UFC on Fox: Saying Goodbye to Gladiator Man With an Examination of Gladiatorial History UFC Sells Out Advertising Space for Debut on Fox, Attracts Big Name Sponsors - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs dos Santos Staff Picks and Predictions UFC on Fox: For Champions, What A Difference Five Years Can Make - Josh Nason UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 3 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC on Fox 1: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: Dana White, the Unlikely Man To Lead the UFC to Prominence - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem Targeted by UFC, Fox Marketing Push - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Talks Production, Pay-Per-View vs. Free Shows - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, Fabricio Werdum Predict Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 2 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Yamamoto vs. Uyenoyama and Escovedo vs. Caceres Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Round Table - Is Velasquez Vs. Dos Santos The Most Important Fight In UFC History? UFC on Fox Media Call News: Fuel To Have 2000 Hours Of Programming - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Press Conference Video and Coverage - Tim Burke UFC on Fox Promo Video Takes Bob Arum to Task - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: Historical Significance of Network TV for Heavyweight Title Fight Being Undersold - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: With Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson in the Dark, Lightweight Title Picture Gets Murky - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Ben Henderson Says Winning is More Important Than Being on TV - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 1 - Fraser Coffeen Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 97: UFC 138 Aftermath, UFC on FOX Discussion UFC on Fox: The Challenge of Promoting Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Predictions: Fighters Weigh In on Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: John McCarthy Likely to Referee Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Wants Title Shot After Ben Henderson Bout - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox 1 Fight Card: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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Filed under: UFC, Results, UFC on FOXMMA Fighting has UFC on FOX results for all of the Nov. 12 Velasquez vs. Dos Santos fights, plus live coverage from Anaheim, live blogs of all the fights and live UFC on FOX twitter updates. In the main event Cain Velasquez puts his UFC heavyweight title on the line against Junior dos Santos. Check out the full results below. More Coverage: UFC 139 Fight Card | UFC 139 Results Televised Fight Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos (live blog) Undercard Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson (live blog) Pablo Garza vs. Dustin Poirier (live blog) Ricardo Lamas vs. Cub Swanson (live blog) DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison (live blog) Darren Uyenoyama def. Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto via unanimous decision (live blog) Robert Peralta def. Mackens Semerzier via third-round TKO (live blog) Alex Caceres def. Cole Escovedo via unanimous decision (live blog) Mike Pierce def. Paul Bradley via split decision (live blog) Aaron Rosa def. Matt Lucas via majority decision (live blog) %VIRTUAL-Gallery-139230% Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, result, vs, do, blog

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It seems that, in all combat sports, the heavyweights always attract a lot of attention. A big fight between two big boys is easy to market and consistently magnetizes fans. I never really got that. It's ironic that another widely accepted rule of thumb is that the level of action and excitement generally increases the lighter in weight the competitors are. Rather than take in two stubbly-faced neanderthals lumbering around and flailing fists the size of Christmas hams, I was more satisfied watching the well-rounded little guys disappear into a confusing tornado of limbs and ricochet around the cage as if the production team had mistakenly broadcast show in fast-forward. However, the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos heavyweight championship bout headlining tonight's landmark UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos event is a different animal. Don't get me wrong -- this is still a half-ton of human beef colliding with intentions of decapitating one another, but these athletes conduct themselves like respectful gentlemen and engage in their respective trades with a fluid agility and violent grace that defies the common conception of today's leviathan combatants. In one corner, we have the sheepishly smiling and disarmingly humble dos Santos; a gentle giant who's endured the diversity of a rough upbringing in Brazil and ascended to the sport's apex with traditional boxing. Then there's Cain Velasquez, a Mexican-American wrestler who's adopted his mother and father's blue-collar work ethic to transform into planet Earth's alpha-heavyweight. Since the mystique of Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko is no more, these two mixed martial artists are leading the charge as the sport's new era of heavyweight fighters, and there is no better place to stage their showdown for the masses than the UFC's groundbreaking premiere on Fox. It's on. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos The Prologue I interviewed Velasquez's manager and trainer when the champ was still unconscious on the operating table after his shoulder surgery. The procedure was successful and the prognosis was to begin training in three to four months and reappear in the Octagon in six. That was almost ten months ago on the dot. The shoulder might be the most finicky and complex injury to rehabilitate for any athlete. The required range of motion and breadth of application can make recovery a tedious task, even more so for the laborious occupation of a fighter, and the question of ring-rust always accompanies year-long layoffs. Just going through the myriad MMA training and sparring drills of his own volition could tax his shoulder to the fullest, and now he'll have 239-pounds of power-punching Brazilian to fend off with it. While dos Santos has been spotless in the UFC and murderous on the feet, his only stain on the carpet is a 2007 submission loss and the Brazilian has persevered through just one wrestler, and one who prefers to handle business standing as well. While all signs would indicate dos Santos is tough to get down and can handle himself accordingly, he's yet to be dragged through the mire by a tireless takedown artist like Velasquez. The Champion Velasquez was trumpeted as a behind-the-scenes training phenom since day one. I finally bought into the hype the day he crumpled the venerable Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with a whirlwind of devastating kickboxing. He became much more than a frenetically paced wrestler with pestering ground-and-pound. This wasn't your standard lucky punch -- this was a burly, athletic heavyweight unreeling high kicks, low kicks, front kicks and blazing hand combinations with the ease of a lightweight. Much like Jon Jones, Velasquez's star seemed to shine brighter as the voraciousness of his competition grew. After climbing out of the division's basement with stoppages of Brad Morris, Jake O'Brien and Dennis Stojnic, Cain's first spotlight performance came against Cheick Kongo. The gifted French striker fought off takedowns tooth and nail and lanced mile-long, straight punches through his guard. An air of desperation seemed to accent the way Velasquez reverted to his wrestling roots to exploit Kongo's weakness and win the decision. Sure, he beat Kongo, but so did Heath Herring and Carmello Marrero, and we weren't wetting our pants over them. Next up was the stone-faced Ben Rothwell, a crusty veteran with a much more balanced skill-set. The striking of "Big Ben" actualized as a man prodding a hornet's nest with a stick. Velasquez devoured the veteran and firmly adhered himself while swarming with an incessant volley of punches and hammerfists. Once again it was the unnervingly frenzied pace and pressure of Velasquez that planted the seed for his exceptional potential. It was easy to whine about the stoppage and, citing the Kongo fight, stamp him as a one-dimensional wrestler. And that is precisely why the kickboxing repertoire he vanquished Big Nog with was particularly mind-blowing. Still, we fans are a coarse lot of pessimistic meat-heads. "Poor Nog's chin is gone," and, "Gotta love Big Nog but he's known for getting his ass kicked," and, "Big deal, Frank Mir just did that too!" we bemoaned. After the schoolyard beating Velasquez laid out on Brock Lesnar to assume the heavyweight mantle, we were out of excuses. There was no room to deny that Cain Velasquez was the real deal. His striking and power were cemented and conglomerated with his already proven wrestling prowess. A champ was born. The Challenger A highly advisable way for an unknown fighter to introduce himself is by taking on an esteemed and experienced opponent -- who has never been knocked out -- in your UFC debut and clobbering him into a peaceful slumber in about a minute. Oh ... well, hello there Junior dos Santos. The Brazilian's emergence was as subtle and delicate as the Kool-Aid man crashing through your living room wall. Werdum's status was unquestionably well deserved, leaving barely enough room for the provincial doubters to cry "Fluke!" considering the litany of dangerous strikers the Pride standout had already tangled with. Even though this initial win probably stands as the most impressive, every subsequent performance further defined the heightening legacy of "Cigano", who left a wake of carnage in his trail with lifeless bodies falling left and right. Stefan Struve, a second Pride icon in Mirko Filipovic and Gabriel Gonzaga all crumbled under the merciless wrath of his technical boxing. The Team Nogueira product remained level-headed about his meteoric rise until his coach and mentor was (literally) knocked out of the title race in 2010. After handily dismantling the hard-headed Roy Nelson, it became crystal clear that Junior dos Santos was destined to vie for championship gold. Accepting a coaching role opposite Brock Lesnar on TUF, the momentum fizzled due to the champ's recurring battle with diverticulitis, vaulting perennial contender Shane Carwin in his place. Like the Nelson fight, the foray was decided on the score cards but the result wasn't really any less overwhelming than his previous knockouts. Now establishing his takedown defense against a credentialed wrestler, dos Santos was undeniably next in line. The Match Up For as monumental as this match up is, the variables are rather straight forward: it's the perilous boxing of dos Santos versus the kickboxing of Velasquez with the question mark of the champ's ability to implement his wrestling effectively. Prior to Velasquez's kicking onslaught against Nogueira, a simple set of straight rights and lefts made up most of his offerings in the stand up. Perhaps due to the lacking threat of takedowns, the champ rolled out a wide array of different kicks with cool confidence. It will be interesting to see whether he relies on kicks from beyond the perimeter of the Brazilian's wheelhouse or relents to retain balance and defense by dueling with his hands. While dos Santos is easily the best heavyweight boxer, nothing will eliminate the hazards of being a predictable fighter with a transparent strategy. Everyone knows the challenger wants to keep Velasquez in front of him and work his hands. dos Santos uses the jab well but it's his only distance weapon. In close quarters, his pummeling right hand and one of the scariest left hooks in the game come into play. The concern is that any power-puncher must plant his feet to generate torque. The ideal tactic to instill hesitancy for such a fighter is the threat of shooting. Defending high level takedowns requires a contradictory set of footwork. Instead of forward-oriented and planted for power, he has to be light on his toes and poised to spring back for a deep sprawl. If I'm going to bring up Cain's fight with Kongo as ammunition for how JDS could tag him even worse, it's only fair to highlight Gonzaga's successful takedown and point out how Velasquez will cover more ground and do a much better job of keeping him there. dos Santos should have the chops to escape and avoid major damage, but every such instance would result in a significant scoring shift toward Velasquez. Conversely, if Velasquez isn't careful about dropping levels and shows any signs of a pattern, dos Santos thrives with two tools known to cripple aspiring wrestlers: a massive uppercut and a brutal lead knee to the body. Both of these techniques were integral against Nelson. JDS keyed in on Nelson's habit of dipping his head down into the pocket and/or retreating back in a straight line, both of which Velasquez has exhibited in the past. When the champ faced a tight striker with rigid takedown defense, we saw some weaknesses. The challenger made it through the wrestling of Carwin although it's not of the caliber of Velasquez. The Conclusion I'm leaning toward dos Santos here for showing the better chin, having a solid chance of nullifying takedowns or scrambling loose when he cannot, and most importantly, for having a sterling and rocket-fueled set of boxing combinations. The long layoff and shoulder injury chip away at some of the Velasquez's advantages of being more diverse, though I realize that's a highly subjective factor. The champ also has a fierce ruggedness and determination that could deflate dos Santos in later rounds. Analyze their tendencies and form your own conclusions, but mine is that we'll see a new champion tonight. My Prediction: Junior dos Santos by decision.     Poll Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos Cain Velasquez Junior dos Santos   2 votes | Results

Posted in: takedown, heavyweight, do, champ, velasquez

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UFC on FOX 1 takes place later tonight at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The special one hour event airs live on FOX at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The remainder of the card will stream live on Facebook and FoxSports.com at 4:45pm ET/1:45pm PT. In the main event, Cain Velasquez put his UFC heavyweight title on the line against Junior dos Santos. In the Facebook headliner, Ben Henderson and Clay Guida fight for a potential UFC lightweight title shot. Pable Garza takes on Dustin Poirer in a featherweight match-up. Cub Swanson and Ricardo Lamas meet in a featherweight bout. Clay Harvinson and Damarques Johnson face off in a welterweight bout. Results, recap and bonuses after the jump. Results Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Pablo Garza vs. Dustin Poirier Ricardo Lamas vs. Cub Swanson Clay Harvsion vs. DaMarques Johnson Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyenoyama Robert Peralta vs. Mackens Semerzier Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo Paul Bradley vs. Mike Pierce Matt Lucas vs. Aaron Rosa Recap & Thoughts Matt Lucas vs. Aaron Rosa: Paul Bradley vs. Mike Pierce: Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo: Robert Peralta vs. Mackens Semerzier: Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyenoyama: Clay Harvsion vs. DaMarques Johnson: Ricardo Lamas vs. Cub Swanson: Pablo Garza vs. Dustin Poirier: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos: Bonuses $??? Submission of the Night: Knockout of the Night: Fight of the Night:

Posted in: ufc, vs, do, velasquez vs, clay

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It's a loser-leaves-town situation in the third fight of the night. Both guys have lost their first two bouts in the UFC, and they'll be fighting for their jobs when they face off in the octagon. Cole Escovedo (17-8, 0-2 UFC) meets TUF 12's Alex Caceres (5-4, 0-2 UFC) in a bantamweight bout at UFC on Fox 1. Neither fighter is currently ranked on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, and with zero wins between them in the UFC, you're not going to see either of them gracing the esteemed list anytime soon. This bantamweight UFC on Fox fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at approximately 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Escovedo: 30 years old | 5'7" | 69" reachCaceres: 23 years old | 5'10" | 68' reach What have these two done recently? Escovedo: L - Takeya Mizugaki (TKO)  | L - Renan Barao (UD) | W - Steven Silver (SUB)Caceres: L - Jim Hettes (SUB) | L - Mackens Semerzier (SUB) | W - Jahmal McLennan (TKO)  How did these two get here? Cole "Apache Kid" Escovedo became the first WEC featherweight champion way back in 2002, and eventually lost it to Urijah Faber in 2006 (After defending it once in fours years). He fought once in the IFL after he dropped the title, where he got knocked out by legend Jens Pulver. After another loss and 2 1/2 years out of the fight game, he returned in 2009 at bantamweight and won the Palace Fighting Championships bantamweight title, handing highly-touted prospect Michael McDonald his only defeat to date. He has gone 6-3 at BW so far, with losses in a return match with McDonald and his two UFC bouts where he was decisioned by top contender Renan Barao and TKO'd by Takeya Mizugaki. Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres is the man that never stops smiling. He entered the public consciousness as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 12, winning a couple of bouts by submission before he was decisioned by Michael Johnson. He dropped his first two bout in the UFC by submission to Mackens Semerzier and Jim Hettes. Both bouts were contested at featherweight, and Cacares will drop to bantamweight for this bout with Escovedo. Why should you care? If you like watching Alex Cacares getting submitted, this is the fight for you to watch! More UFC on Fox preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos UFC on Fox 1: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox 1: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Weigh-In Results: Velasquez - 249, Dos Santos - 239 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matt Roth UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matt Roth UFC on Fox: Saying Goodbye to Gladiator Man With an Examination of Gladiatorial History UFC Sells Out Advertising Space for Debut on Fox, Attracts Big Name Sponsors - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs dos Santos Staff Picks and Predictions UFC on Fox: For Champions, What A Difference Five Years Can Make - Josh Nason UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 3 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC on Fox 1: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: Dana White, the Unlikely Man To Lead the UFC to Prominence - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem Targeted by UFC, Fox Marketing Push - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Talks Production, Pay-Per-View vs. Free Shows - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, Fabricio Werdum Predict Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 2 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Yamamoto vs. Uyenoyama and Escovedo vs. Caceres Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Round Table - Is Velasquez Vs. Dos Santos The Most Important Fight In UFC History? UFC on Fox Media Call News: Fuel To Have 2000 Hours Of Programming - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Press Conference Video and Coverage - Tim Burke UFC on Fox Promo Video Takes Bob Arum to Task - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: Historical Significance of Network TV for Heavyweight Title Fight Being Undersold - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: With Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson in the Dark, Lightweight Title Picture Gets Murky - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Ben Henderson Says Winning is More Important Than Being on TV - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 1 - Fraser Coffeen Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 97: UFC 138 Aftermath, UFC on FOX Discussion UFC on Fox: The Challenge of Promoting Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Predictions: Fighters Weigh In on Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: John McCarthy Likely to Referee Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Wants Title Shot After Ben Henderson Bout - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox 1 Fight Card: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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When UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez locks eyes with Junior dos Santos in the Octagon tonight it will be far from the first time the 29-year old Californian will have seen “Cigano” set foot inside the infamous eight-sided cage. In fact, Velasquez has kept Dos Santos on his radar since the hard-hitting Brazilian’s unveiling against Fabricio Werdum even though the bout only took place six months after the unbeaten Velasquez had made his own UFC debut. Velasquez opened up some about his opponent in an interview where he explained what drew his attention to Dos Santos in 2008 and how he feels his talented adversary stacks up as an opponent. “I’ve watched him since his first UFC fight with Werdum. He knocked him out in the first round, and Werdum was one of the top guys in the world, so that definitely caught my eye,” began Velasquez in a conversation with the UFC’s website. “And just watching his fights after that, he’s always been really tough and we definitely kept our eyes on him. Anybody who fights in your division you kinda keep watch on because it’s doing your homework. So we always saw him and watched to see where his career would go, and we kinda knew at one time we would have to fight.” That prediction will come to fruition in about eight hours on FOX when the UFC hits network television for the first time in history. Like fans/media, Velasquez has also predicted an extremely entertaining title-fight, praising Dos Santos’ stand-up and speed. Dos Santos Sees Series Developing with Velasquez “Definitely his boxing,” said Velasquez. “He’s got really good boxing, a lot of power in his hands, and he’s an athletic guy too. But it’s mainly his boxing. He’s won all of his fights using his boxing, and that’s definitely his most dangerous attribute.” Whether or not Velasquez will opt to test his own degree in the sweet science against Dos Santos’ or instead rely on his superior wrestling remains to be seen. Interested parties can tune in to watch UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos starting at 9:00 PM EST on FOX with preliminary action streaming through Facebook in the hours leading up to the event. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event, going down at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. UFC on FOX 1 will mark the promotion's first venture into the prestigious world of network television. It will be a one-hour primetime special that will feature just one match-up. But it's a big one. Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez will put his title on the line against division number one contender and noted knockout artist Junior dos Santos. It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories. But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered.  In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast. In we go: UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" Fight card and line-up Results and live fight coverage UFC on FOX 1 predictions and previews: Predictions from the myth himself, Nostradumbass Facebrook "Prelims" predictions and preview Fight preview: DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison Fight preview: Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas Fight preview: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Fight preview: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Fight preview: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos UFC on FOX 1 press conferences: Pre-fight press conference Press conference video Press conference staredown pics UFC on FOX 1 weigh-ins: Weigh-in results Weigh-in photos gallery Weigh-in staredown pics Weigh-in video UFC on FOX 1 odds: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos Velasquez vs. Dos Santos round-by-round betting breakdown Complete odds and betting guide UFC on FOX 1 news: How to watch the event Event poster Conference call live blog Open workouts photo gallery Open workouts videos John McCarthy will be the referee for Velasquez vs. Dos Santos First look at the UFC on FOX set (Pic) The Red Carpet list of celebrities Exclusive interview with Cole Escovedo Exclusive interview with Pablo Garza Complete statistical breakdown of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos UFC on FOX 1 editorials: MMA 101: Looking into the kickboxing and Muay Thai aspect of MMA prior to UFC on FOX MMA 101: Looking into the wrestling aspect of MMA prior to UFC on FOX MMA 101: Looking at the most utilized strikes prior to UFC on FOX MMA 101: Looking at the most frequently utilized submissions prior to UFC on FOX MMA 101: Comprehensive technique guide for UFC on FOX fans, new and old History in the Making: The UFC heavyweight title in the Zuffa era part one History in the Making: The UFC heavyweight title in the Zuffa era part two History in the Making: Cain Velasquez stops Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110 History in the Making: Junior dos Santos batters Shane Carwin for 15 minutes at UFC 131 Lorenzo Fertitta: UFC on FOX will cost Zuffa $16 million ... but it's worth it FOX is a huge commercial, an investment in the future growth of MMA Dana White is nervous about breaking his little bubble of armbars and triangle chokes Dana White invites sports fans around the world to watch the event Clay Guida has fought numerous opponents better than Ben Henderson Ben Henderson doesn't need to be on TV, he just needs to beat Clay Guida A win at UFC on FOX by Norifumi Yamamoto would be huge for Japanese MMA UFC on FOX 1 videos: Dana White video blog episode one Dana White and Jay Glazer rap about a dream realized UFC on FOX: The Ring ... Announcer UFC on FOX promo destroys boxing bigot Bob Arum Predictions from fighters on the main event Even more predictions from fighters on the main event There are actually more predictions from fighters on the main event Cain Velasquez video blog Cain Velasquez visits the set of NFL on FOX to talk Junior dos Santos fight Cain Velasquez break dances on FOX Sports Latin America Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos UFC Undisputed 3 simulation If Cain Velasquez strikes with Junior dos Santos, someone's getting knocked out Junior dos Santos really thinks he can knock out Cain Velasquez Cain Velasquez is planning for a five round war against Junior dos Santos Junior dos Santos doesn't want to go five rounds with Cain Velasquez Cain Velasquez: Junior dos Santos really doesn't have a hole in his game Velasquez vs. Dos Santos on FOX made all the sense in the world Clay Guida's wrestling against Ben Henderson will be exciting Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson preview Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza preview That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What has been the biggest story heading into this event? Or is that just a silly question considering the very nature of this show? Sound off, Maniacs.

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Two solid wrestlers will face off in the second bout of the night, with one coming off a very tough loss and the other dropping back down to his natural weight class. It just happens to be a rematch as well. It will either be a solid wrestling match or a bunch of less-than-pretty striking when Mike Pierce (12-4, 4-2 UFC) meets Paul Bradley (18-3, 0-1 UFC) in a welterweight bout at UFC on Fox 1. Neither fighter is currently ranked on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. Pierce was teetering on the edge of the list before the Hendricks fight, making it to number 25 at least once. The loss in that fight was a big setback though, and he'll need a couple of big wins to get back there. This welterweight UFC on Fox fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at approximately 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Pierce: 30 years old | 5'8" | 71" reachBradley: 28 years old | 5'9" | 71" reach What have these two done recently? Pierce: L - Johny Hendricks (SD)  | W - Kenny Robertson (TKO) | W - Amilcar Alves (SUB)Bradley: L - Rafael Natal (UD) | W - Eddie Larrea (SUB) | W - Kenneth Allen (SUB)  How did these two get here? Mike Pierce debuted in the UFC with a decision win over Brock Larson, then was given a huge test in Jon Fitch at UFC 107. He dropped a decision, but was probably the only person other than Georges St. Pierre to hurt Fitch in the UFC by stunning him with punches in the third round. It was a performance that many still remember vividly. He put together three straight wins after that, but suffered a big setback when he dropped a very close split-decision loss to Johny Hendricks at UFC 133. He'll look to start the climb back into contention with a win over Bradley, a guy he already holds a decision win over when they first met back in 2009. Paul Bradley is a two-time Division 1 All-American wrestler from the vaunted University of Iowa who entered MMA after his wrestling days were over. He racked up 11 straight victories to start his career before running into Mr. Pierce. Pierce beat him by unanimous decision, so Bradley will be looking to avenge his first loss on Saturday night. Bradley hs also competed in Strikeforce and made his UFC debut at middleweight against Rafael Natal. He dropped a decision, and will return to 170 for this bout with Pierce.  Why should you care? Pierce is still a very, very good welterweight and while he's not the most exciting guy in the world, his fights are usually interesting to watch from a technical standpoint. Plus, it's wrestler vs. wrestler, and that means it'll stay on the feet for 15 minutes, right? Right? More UFC on Fox preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos UFC on Fox 1: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox 1: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Weigh-In Results: Velasquez - 249, Dos Santos - 239 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matt Roth UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matt Roth UFC on Fox: Saying Goodbye to Gladiator Man With an Examination of Gladiatorial History UFC Sells Out Advertising Space for Debut on Fox, Attracts Big Name Sponsors - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs dos Santos Staff Picks and Predictions UFC on Fox: For Champions, What A Difference Five Years Can Make - Josh Nason UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 3 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC on Fox 1: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: Dana White, the Unlikely Man To Lead the UFC to Prominence - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem Targeted by UFC, Fox Marketing Push - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Talks Production, Pay-Per-View vs. Free Shows - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, Fabricio Werdum Predict Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 2 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Yamamoto vs. Uyenoyama and Escovedo vs. Caceres Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Round Table - Is Velasquez Vs. Dos Santos The Most Important Fight In UFC History? UFC on Fox Media Call News: Fuel To Have 2000 Hours Of Programming - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Press Conference Video and Coverage - Tim Burke UFC on Fox Promo Video Takes Bob Arum to Task - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: Historical Significance of Network TV for Heavyweight Title Fight Being Undersold - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: With Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson in the Dark, Lightweight Title Picture Gets Murky - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Ben Henderson Says Winning is More Important Than Being on TV - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 1 - Fraser Coffeen Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 97: UFC 138 Aftermath, UFC on FOX Discussion UFC on Fox: The Challenge of Promoting Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Predictions: Fighters Weigh In on Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: John McCarthy Likely to Referee Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Wants Title Shot After Ben Henderson Bout - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox 1 Fight Card: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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If we all find ourselves in some post-apocalyptic Earth and you encounter Junior Dos Santos among a football field of rubble, don't expect him to be some altruistic saint that will help you survive. In fact, if you see Junior Dos Santos in a post-apocalyptic earth and he's not surrounded by burning effigies, systematic explosions and a giant axe made from radiator blades, human bones and tire rubber -- then it's not Junior Dos Santos. In your post apocalyptic journey, you've encountered someone that only appears to be one of the most feared heavyweights in the world. You've been duped. Now turn to page 47. Ah, damn. That's what you would read if this article were the end of a chapter from a Choose Your Own Adventure book. The fact that Junior Dos Santos appears to be a guy that you should so obviously not want to anger should not surprise any of you. We've seen evidence of his path of destruction from the human remains he left at UFC 90, 95, 103, 108, 117, 130 and UFC Live with four of those seven wins ending in a first round knockout. Now Dos Santos seeks to apply his handy work on Cain Velasquez's face in less than a few hours. We caught up with UFC's Jon Anik after the weigh-ins to get his take on the upcoming bout and in the process, we even recorded this snazzy video.

Posted in: do, velasquez vs, postapocalyptic earth, giant axe, radiator blades

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The opening bout of the UFC on Fox card will feature one fighter returning to his natural weight class, and another making his UFC debut. You want to talk about a diet plan? It should be interesting to see how dropping 51 pounds affects a fighter when Aaron Rosa (16-4, 0-1 UFC) meets the debuting Matt Lucas (10-3, 3-2 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout. Neither fighter is currently ranked on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, which shouldn't come as any shock. Both fighters will be looking for their first UFC win and Rosa didn't even fight at LHW in his debut. This light heavyweight UFC on Fox fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at approximately 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Rosa: 28 years old | 6'3" | 77" reachLucas: 37 years old | 6'1" | Unknown reach What have these two done recently? Rosa: L - Joey Beltran (TKO)  | W - Abe Wagner (SUB) | W - Devin Cole (UD)Lucas: W - Shawn Frye (KO) | W - Jojo Thompson (UD) | W - Shawn Frye (TKO)  How did these two get here? Aaron Rosa has fought in nearly every organization that is broadcasted on television in North America, but this is just his second shot at the big stage. He has competed at both heavyweight and light heavyweight in the past, and his most high-profile bout before entering the UFC was probably a TKO loss to former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante. In his UFC debut, he engaged in a thoroughly entertaing brawl with Joey Beltran at UFC 131, where he finally succumed in the third round and lost by TKO. He's returning to light heavyweight for this bout. Matt "Luke Duke" Lucas is a two-time NCAA Division 2 wrestler at Northern Colorado and will be making his UFC debut at the ripe age of 37. He has been a pro for five years and has picked up 14 wins (half of those by TKO), with his only losses coming to Giva Santana (The Arm Collector), and current Bellator fighter Richard Hale. He is currently on a five-fight winning streak. Why should you care? If Lucas chooses to engage on the feet, it could be a pretty entertaining slugfest. And other than Mike Whitehead, I've never seen a guy lose 50 pounds in between fights. Could add some interest to the fight, I guess (okay, not really). More UFC on Fox preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos UFC on Fox 1: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox 1: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Weigh-In Results: Velasquez - 249, Dos Santos - 239 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matt Roth UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Vs. Ben Henderson For Number One Contender - Matt Roth UFC on Fox: Saying Goodbye to Gladiator Man With an Examination of Gladiatorial History UFC Sells Out Advertising Space for Debut on Fox, Attracts Big Name Sponsors - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs dos Santos Staff Picks and Predictions UFC on Fox: For Champions, What A Difference Five Years Can Make - Josh Nason UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 3 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC on Fox 1: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox: Dana White, the Unlikely Man To Lead the UFC to Prominence - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox: Brock Lesnar, Alistair Overeem Targeted by UFC, Fox Marketing Push - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Talks Production, Pay-Per-View vs. Free Shows - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Mark Munoz, Tito Ortiz, Fabricio Werdum Predict Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 2 - Fraser Coffeen UFC on Fox: Yamamoto vs. Uyenoyama and Escovedo vs. Caceres Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC on Fox Round Table - Is Velasquez Vs. Dos Santos The Most Important Fight In UFC History? UFC on Fox Media Call News: Fuel To Have 2000 Hours Of Programming - Matthew Roth UFC on Fox Press Conference Video and Coverage - Tim Burke UFC on Fox Promo Video Takes Bob Arum to Task - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: Historical Significance of Network TV for Heavyweight Title Fight Being Undersold - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox: With Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson in the Dark, Lightweight Title Picture Gets Murky - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Ben Henderson Says Winning is More Important Than Being on TV - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Cain Velasquez Career Retrospective Part 1 - Fraser Coffeen Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 97: UFC 138 Aftermath, UFC on FOX Discussion UFC on Fox: The Challenge of Promoting Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox Predictions: Fighters Weigh In on Velasquez vs. Dos Santos - Leland Roling UFC on Fox: Dana White Video Blog, Part 1 - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: John McCarthy Likely to Referee Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos - Tim Burke UFC on Fox: Clay Guida Wants Title Shot After Ben Henderson Bout - Brent Brookhouse UFC on Fox 1 Fight Card: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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Tonight (Sat., Nov. 12, 2011) is a historic night. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) invades the network television airwaves with its initial UFC on FOX broadcast from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Though the card is packed full of fights that are sure to have fight fans -- new and old -- on their feet for the majority of the evening, only one fight will be broadcast on FOX, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. The main event, Cain Velasquez vs Junior dos Santos, will be on full display. It's an advertisement to the mainstream world. It's a reason to start watching mixed martial arts (MMA), specifically the UFC's brand, for all of those who were previously unbelievers. There's no telling what will actually happen. That's because in this unpredictable sport, anything can and often does happen. It's hard to say who will win, how and when it will occur in the fight, which is scheduled for five championship rounds. However, those minor details never stop us from speculating. After the jump, check out the full and round-by-round odds (via Bodog.com) for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos:" For all you "prop bet"-loving Maniacs out there, this is the information you need to make a well-though out "investment" in tonight's historic action.  First off, there's the overall picture. Currently, the overall odds are: Velasquez: -190 Dos Santos: +155 Interested in wagering on how this fight will finish? Here's what the odds look like for the "Result Props:" Cain Velasquez wins inside distance: 5/6 Cain Velasquez wins by five round decision: 4/1 Junior dos Santos wins inside distance: 14/5 Junior dos Santos wins by 5 round decision: 8/1 Draw: 50/1 As you can see, the general consensus in the gambling community is that Velasquez will finish this fight inside the allotted five-round time period. But, if you a challenge and crave some adventure, you could win a buck or two by wagering that "Cignao" gets the finish before it's all said and done. If you're really brave (and want to make a prospective killing), bet on this fight ending in a draw. We don't recommend it. You'd probably be better served by going out and buying yourself a lottery ticket. The oddsmakers have also examined the odds regarding which round will be the round that sees this fight end. Here's what they came up with: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos completes 1 full round: -300 Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos won't complete 1 full round: +200 Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos completes 2 full rounds: -110 Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos won't complete 2 full rounds: -110 Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos completes 3 full rounds: +140 Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos won't complete 3 full rounds: -200 Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos completes 4 full rounds: +200 Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos won't complete 4 full rounds: -300 So there it is. Those are the full and detailed "prop bet" odds for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." For a more detailed UFC on FOX 1 betting guide and analysis, which inclues the best bets to make and the bets to avoid, be sure to check out our "UFC on FOX: Odds and betting guide for 'Velasquez vs dos Santos'" post right here. Will any of you fine Maniacs be making any prop bet wagers this evening? Please, do tell. Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver live UFC on FOX results later tonight, which is as good a place as any to talk about all the action inside the Octagon, as well as what you've got riding on the sportsbook. See you soon!

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Slightly more than 60 seconds were enough for Junior "Cigano" dos Santos to TKO Cain Velasquez LIVE and FREE on FOX. Dos Santos became the first Brazilian to ever hold the UFC Heavyweight belt, after making his way through some of the toughest opponents the division had to offer. The fight started with Junior dos Santos circling to Cain Velasquez's left, looking to land a hard punch on the Champ's jaw. Velasquez responded with untypical leg kicks that helped to keep distance from dos Santos' striking.

Posted in: do, velasquez, cigano dos, untypical leg, fox dos

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The UFC will debut on Fox tonight at 9pm ET with a heavyweight title fight between champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos. MMAFrenzy.com will have live play-by-play for the main event at 9pm ET, but our coverage begins at 5pm ET with live results from the preliminary card, which is topped by lightweight contenders Clay Guida and Ben Henderson. Stay tuned below for live results starting at 5pm ET: MAIN CARD Cain Velasquez (c) vs. Junior dos Santos UFC Heavyweight Championship PRELIMINARY CARD Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Pablo Garza vs. Dustin Poirier Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyonyama Mackens Semerzier vs. Robert Peralta Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo Mike Pierce vs. Paul Bradley Aaron Rosa vs. Matt Lucas Pictured: Velasquez and Dos Santos (via @DanaWhite)

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Newly-crowned UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior "Cigano" dos Santos will defend his title against the winner of New Year's Eve match-up between Brock Lesnar and Alistair "The Reem" Overeem. But who has the best chance against the KO machine in "Cigano" dos Santos? Make your vote!

Posted in: do, brock lesnar, reem overeem, cigano dos, fox aftermath

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Later today (Nov. 12, 2011) history will be made within the mixed martial arts (MMA) world when Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will promote its first show on the FOX television network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. FOX, a premier sports outlet, and UFC, the top brand in MMA today, struck a mega boob tube deal that shook the combat sports world just a few months ago. And already, the two companies are starting off with a bang. It has been quite some time since a heavyweight title in major combat sports has been contested on live television for free. Boxing did it in the mid-1990’s. And while the UFC has shown a number of other divisional title fights on "free" television via Spike TV, this is the first time the promotion will offer the colossal heavyweight tilt in this manner. And it isn’t just any title fight: Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos are the acknowledged two top ranked heavyweights in the sport today. Velasquez, the heavyweight champion, will fight challenger dos Santos in a fight that will not only be for the belt, but for the number one spot atop the sport's rankings. This arguably hasn’t happened since the days of Pride FC, when Fedor Emelianenko fought Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in Japan back in 2003. Bottom line fight fans: This is a fight you just can't miss. And not only for the historical value, but for the match up itself, which should be an all out war between two completely different fighters. In the extended entry I talk about the match up and showcase some of the better breakdowns of the important fighters, techniques and analysis you need to be fully prepared for UFC on Fox 1 later this evening. Enjoy:  In this post, I will focus on fighters, techniques and disciplines that fight fans could possible enjoy this weekend. While I will be linking a lot of my own work I will also be linking to another SBNation blog, Bloody Elbow, which has some of the best breakdowns around with its "Judo Chop" feature. Junior dos Santos, a walking nightmare for heavyweights, is undefeated in the Octagon (8-0) and 13-1 overall. He has nine fights that ended when the opponent succumbed to the brutal hands of the challenger. From his first knockout as an underdog to Fabricio Werdum to his one-side dismantling of giant Shane Carwin, Junior dos Santos has shown that nobody should be getting in the way of his striking skills. Dos Santos is an elite striker, one who focused heavily on the body shot. From my own fanpost, "Body Blow! The often overlooked (but always effective) body shot," which discussed in depth the usage and benefits of the body shot:  So with that, the final comment on body shots are that they can be brutal and effective but we rarely see them since in mixed martial arts the kick is utilized in its place. We have seen body kicks end fights (Franklin vs. Hamill) and dictate the fight, too (Georges St. Pierre, Lyoto Machida and Cung Le). And of course we have the legendary Bas Rutten who made a career out of the body blow. More fighters are using the body strike however as seen at the top. Heavyweight prospect Junior Dos Santos has made a habit in the past to be very active when working the body. Don't be surprised to see it more and more in MMA as the sport continues to evolve and as striking continues to rise to elite levels. Dos Santos is a masterful boxer. And to get prepared for the strikes you may see in this fight, I highlighted this week the most common strikes you may see on Saturday night. From the fanpost "Looking at the most used strikes prior to the debut of UFC on FOX": "Cigano" has outstruck each and every opponent during that time, including finishing five of those foes violently with strikes. Notorious for being considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, he will look to pry the title from current champion Cain Velasquez. To do that he will need to unleash his striking arsenal on the champion. Easily the most important strike in the combat world of striking is the jab. The jab is a lead punch that is thrown with your lead hand. It is the strike that lands quickest as the hand is usually the closest to your opponent. While it lacks the power of other strikes, its effectiveness is unparalleled to any other strike And speaking of this jab, there are two fanposts of my own that I get in detail on the single punch. Dos Santos is a master of this art, too. As we have seen in his fight with Mirko Cro Cop and Shane Carwin, in particular, where he really established his jab effectively. Lethal Weapon: MMA's Unused Weapon ... The Jab Back to Basics: How one simple punch can change a fight Cain Velasquez , the champion, has shown his elite wrestling pedigree can be translated into MMA effectively. As I have said in the past (including this fanpost about wrestling) wrestling has become the best base of all the disciplines to really bring into MMA. Training at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, Calif., with Dave Camarillo and the gang, Velasquez has been able to add grappling and striking to his elite-level wrestling. One of the most disappointing things to watch as a fan, personally, is to see lazy executed takedowns. Shooting in from too far away or not properly setting up a takedown is almost always recipe for disaster. Velasquez, however, has shown the ability to use strikes magnificently to set up his takedowns. To really get a grasp on what I am talking about, the guys over at BloodyElbow.com have an amazing breakdown on the blend between wrestling and striking. From the "Judo Chop" titled "UFC 133 Fight Card Judo Chop: Striking to Take Downs with Rashad Evans": There are several aspects to successfully taking down an opponent; starting distance, depth of the first step, speed, hand placement and hip placement. When these aspects all work together a take down can appear effortless and when they don't the results can be laughable. In grappling tournaments the standing phase of grappling is about creating the opening to close the distance into an advantageous position. More goodness from the BloodyElbow.com team with its "Judo Chop" Rashad Evans transitions from punches to takedowns: The bouncing double jabs missed but allowed Rashad to get inside on Rampage. More importantly when Jackson slipped the second jab, he moved his head directly into Evan's incoming right hook. Note how Jackson was looking to land a hard right uppercut counter to Evans' jabs. Rashad clearly studied the style of fighting Jackson has used since he was trained by Juanito Iberra.  When facing a wrestler, fighters traditionally will work very hard on takedown defense and submissions (I went into detail in common submissions here). Working a game plan in anticipation of takedown, you must take into account a few different skills. The first of those skills is takedown defense, the art of keeping the fight on the feet. For dos Santos, that in all likelihood was the main focus in this camp. "Cigano" may be the best striker in the entire heavyweight division today. And utilizing his largest strength, his bread and butter, may be his avenue to winning the title. To do that, good hips and balance are just a few key elements along with using your striking to keep the wrestler at bay. From my fanpost titled "The Striking Zone: Keeping a fight standing using effective striking and distance:" Some may be okay with being taken down where they are comfortable with their Jiu Jitsu. Others may enjoy the opportunity to out-wrestle their opponent to be able to achieve their own top position and the others may want to use striking to keep the fight on the feet. This has been utilized by many successful fighters dating way back to the era of Chuck Liddell and Mirko Filipovic when they were in their prime. Using good takedown defense was only a part of their game; the other part was using striking at the right moments of a fight to negate the chance of a takedown. More recently, UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz has shown his game of keeping the fight standing when wrestlers like Joseph Benavidez and Urijah Faber attempted to get the fight to the ground. This is just one of many ways to keep the fight standing for dos Santos. There is almost a guaranteed chance that if Velasquez wants the fight on the ground, he will get it there. With such a high caliber wrestler in the cage, it is only a matter of time before you find yourself back on the mat. But, that doesn’t spell the end of the fight. Dos Santos is said to have very quality grappling and we have seen brief glimpses of it in fights against Gabriel Gonzaga and Shane Carwin. But if Velasquez is on top, what could be done to get up again? The answer was discussed by the boys at BloodyElbow.com in yet another great piece titled "Strikeforce Judo Chop: Luke Rockhold does a cage crawling clinic against Jacare:" It was common forum fodder in the mid-2000s to debate the merits of cage vs ring as a venue for an MMA match. It was asserted that cages favored grapplers, while rings favored strikers. The reasoning was that grapplers had more space to run in the UFC Octagon and could then pin the striker against the cage. While in a ring the striker could trap the grappler in a corner and punish him with punches and kicks.  But recently as the MMA game has swung back towards the striking arts, fighters have become experts of using the cage to keep fights standing. Using the cage to stand back up has become a vital skill set to a complete MMA fighter.  Submissions will also play a big part in this fight should Velasquez attempt to explore a wrestling game plan. When utilizing takedowns, it is very common for explosive wrestlers to shoot in for them with a single- or double-leg. Both of which require you to lower your head and drive into the body of your opponent. The counter to that? A well-timed and executed guillotine choke. From my fanpost solely dedicated to this choke my "Ultimate Submissions" fanpost had this to say: The guillotine is a choke favorable against wrestlers because it punishes your opponent if they shoot in for a takedown with their head down. While there are other ways to complete the choke, this is often the most common. The most basic way to describe the choke is when you reach around your opponent’s neck when it is in range, grasp the choking side hand with the free hand and lift up. The interesting portion of this match up is that both fighters have yet to show a weakness. Both have never been defeated in the Octagon and aside from a few knockdowns against Cheick Kongo, the champion has yet to be in danger of losing. Dos Santos shares that same sentiment, too, sans a few big punches from some of the heavyweights in the division. In the reverse, Velasquez also has the opportunity to finish submissions. While not being the heralded grappler that dos Santos is, Velasquez finished very well in grappling tournaments and does train under the much respected Camarillo. Arm locks like the Kimura and Americana are favorites amongst wrestlers who are powerful in top position, the Arm Triangle Choke is another because of the ability to smother your opponent when you are high atop his chest. Brock Lesnar demonstrated that brilliantly when he fought Shane Carwin. These two fighters have really been a great example as to the evolution and progression of our sport and its athletes. I spoke in detail about the ingredients for an effective recipe to becoming a well rounded mixed martial artist in a series called "Recipe for Success: Becoming well rounded in mixed martial arts:" Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four In any case this fight will be a dog fight on the feet, on the ground or a mixture of both. As both of these fighters have killer instinct, determination and incredible talent that will undoubtedly make this one memorable night. For your enjoyment I have included some other great reads you may want to catch up on before the main event later on tonight. Enjoy, Maniac’s! MMA 101 Series for UFC on FOX: MMA 101: Looking at the most frequent submissions prior to UFC on FOX debut MMA 101: Looking at the most used strikes prior to UFC on FOX debut MMA 101: Looking into the wrestling aspect of MMA prior to UFC on FOX debut MMA 101: Looking into the kickboxing and Muay Thai aspect of MMA prior to UFC on FOX debut Other MMA Must Reads: The difference between killer instinct and reckless abandon Ultimate Submissions: A closer look at "wrestling vs jiu-jitsu" when a fight hits the ground Ultimate Submisisons: When Technique meets power Ultimate Submissions: Breaking down the lack of grappling execution in MMA  REMEMBER: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on FOX 1, beginning with the preliminary card bouts on Facebook scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the heavyweight championship bout as it happens later this evening at 9 p.m. ET. See you then!

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It’s a momentous night in the UFC‘s history Saturday, but you don’t need me to tell you that. The TV ads, viral marketing campaigns and thousands upon thousands of Twitterbombs have done a good job of that. All I’m going to offer up is a subtle reminder that the event starts at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific and no fights will be shown outside of the main event. This was a decision of FoxSports to pay homage to past broadcasts of shows like Wide World of Sports that would never broadcast anything but the main event and succeeded in doing so for many many years. Yesterday I looked at the preliminary fights for UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. Today it’s time for the big boys, both literally with headliners Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, as well as figuratively in the form of lightweight contenders Ben Henderson and Clay Guida. Also, don’t forget Fighters.com is giving away autographs from Dustin Poirier and Guida – two of the night’s premier talents – and winning doesn’t require too much effort to boot! Now on to the fights! Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson This fight was JUST announced as a lightweight title eliminator, and the winner will receive a shot at Frankie Edgar‘s lightweight title. Truly, could you pick two more popular fighters to duke it out for the #1 contendership? It seems like Guida started hopping about when he came out of mom Debbie’s womb and hasn’t stopped for 29 years. He’s forged his niche in the lightweight division as a neverending bundle of energy, fighting anybody’s game at any time. He’s racked up six event-related bonuses, including two “Fight of the Year” awards. Many of his fights are highlight reels in and of themselves and his mere presence can bolster an average card and make it a great one. Guida’s one of the few fighters out there that even when he loses, he wins. His heartbreaking loss to Roger Huerta likely won him more fans in defeat than he would have won otherwise, and his classic against Diego Sanchez is one that will stick with him positively, even in his loss. He’s one of those fighters who defies any fight styles. While being a very capable wrestler, his sheer energy and relentless work ethic has powered him past the likes of Anthony Pettis and Nate Diaz, and his fierce determination helped him flow through Takanori Gomi. Guida is more of a setup striker, who will use his jabs and power punches to prelude to a takedown. It’s rare that you’ll see Guida try to box his way to victory, preferring to create opportunities to press his ground dominance. On most nights, you would probably take a well oiled and well disciplined Guida to cruise to victory. However, the next question is – Can anybody stop Henderson right now? Shane Roller was supposed to stop him and that didn’t happen. Donald Cerrone was supposed to stop him and that didn’t happen. Jim Miller was 100% supposed to stop him, and that didn’t happen either. Pettis hit him with a kick so hard that any normal man would’ve been felled. Henderson’s inability to quit has taken him from a fringe fighter all the way to the top, and all that way he’s been bettering what he was already good at. Once a wrestler with decent strikes, Henderson has turned into a world class ground grappler of numerous disciplines. His lower body mobility and ability to push off at the moment’s notice are so explosive that it’ll be as if his opponents are standing still. Henderson’s toughest challenge to date was supposed to Miller, who had won seven straight and 15 of 16 coming into that fight. Henderson survived a few submission attempts, but cruised to a victory that was so dominant that it probably pushed so far Miller out of the title picture that I don’t know that his name has been mentioned on a UFC broadcast since. The fight left many, including Henderson, clammoring for an immediate title shot, yet the Guida camp felt he was deserving as well. What better way to settle it than fighting for the right to have a title shot? This fight will contested at a frenzied pace. Guida’s speed has been largely unmatched until now, and though I believe he holds an edge there, Henderson isn’t far behind. Both fighters are going into a bit of uncharted territory, as both are used to being the speedier and the aggressor. It will be interesting to see who is the one capable of holding the other down and taking control. Guida’s going to work his usual gameplan of setting up for successful takedowns, and Henderson will probably push forward with his strikes and wear Guida down that way. I’m not expecting this one to end in a knockout, it’s likelier there will be a submission, but expect this one to be endless work from both fighters in all areas with an emphasis on the ground. Henderson’s key to victory will be using his tremendous strength to his advantage, looking to keep Guida from bouncing up easily. Guida is one of the best in the lightweight Division from the top, and he’ll be looking to work upper body submissions from there. Henderson has a strength advantage over Guida’s last opponent (Pettis), however, so don’t expect Guida to be able to control as easily or willfully as he did in that fight. This could be one for the ages. FOX will probably regret the decision not to give this one a shot on the broadcast. I would be surprised if this wasn’t “Fight of the Night” and a career defining performance for either one. Prediction: Ben Henderson def. Clay Guida via Split Decision Heavyweight Championship bout: Cain Velasquez (c) vs. Junior dos Santos This is it! What all the months of hype have led to will soon be on display for the world to see. Much like Wide World of Sports in years past, the public has been invited to gather around their television sets to witness a battle for the World Championship. This is perhaps the biggest opportunity in the sport’s history to capture the eyes and ears of the world, and the UFC has trotted out two of their biggest draws to showcase. Velasquez is making his return to the Octagon for the first time in almost a year, and first as heavyweight champion. His meteoric rise to the top of the heavyweight division has been nothing short of remarkable, walking into numerous situations as the underdog, and coming out the victor. In his path, he’s defeated three former world champions including a dominant performance over Brock Lesnar which gave him the title. His fight record: A perfect 9-0 with nearly all TKO victories. Lost in this shuffle is his jiu-jitsu and resilience, both of which were tested and needed against Lesnar who rushed into the fight to overwhelm Velasquez. However, his composure and ability to work out of a tough spot paid dividends, as he waited for Lesnar to tire before taking the fight to him and winning. Equally impressive, and longer of a road has Dos Santos traveled. He was thrown to Fabricio Werdum in his UFC debut, and the little known Brazilian wasn’t given much of a chance. However, he rattled Werdum early, winning in under 90 seconds and beginning a 3 year undefeated streak enroute to his first title shot, including five straight KO/TKO wins. Dos Santos’ was forced into deeper rounds against Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin, both of whom he dominated enroute to easy wins, but tested his mettle and conditioning. Following both fights, Dos Santos looked like he’d been warming up, and could have easily gone another 5 or 6 rounds before breaking a sweat. No doubt has ever lingered in my mind that there is a better fight out there to break the UFC into the mainstream than this. Sure there are bigger draws and bigger names. Lesnar could have brought many more pro wrestling fans over with a free fight. Georges St. Pierre is Georges St. Pierre. However, when it all comes down to it, the heavyweight title is what has always been the most revered of years past. No major wrestling PPV was ever built around the Intercontinental Title. Few boxing sanctions in the Wide World of Sports era would let a lower weight class provide sole representation of their sport. Horse racing’s crown jewel was never the Schuck’s Auto Parts Quarter Mile. This is the right fight to have at the right time. There’s no telling what either fighter has in store for the other. Dos Santos and Velasquez both have such crisp striking that they could be game to stand and throw for 25 minutes, though I don’t see it going that long. Dos Santos has great BJJ, and Velasquez showed off his skills, but neither have been tested against skill sets they’re about to face, so it’s hard to say what could happen if it goes to the ground. Dos Santos has exhibited flashes of greatness, but because he’s been so quick to dominate in some of his fights, there’s been rarely an opportunity to showcase his BJJ. The end stages of the Carwin fight showed his ability to take a fantastic wrestler down at will, however, something Velasquez should be wary of. Though he’s the challenger, I truly believe Dos Santos is the one who has the most to lose. This is a fight he can win from more angles than Velasquez, however, the sheer strength and one punch knockout power of Cain’s could end the fight very quickly. Edgar propelled himself into legendary status with his recent victory over Gray Maynard. This could be Velasquez’ propulsion to that same status. I have to believe Dos Santos is the stylistic favorite coming into this fight. If Dos Santos is the aggressor early, and Velasquez comes back to win in some gutsy, or Hollywood-style ending, it will be a night never to be forgotten. If Dos Santos can keep from getting caught, I’m expecting him to finally get the opportunity to work magic on the ground and ultimately, find a way to work in some solid submissions. Whether Cain will tap remains to be seen, but I’ll take Junior here via submission to crown a new UFC Heavyweight Champion. Prediction: Junior Dos Santos def. Cain Velasquez via Submission There you have it – The UFC on Fox 1 the way I see it breaking down. Don’t forget to enter our giveaway contest, and take home an autograph of one of the fighters on the card. Once again, all you have to is follow See you cageside! Tweet

Posted in: fight, henderson, do, velasquez, guida

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Peep this short clip highlighting the weigh-ins for the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos bout.

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Junior Dos Santos was supposed to fight Brock Lesnar. He was supposed to face a former champion for the opportunity to challenge for the title himself. He spent several weeks in the brisk Las Vegas winter, coaching a collection of young mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters hoping to be the next Forrest Griffin or Rashad Evans, while Lesnar did the same with a second group of men. They built up the anticipation for their bout throughout The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 season as they headed toward the UFC 131 main event to decide who would be the first challenger for division champion Cain Velasquez. Unfortunately for both men, the fight never materialized. Lesnar was stricken with a second bout of diverticulitis and had to undergo major surgery to correct the issue.  With only one month left before the event in Vancouver, the Brazilian was suddenly left without an opponent. Fortunately there was another heavyweight slated to fight that same evening, another heavyweight who briefly flirted with UFC championship gold. That man was Shane Carwin. And after surgery and a long layoff himself following his title bout with Lesnar at UFC 116, "The Engineer" was eager to get back "in the mix." Who "Cigano" faced inside the Octagon that night in Vancouver didn't matter. He wanted to make a statement. And tonight (Nov. 12, 2011) he aims to make a similar decree when he faces Velasquez at UFC on Fox for the heavyweight title. That statement? The belt is coming home to Brazil. Follow me after the jump as we take another look at the beating he gave Carwin in Canada earlier this year: Both men are hesitant to exchange. After all, Carwin is the man who knocked out Frank Mir and dos Santos ended Fabricio Werdum's UFC career with a single punch. Less than a minute in, the American lunges in for a single-leg takedown that "Cigano" defends beautifully. They clinch against the fence, throwing short punches and knees to soften each other up. They break and a boxing match begins to ensue. Carwin may have power, but his technique simply doesn't match that of his opponent. "Cigano" trains day in and day out with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, himself a trainee of the vaunted Cuban Olympic boxing team. The Brazilian has a striking acumen as accomplished as any heavyweight in the fight game. Two minutes left in the round and a second takedown attempt from Carwin fails to put the Brazilian on his back. Returning to their feet, "Cigano" begins to utilize his jab, a testament to the excellent technique he possesses. Carwin can't seem to slip the quick, snapping punches to get inside and dos Santos makes him pay for it. With less than 60 seconds remaining in the opening stanza, "Cigano" steps on the gas and begins to pick his opponent apart. Devastating combinations are unloaded and each punch finds its mark perfectly. One strike connects with Carwin's chin with enough force to drop the American to the mat. When he finally gets back to his feet 30 seconds later, he no longer resembles a mixed martial artist. He looks more like a murder victim in the latest "Saw" movie. Because for half a minute, dos Santos battered Carwin on the mat, swinging his huge and powerful fists repeatedly and connecting with "The Engineer's" face each and every time. Sitting in his corner before the second round, he's a bloody, mangled mess with a huge laceration under his left eye and what appears to be a broken nose. While Carwin made the remaining 10 minutes a somewhat spirited affair, what followed next seemed to be a glorified sparring session for the Brazilian. He continued to land strikes at will -- jabs to the skull, kicks to the leg, or punishing hooks to the body. A stiff hook from the American was the only significant offense during the second stanza while he was forced to absorb more damage including a devastating head kick and another laceration, this one under his right eye. In the third and final round, "The Engineer" immediately shoots in for a takedown and momentarily gets his opponent down. The Brazilian avoids any damage during the grappling reprieve and by the time they're back to their feet, the feeling is -- both in Vancouver and at home -- the fight is dos Santos' to lose. He continues his stand up dominance through the end of the bout and has his hand raised in the end. Carwin was a man who just a year prior was challenging for the heavyweight title and "Cigano" made him look like an amateur inside the Octagon. Dos Santos brutalized the American for 15 minutes straight, while never being in any real danger. Now this man -- undefeated in the UFC -- faces Cain Velasquez -- himself undefeated throughout his career. UFC boss Dana White has said tonight is the biggest fight in the promotion's history and would have picked Velasquez and dos Santos no matter what.  With performances like this one, who could argue?

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ANAHEIM, November 12 – 64 seconds. That is all it took for Junior dos Santos to leap into the history books and become the first man to defeat UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez, the relentless Mexican-American fighter who until Saturday night hadn’t lost a single round in his five-year pro career. The dramatic knockout delivered an exclamation point to the UFC’s grand introduction to primetime viewers watching the title bout for free on the FOX television network (many of them possibly discovering the sport for the first time). “I have no words to say what I’m feeling. It’s amazing, my life,” a teary-eyed dos Santos (14-1) said in the Octagon after being fitted with his new championship belt by UFC president Dana White. “I want to thank all my friends and family. I have a lot of good people around me. Thank you very much.” Dos Santos added that he entered the fight less than 100 percent, indicating he was perhaps hampered by an injury during training camp. But it didn’t matter in the least. Velasquez fired three leg kicks and dos Santos answered with two hard body shots. Then the heavyweight division’s fastest and most heavy-handed puncher delivered a thunderous overhand right that Cain perhaps never saw coming. The firecracker of a punch hit Velasquez around or behind his ear, dropping the champ to the canvas and with no sense of his whereabouts. Dos Santos pounced immediately, landing hard shots as Velasquez began to turtle over to his stomach rather than trying to regain his guard or intelligently defend himself. At that moment, a new era had been ushered in.“It kind of messed up my equilibrium,” said Velasquez (9-1), the overwhelming crowd favorite. “He has a lot of power. I waited too much for him… So hat’s off to him tonight.” Velasquez also felt as if he had let down his fans, many of them proud Mexican-Americans like himself. “Sorry to all the fans, my family and friends,” he said. “I disappointed you. I will come back and I will get this belt back, for sure.”The bout had marked the fallen champ’s first fight in 13 months; he had surgery on a torn rotator cuff but had said recently that he felt strong and ready for his most dangerous foe yet. Dos Santos, meanwhile, is now 8-0 in the UFC and hasn’t lost in four years. The former toy store operator, who grew up poor in his native Brazil and sold ice cream on street corners to survive, has a feeling he may not have seen the last of Velasquez inside of the cage. In fact, the soft-spoken 27-year-old conceded he had battled fear and doubt leading up to the fight. “Cain Velasquez was for sure my toughest opponent,” dos Santos said. “I was afraid to fight with him because he’s very tough. And I was not 100 percent for this fight so I was very scared.”

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In one of the most important fights in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history, the heavyweight title is on the line as champion Cain Velasquez looks to defend his title for the first time against Brazilian striker Junior dos Santos in the headlining bout of the promotion's television network debut tomorrow night (Nov. 12, 2011) with UFC on FOX: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." Velasquez, the first champion out of the American Kickboxing Academy, has been sidelined for more than a year with a shoulder injury ever since dethroning Brock Lesnar last October. He's finally rehabbed, healthy and ready for the big time. Meanwhile, dos Santos is finally getting his big moment to shine. He's more than paid his dues with two victories in number one contender fights, as well as a season coaching The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) against Lesnar, but if he can knockout Velasquez and become the UFC heavyweight champion, it will be totally worth it. Will Velasquez be able to put the "Cigano" on his back with his All-American wrestling? Can dos Santos find the opening and bring the title back to Brazil with a devastating knockout? What does each vaunted heavyweight need to do to secure a victory tomorrow night on FOX? Let's find out after the jump: Cain Velasquez Record: 9-0 overall, 7-0 in the UFCKey Wins: Brock Lesnar (UFC 121), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (UFC 110), Cheick Kongo Key Losses: none How he got here: Velasquez, despite being undersized throughout his wrestling career, was able to become a two-time NCAA Division I All-American while competing at Arizona State University. When he was done with college, he immediately transitioned into mixed martial arts (MMA). Trainers and other MMA fighters immediately began raving about his potential and he was signed by the UFC after just his second professional fight. He was built up slowly, earning victories over the likes of Brad Morris, Jake O'Brien and Denis Stojnić in his first year with the promotion But, after a spirited effort against Ben Rothwell, it was time for the big dogs. Velasquez battled Pride FC legend "Minotauro" Nogueira in the main event of UFC 110 for the UFC's debut in Australia, knocking out the former interim UFC champion before the midway point of the first round. This earned him a fight against Lesnar for the title. When they finally met, Lesnar blitzed Velasquez, who held his ground, weathering the early storm and then destroyed Lesnar with punches and knees standing, following it up with precise ground and pound to become the new UFC heavyweight champion. After taking more than one year off to recover from shoulder surgery, he's ready to defend his title for the first time. How he gets it done: Velasquez is incredibly athletic and has cardio for days. Unlike some of dos Santos' previous opponents like Carwin and Nelson, he has the speed and agility to go along with his elite wrestling skills to get the fight to the ground. The key for Velasquez is to be dangerous enough in the stand up department to have his Brazilian foe respect him there. If he can even earn an ounce of respect standing, he'll create the opening he needs to set up a takedown with his punches. Even the slightest hesitation could be enough to put dos Santos on his back. Another key for the champion is to push a relentless pace. "Cigano" is very powerful early in a fight, but he's faded in the third round in his last two bouts. If Velasquez can wear on him either in the clinch or on the ground, he'll be setting himself up for a highlight reel finish. Even if he can't get a takedown, he needs to make dos Santos work extra hard to fend them off, which will take up much-needed energy. If Velasquez can drag this fight into the third round it will almost be impossible for dos Santos to win. Junior dos Santos Record: 13-1 overall, 7-0 in the UFCKey Wins: Shane Carwin (UFC 131), Roy Nelson (UFC 117), Fabricio Werdum (UFC 90)Key Losses: none How he got here: Junior dos Santos made one hell of a first impression in his UFC debut with a tremendous first round uppercut knockout over Fabricio Werdum at UFC 90 back in Oct. 2008. The Brazilian proceeded to run the gauntlet of heavyweights from Stefan Struve, Mirko "Cro Cop", Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga, scoring stoppage victories in each fight. "Cigano" was finally awarded a number one contender's match against Roy Nelson at UFC 117. Dos Santos laid into "Big Country" with everything he had for three consecutive rounds and he would go on to win a lopsided unanimous decision. Dos Santos was all set to face Velasquez for the title, but the champ went down with a shoulder injury. Instead of waiting on the sidelines while the AKA standout recovered from surgery, he signed on to coach The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 against former champion Brock Lesnar with the intent on facing Lesnar in another number one contender's match. However, when Lesnar pulled out of his fight with a relapse of diverticulitis, former title challenger Shane Carwin stepped up to face dos Santos in the main event. Dos Santos nearly finished "The Engineer" with strikes in the first round, but instead went on to win another lopsided decision. With Velasquez now healthy and ready to defend his title, dos Santos was the obvious choice for the promotion's network debut on FOX. How he gets it done: Dos Santos needs to repeat after me: Keep it standing, keep it standing, keep it standing! We've all heard that he's got an underrated ground game, but this is not, I repeat not the platform to be debuting it. "Cigano" has some of the heaviest hands in the heavyweight division and his technical boxing is elite. Unlike many other heavyweights, he doesn't throw his entire body into his punches so he should be safe standing and trading with Velasquez without fear of overcommitting to a big strike and getting taken down. Dos Santos needs to keep his hands high and be prepared to sprawl early and sprawl often. He's been quick and athletic enough to defend everyone who's tried to take him down in the past and he'll need every ounce of strength he's got to keep Velasquez at bay. Time is not on his side as I don't think Velasquez could get tired even if he were battling the devil, himself, for five rounds. Dos Santos needs to strike while the iron is hot. The champion has been hurt in fights before, getting rocked at the beginning of each round by Cheick Kongo before taking him down. If the Brazilian can stun Velasquez, he should have the takedown defense and the finishing instincts to follow up and finish Velasquez before he can be put on his back. Fight "X-Factor:" There are two major x-factors for this fight. The first is Cain Velasquez's shoulder. He's been out more than one year because of intensive surgery, which is something that can be life altering. Even if he rehabs it to the best of his ability, there might be issues with range of motion and strength for the rest of his career. He'll need that shoulder to be 100 percent or he's not going to be as dangerous with his punches or especially with his takedowns. The other factor, of course, is the five rounds. This is a HUGE benefit for Velasquez as dos Santos has tired himself out in three round fights even when they stayed standing. If the champ can pressure dos Santos and really make him work in the first two rounds of this fight, he's going to be very difficult to stop as the fight enters its later stages. Bottom line: UFC couldn't have picked a better fight for its debut on network television. Both Velasquez and dos Santos have been absolutely dominant in every single one of their UFC fights. Both men sport spotless 7-0 records in the UFC and both have finished nearly every single one of their opponents. This is one of the toughest main events to predict in UFC history. And you will never forgive yourself if you miss it live. Get your friends together, even the ones who don't know much about MMA and then just make a night of it. You, and they, won't regret it. Who will come out on top at UFC on FOX? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will be the UFC heavyweight champion when it's all said and done tomorrow night? Cain Velasquez Junior dos Santos   11 votes | Results

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 UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" weigh-in event went down today (Nov. 11, 2011) at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, Calif., where all 20 competitors tipped the scale to make their respective bouts official for tomorrow's (Nov. 5, 2011) historic event. In the video above, the first fighter steps on the scale around the 14-minute mark. Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and number one contender Junior dos Santos, which is the only fight from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., that will air during the network's hour-long broadcast that begins at 9 p.m. ET -- both came in well below the division's 265-pound limit. For complete UFC on FOX weigh in results click here, for staredown pics click here and a complete photos gallery will be posted shortly.  Ready to rumble yet or what, Maniacs?

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All fighters made weight ahead of Satuday's UFC on Fox fight headlined by Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez.

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Main Card: (Champion) Cain Velasquez (249) vs. Junior Dos Santos (239) Prelims: Clay Guida (156) vs. Ben Henderson (156) Pablo Garza (145) vs. Dustin Poirier (146) Ricardo Lamas (145) vs. Cub Swanson (145) Clay Harvsion (169) vs. DaMarques Johnson (171) Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (135) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (135) Robert Peralta (145) vs. Mackens Semerzier (146) [...]

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UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" is just around the corner, emanating from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Caliornia, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. And that means all the pre-fight festivities, like press conferences (here), weigh-ins (here) and the obligatory staredown pictures that come with them. Above we have the main event of the evening, featuring Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos. This is more than just a heated match-up with the heavyweight championship on the line. This is the historic first UFC fight on network television. Time to roll, baby. Rolling in the hole. The Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson staredown pic is after the jump. For complete UFC on Fox 1 weigh-in results click here.

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In the primes of their respective careers, they stand on the precipice of an historic moment -- an undefeated champion and his challenger. Five rounds stand between them and the ultimate glory of their profession

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Complete fighter weigh-in results for "UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos."

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A scenario once thought to be little more than a MMA fan’s fantasy is set to unfold tomorrow night from Anaheim, California, as the UFC is poised to make its network debut on FOX with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and imposing contender Junior dos Santos helping usher the new era through their main event match-up. Before Velasquez and Dos Santos can display their talents in front of the millions of people anticipated to be tuning in they have to first deal with the formality of making weight with neither expected to come close to the 265-pound heavyweight limit. However, their peers’ potential of missing a required mark is a bit higher, and as such Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in to the proceedings as usual while relaying live results back to readers when things begin this evening at 7:00 PM EST. Read below for a full list of UFC on FOX weights: Mike Pierce ( lbs) vs. Paul Bradley ( lbs) Aaron Rosa ( lbs) vs. Matt Lucas ( lbs) Mackens Semerzier ( lbs) vs. Robert Peralta ( lbs) Alex Caceres ( lbs) vs. Cole Escovedo ( lbs) Clay Harvison ( lbs) vs. DaMarques Johnson ( lbs) Norifumi Yamamoto ( lbs) vs. Darren Uyenoyama ( lbs) Cub Swanson ( lbs) vs. Ricardo Lamas ( lbs) Dustin Poirier ( lbs) vs. Pablo Garza ( lbs) Ben Henderson ( lbs) vs. Clay Guida ( lbs) Cain Velasquez ( lbs) vs. Junior dos Santos ( lbs) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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The popular video game UFC Undisputed 3 is scheduled to be released in early 2012 but, in honor of this weekend’s historic UFC on FOX event, the team at developer THQ ran a simulation pitting Cain Velasquez against Junior dos Santos to give us a virtual rendition of what might happen Saturday night when the two square off in the main event of UFC on FOX 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. The undefeated Velasquez is returning to the Octagon for the first time since taking the title from Brock Lesnar last October to become heavyweight champion. Eight of his nine wins have come via TKO despite being a decorated amateur wrestler. Comparably, Dos Santos defeated Shane Carwin to secure his top contender’s spot and holds an overall record of 13-1 including wins over Roy Nelson, Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Filipovic, and Fabricio Werdum. Check out what happened in the virtual gaming world when Velasquez and dos Santos entered the Octagon ahead of what will really go down Saturday night from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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The UFC has seen a handful of truly tremendous rivalries throughout the years – Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock, Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes, and Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture to name but a few. Now it appears the company could be on the brink of another epic series in the making between heavyweights Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez. Set to square off for the first time this Saturday night on FOX in the organization’s debut on network television, Dos Santos and Velasquez are both talented competitors entering their primes and are likely to be in the title-scene for years to come whether wearing divisional gold for prospecting for it. Take a Look at the Highly-Praised UFC Primetime Special for Dos Santos vs. Velasquez In a recent interview with the UFC’s website, the 13-1 Dos Santos commented on the likelihood of facing Velasquez a second time if not eventually a third, saying, “Yes, I’m sure that regardless of the outcome of this fight, we will fight each other again. I know that, but I don’t spend time thinking about future fights; the only fight on my horizon is the one directly ahead of me.” Though the match-up in front of him is considered to be perhaps the most significant in UFC history, the 27-year old Brazilian behemoth isn’t phased by the additional weight on his shoulders. “The importance of the fight isn’t lost on me. I know what a huge event it is,” Dos Santos explained. “But I go into every fight ready to give my best, ready to give my all. I take the importance of the event, I take what you call “pressure,” and I turn that into motivation. That’s what it is for me – motivation to fight my best game, and to leave everything I have inside that Octagon.” If tomorrow’s tussle is indeed the beginning of a new rivalry it will be one predicated on respect rather than contempt, as Dos Santos not only praised the way he’d been treated by Velasquez, but shared his own philosophy when it comes to competition. “I think people have a lot of misconceptions about the sport. And it doesn’t help when fighters act like cavemen to each other. But sometimes people who scream the loudest get the most attention, and in effect the negative behavior is rewarded. It’s tough to fault somebody for something that seems to work effectively in their favor. For me, personally, I prefer to do my talking inside the Octagon. I treat other athletes with respect, and I have no ill will or hard feelings towards anybody. I fight for the sport, and I talk where it matters – in the Octagon.” Fans can catch greatness in the making on FOX when things start up at 9:00 PM EST with preliminary pairings being shown live through Facebook starting a few hours earlier. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Saturday night the UFC makes its debut on Fox with an explosive UFC heavyweight title match-up between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. MMAFrenzy is here to break down the championship bout. UFC on Fox 1 airs at 9pm ET on Fox, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for complete coverage of tomorrow’s card starting with the Foxsports.com and Facebook card starting at 7pm ET.  Keys for the Champion (CL)- UFC champion Cain Velasquez is coming off a long layoff due to a shoulder injury to a tough first fight back against a formidable opponent in Junior Dos Santos. Dos Santos has the best boxing in the UFC heavyweight division hands down, so it may seem like the smart play is for Velasquez just to stick to his wrestling to pull out a victory here. Well that may not be the case against Dos Santos since he has defended 83% of the takedown attempts he has faced according to Fightmetric. So how does Velasquez retain his title? Well the first thing Velasquez must do is continue cleaning up his striking by leaving some of the power shots at home. While this may seem ridiculous to suggest for a fighter, those wild shots open yourself up to hard counters from a better boxer. Just watching the Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin fights shows how much damage can be done when fighters swing for the fences on Dos Santos, he will pick you apart and leave you looking like a horror film. Cain likely learned this lesson in his fight with Cheick Kongo. So it is important to stay technical early and often to avoid taking too much damage early. Both fighters have good gas tanks for their size but as the fight wears on it is harder to keep your hands high. So Velasquez needs to protect as much as he can early to avoid major damage and start setting up takedowns later in the fight. By going for takedowns later in the fight the hope is that your opponent’s takedown defense will relax due to being tired. Both fighters will be tired by that point but having strong wrestling can be a huge advantage late if you do not wear yourself out early. While ring rust is impossible to ignore, Velasquez is at an elite camp with great trainers who have prepared him for this fight. This fight is one of the closest fights I have ever seen on paper and it is a true 1 versus 2 match-up in the heavyweight division(at least until we see how Overeem does against Lesnar). Keys for Dos Santos (Bryan Robison) - Before I dive into the analysis of this matchup, I must start with just how exciting this matchup is. This is a matchmaker’s dream, and Dana, Lorenzo Fertita, Joe Silva, and most importantly the fans have arguably the greatest matchup in UFC history to look forward to this Saturday. It is arguably the greatest because to start, it is a heavyweight championship fight. Since the beginning of boxing’s reign, heavyweight fights have always carried more luster and celebration than any other weight class. The UFC has never had that. While they have had great names come through the ranks, names like Mirko Cro Cop, Randy Couture, and Brock Lesnar, they have never had a true heavyweight fight that brings together the entire array of talents that are displayed throughout the organization. This fight supplies that. This fight has the striking, the jiu-jitsu, the wrestling, the grappling, and most importantly, the entertainment. Half of that entertainment is provided by Junior Dos Santos. Dos Santos is without question the best boxer in the heavyweight division. He knocked out Fabricio Werdum in his first career UFC fight at UFC 90, and he has been displaying his striking prowess in every fight since then. That advantage alone will be the key to Dos Santos winning. While Velasquez without question has great cardio and a great chin, it has only been tested once. Cheick Kongo was able to knock Velasquez down twice. Unfortunately for Kongo, he was unable to finish the champion. If Dos Santos is able to knock Velasquez down, he will seize the opportunity, unlike Kongo. Another positive for Dos Santos is his improved cardio. While he has not finished his last two opponents, we were finally able to see if he could survive a fight that went the entire fifteen minutes. He dominated both Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin for those six rounds in total. As long as Dos Santos is more versatile with his strikes, as he continued to throw only punches during the Nelson fight, Dos Santos can keep Velasquez guessing through the third, fourth, and fifth rounds. Dos Santos was even able to take Carwin down a couple of times during their fight, an area that certainly will be utilized by Velasquez during the fight. One can easily see how excited Dana White is about this matchup, stating that if the fight goes 30 seconds or 30 minutes (which isn’t possible), it will be a hell of a fight. He is absolutely spot-on with that assessment. As the UFC enters the most crucial era of their existence, there is no better way to start than with Dos Santos and Velasquez.

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While only one fight will be shown on FOX, there are still some significant matchups. Today we'll take a look at five fights you should watch not only because they are good fights, but because they speak to what the fighters can do. Someitmes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Cain Velasquez vs. Cheick Kongo at UFC 99 This fight is unique in that it's the one fight in which Cain looked vulnerable. For Dos Santos fans, it's also foreboding. If Kongo, a relatively mediocre HW could catch Velasquez, why won't Junior, who is a much better boxer? While I think it's a fair point, it's also worth noting the incredible difference between this fight and UFC 110. Cain had never displayed himself to be a consummate striker. Early on, he showed himself to be a savage in the clinch, but nothing to indicate he could strike at a distance. It wasn't until his absolute shredding of Nog that he showed real versatility. While I give Junior the advantage on the feet, I don't think the Kongo fight is a fair place to gauge his chances. Cain was still a blue chip prospect at that point. And besides, if you can think of a more brutal punch to land and not KO someone, I'd like to see it. Cain's chin is phenomenal. I love both fighters in this weekend's HW tilt, but I've gotta believe Cain's ability to take punishment and go five rounds at the pace he maintains will be a factor. Junior Dos Santos vs. Joaquim Ferreira at MTL Final If we want to look at the respective fighters at their most vulnerable, perhaps it's fair to consider Junior's only loss. As with Cain vs. Kongo, it's an unfair gauge if you're looking to play the betting game. This fight was very early on Junior's career. While Dos Santos has yet to be put on his back, it's still interesting to see how he reacted. Against Ferreira, he still showed decent takedown defense:JDS excels at using the limp leg, and being able to scramble. In fact, when Junior is put on his back, it's actually pretty impressive to see him flick Joaquim, a really good black belt, off of him. Really, it's Junior's mistake that costs him in his only loss because instead of scrambling to his feet, he jumps into Joaquim's guard. It's difficult to use either fight to judge how the match this Saturday will play out, but they're revealing in their own way. For Cain, we've seen how he reacts to getting hit, for better and for worse. For Junior, we see what's capable of when put on his back, for better and for worse. Clay Guida vs. Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 117 I can't think of a fighter who closely resembles Ben Henderson off the top of my head. But I think the Dos Anjos match tells us a few things about Ben's chances. For one, it's worth noting that Dos Anjos made this fight very competitive. Like Henderson, Dos Anjos is a highly active fighter, both on the feet, and on the ground. In addition to having a killer instinct. Guida is typically at his most vulnerable when he can't dictate the pace or find his rhythm. Dos Anjos is not at the top of contender list, but still found success against Guida by virtue of giving as much as he took. Opponents tend to land more when Guida has trouble finding success with the takedown. it's how he got stuck into wild exchanges with Roger Huerta, and Diego Sanchez. Can Ben replicate their success and potentially fight Edgar in Japan in February?   Ben Henderson vs. Jamie Varner at WEC 46 Similar to Varner, Guida is a fighter that primarily wrestles, and has good raw power on the feet. Unlike Varner, Guida isn't a headcase...or at least he's not a headcase in a way that negatively affects him inside the cage. To say nothing of the fact that Guida doesn't crumble under pressure so much as he crumbles when he's forced to embrace it.  At WEC 46, Ben made comfortable work of Varner. He used calculated, varied striking (at one point landing a fairly brutal snap kick to Jamie's face) to earn the victory, and should he do the same this weekend, I wonder what kind of success he'll have trying to decipher Guida's awkward head movement. Henderson will likely benefit if he takes a more measured approach. But then again watching him go into beast mode against Jim Miller, and I think it doesn't matter how Ben fights: he just needs to show up and be the superior fighter that he is...once again smacking down another UFC LW underestimating just how good the WEC LW division actually was. Guida is on record as saying "I've fought better". No offense Clay, but how many of those better fighters did you beat? Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Kazayuki Miyata Because you can watch the fight as fast as you can say "As God as my witness, he is broken in half!" Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto vs Kazuyuki Miyata 5/3/06 (via ACL720)

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Taking a look at the historic Velasquez vs. Dos Santos bout and the other major fights on the FOX debut.

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Biggest fight of the year? The decade? Ever? Anyway you slice it, UFC on FOX is kind of a big deal. How big? Big enough to run with just one fight, a heavyweight battle featuring reigning champion Cain Velasquez against division number one contender Junior dos Santos. And it all goes down tomorrow night (Nov. 12, 2011) live from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE updates with blow-by-blow, round-by-round commentary of all the action on fight night, which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on FOX (with Facebook "Prelim" fights beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET). One big fight means one big prediction. But don't worry, I'll be throwing in my two cents on all the Facebook preliminary bouts as well. Shall we? 265 lbs.: Cain Velasquez (9-0) vs. Junior dos Santos (13-1) Nostradumbass predicts: I don't think it's a stretch to call Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos the two best heavyweights in the UFC. How do they match up? Pretty damn close, actually. In seven fights under the Zuffa umbrella, Velasquez has competed against opposition with a combined record of 110-31 and an average winning percentage of 76-percent. His top three opponents were Cheick Kongo, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Brock Lesnar. Dos Santos, also stepping into the Octagon for seven fights, has competed against opposition with a combined record of 133-41 and an average winning percentage of 74-percent. His top three opponents were Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin. Velasquez has stopped six of his seven victims in the UFC and eight of nine overall. Dos Santos has finished five of seven and 11 of 13 overall. As far as their accomplishments, it's pretty much neck-and-neck. But on Saturday night in Anaheim, it won't be. Here's why: Cain has been out of action for over a year. Can he come back with enough cardio to last five rounds? Probably. But there's one area where you can't pick up where you left off and that's timing. When you face a guy with the hands of Dos Santos, you really don't have a round or two to be working out the kinks. It's life or death from the word go. And timing isn't limited to just his hands either, as setting up the shoot, which he may or may not need to establish with strikes, requires its own degree of coordination. Let's also not overlook that his self-imposed layoff wasn't for a cruise to Honolulu or to feed the starving pygmies, it was for major shoulder surgery. How will that affect his power? His ability to maintain a dominant position? The clinch? We just don't know -- but I'm willing to overlook it. However, there is one fatal flaw in the history of Cain's otherwise stellar run that I can't overlook, and it came at UFC 99 just over two years ago. His name is Cheick Kongo. Our own Andrew Mendez with the play-by-play: ...Kongo lands a quick right and then another big right and Cain's knees buckle and he falls. ...Cain rushes in and Kongo lands another HUGE right and Cain is rocked again and falls. WOW. ...Kongo to his feet and is now landing some knees to the stomach and Cain looks winded. Kongo now lands a punch and Cain looks rocked AGAIN... It cannot be overstated how impressive Velasquez was in that fight, because he had the heart, will and determination to come back and defeat the Parisian. I'll give credit where credit is due. But he was in deep, deep trouble. The reason it's such a red flag is because I have yet to see Dos Santos get hurt by his opponent. Is he easy to hit? Yes, as "Cro Cop," Nelson and Carwin all landed clean. Junior didn't budge. My concern for the Brazilian is his conditioning. It's not unlike him to fade away after two rounds of "Hulk smash." If Cain can stay in his face and force him to defend, the champ could ride him out and start to mix his lethal combination of takedowns and ground-and-pound. Velasquez's biggest asset is his wrestling. But we don't yet know how Dos Santos will respond to the takedown. The good news for "Cigano" fans is that every fight starts on the feet. And what's a wrestler's biggest fear? The uppercut. Who throws the uppercut better than any heavyweight in the UFC? Junior dos Santos. Just ask "Vai Cavalo." I believe Velasquez will be able to take Junior down, just as I believe Dos Santos can land cleanly on Cain. I also believe that only one of those two scenarios is a fight-ender. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new champion. Prediction: Junior dos Santos def. Cain Velasquez via technical knockout Facebook Prelims: 155 lbs.: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson -- Holy bad hair day. Clay Guida is a good wrestler and an even better belcher. But he's not well-rounded enough to defeat Henderson, who can also wrestle and will hurt "The Carpenter" on the feet before choking him out with a guillotine. 135 lbs.: Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyenoyama -- I "kid" you not, Yamamoto, who technically is the superior fighter, will continue to struggle in the UFC, allowing Uyenoyama to make this a much closer fight than it needs to be. Norifumi by split decision. 145 lbs.: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza -- I like Garza's ground game and he's dangerous off his back, but Piorier is not gonna have any part of that and will use his superior striking to keep it upright (see Grispi, Josh) and batter his way to a unanimous decision win. 145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas -- Swanson is maddeningly inconsistent and I think Lamas is going to use his wrestling to keep this thing grounded. He won't get the finish, but he'll do enough to grind out the unanimous decision win. 145 lbs.: Robert Peralta vs. Mackens Semerzier -- Mack has been a "menace" to no one but himself and Bruce Leroy. Three straight losses to leave the WEC? Peralta is a serious up-and-comer and will give his opponent too many "problems" en route to a technical knockout stoppage. 185 lbs.: Paul Bradley vs. Mike Pierce -- Bradley already lost to Pierce at "Brotherly Love Brawl" back in 2009 and hasn't beaten enough quality opponents to prove the second go-round will be any different. Pierce on the other hand, in losing efforts, has shown he can hang against guys like Jon Fitch and Johny Hendricks. Pierce by UD. 205 lbs.: Matt Lucas vs. Aaron Rosa -- I like that Rosa is competing at his natural weight class (finally), but there is no way in hell I can pick against a fighter who goes by the nickname "Luke Duke." Ain't happening. This good ol' boy wins by TKO. 135 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo -- Both fighters are desperate for a win, but Escovedo has fought much harder competition and has 10 years in the fight game. Bruce Leroy, with all four losses coming by way of submission, is getting choked out in the first round. 170 lbs.: DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison -- Johnson has looked flat and uninspired in recent fights, but if he's got his head on straight, he wins this fight against Harvison. He's simply the more talented fighter and I'm taking him by unanimous decision. That's a wrap, folks. Remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of UFC on FOX: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for tomorrow night's event.

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Cain Velasquez vs Junior dos SantosAnton Tabuena - If the shoulder injury doesn't affect his performance that much, I would give the slight edge to Cain. He's faster, has better wrestling, better cardio and he's the more dynamic fighter standing up. Dos Santos has more power with his strikes, and has excellent takedown defense that could stop Cain's shots, but if Velasquez survives the early onslaught, I think the fight tilts to his favor as he can slowly wear down the Brazilian as the fight pushes on to the later rounds. Cain Velasquez by late TKO.Leland Roling - I won't be surprised at all if Cain wins, but I'm a bit biased since my entire sports career was derailed by shoulder injuries. They aren't easy to overcome, and Dos Santos? I think he's been slept on by many fans in the takedown defense department. I think Dos Santos keeps this fight standing for the majority of the fight at makes it a difficult night for Velasquez, eventually taking him out. Junior dos Santos via TKO, Round 3.Tim Burke - I'm actually surprised how much the betting line has shifted towards Cain in the last few days, especially with rumors of a camp injury. I've gone back and forth on this fight a hundred times, but in the end I think that the combination of Cain's injury and layoff, Kongo getting to his chin, and JDS being a monster has me leaning towards Cigano. Junior dos Santos by 3rd round TKOMatt Roth - As weird as this is to say because it's so overused, this really will comedown to Cain's ability to get the fight to the ground. I don't believe he's got the hands or chin to get into a stand up fight with Dos Santos. The layoff also scares me. It's gonna be a great heavyweight fight but this is Junior Dos Santos by TKO in the 2nd. Fraser Coffeen - Wow. I'm late to the game, and I expected to come and find a Velasquez sweep. Cain's got the speed and the more well rounded game. He's good enough on his feet to cause JDS troubles, and his footwork will help protect his chin. He has takedowns to get it down, and I see no reason why dos Santos will be able to escape once it goes there. It's certainly possible JDS tags him, but this is Cain's. Cain Velasquez by TKO in the 2nd.Dallas Winston - JDS's ground game hasn't been tested since "Mamute", a killer grappler, subbed him early in his career, so the threat of the takedown could throw off his confident boxing. This might be terribly short-sighted but I can't help but recall the way Kongo's tight, powerful striking and athletic takedown defense made Cain more vulnerable than ever before. Junior dos Santos by decision.Staff Picking Velasquez: Anton, FraserStaff Picking dos Santos: Tim, Roth, Leland, DallasClay Guida vs Ben HendersonAnton Tabuena - Ben Henderson is just better on all facets of the game. Guida can try to control him on the ground and try to wear him out, but I think Bendo is much better than that, and I also think he can match Guida's pace and cardio. Ben Henderson by Decision.Leland Roling - After watching Ben Henderson absolutely destroy Jim Miller, it's difficult to see how Clay Guida wins. There's always a relentless, attrition-based gameplan, but ‘Bendo' doesn't seem to fade in the face of that type of adversity. Overall, I think he's the more technically sound fighter, and he'll dominante Clay on Saturday. Ben Henderson via decision.Tim Burke - I still don't think Clay Guida is that good, and nothing is going to make me change my mind on that. His gameplan is deceptively simple, his standup is average, and his heart won't be enough to overcome the holes in his game. Henderson's a better wrestler and striker, and has gone into deep waters plenty of times. This is all Bendo in my eyes. Ben Henderson by dominant decisionMatt Roth - Guida's looked solid but does beating Anthony Pettis really make you a title contender? Henderson is far more completed and a scrappier fighter. He's also made massive improvements and is the only guy that I can really notice fight better whenever he gets angry. He's gonna be furious tomorrow and just press forward. It's a shame no one will see it on Fox but this is Ben Henderson by TKO in the 3rd. Fraser Coffeen - Don't write Guida off here. He has a very strong top game, and he's moved away from the desire to stand and bang and get Fight of the Night. That said, Henderson dealt with Miller's wrestling, and I think he'll deal with Clay's. This one will be decided by the end of round 1 - either Guida can keep him down or he can't. I say he can't. Ben Henderson by decision.Dallas Winston - I was thoroughly floored by both of Bendo's UFC showings. Bocek has tremendous takedown strength and Miller is ultra-smooth off his back. I don't see Clay out-wrestling or out-striking him and Bendo should be stronger and quicker. Ben Henderson by submission in the 3rd.Staff Picking Guida: Staff Picking Henderson: Tim, Roth, Leland, Fraser, Dallas SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos SantosDustin Poirier vs Pablo GarzaLeland Roling - Poirier's brutality and pace should give him the edge in this fight, although it might be more prudent to strike from range against Garza. If Poirier wades in too far, he'll get entangled by Garza's gangly frame and put to the ground. Poirier stays outside, mixing it up on the feet and edging Garza out round-by-round. Dustin Poirier via decision.Tim Burke - I believe this would be a surefire candidate for fight of the night if it was on another card. Poirier's the more gifted athlete and probably the better all-round fighter in my eyes. I just can't get past Garza losing to Michael Johnson on TUF 12, and while his last two finishes have been unreal, he hasn't impressed me with what he did before them. Dustin Poirier by decisionMatt Roth - Dusting Poirier is one bad dude. He's possibly one of the top featherweights that no one knows about and with a win over Garza should be on a track to a title shot. Garza has looked good in his two finishes but Poirier is on a whole ‘nother level. Dustin Poirier by decision. Dallas Winson - Leland makes an astute observation about the range. Garza is a terror in close and Poirier would be wise to pick away on the fringe. Garza's only loss was to Zhang with a few days to prepare. Garza is being ridiculously overlooked and I'll take a chance and pick him for the upset. Pablo Garza by decision.Staff Picking Poirier: Tim, Leland, Roth, Anton, FraserStaff Picking Garza: DallasCub Swanson vs Ricardo LamasLeland Roling - I actually like this match-up a lot, mainly because both fighters possess skills that can pave a path to victory. Swanson's long layoff makes me cringe however, and Lamas, while not the most skilled fighter, could overpower Swanson and wrestle him to death. Ricardo Lamas via decision.Tim Burke - Cub Swanson is a beast on the feet when he wants to be. He's pretty useless on his back though, and that's right where Ricardo Lamas is going to plant him. I like watching Cub fight, and if Lamas decides to trade with him it'll be a really entertaining fight. But Lamas isn't gonna do that forever. Strike, takedown, win round. Rinse, repeat. Ricardo Lamas by decisionMatt Roth - The big game changer for me in this fight is that Lamas has some solid wrestling. I'm not sold on Cub's skills and honestly, I don't think anyone should be. He's got decent stand up but not much else. Lamas has the wrestling and grappling advantage. Just seems like a safe bet and pick the guy with the wider skillset. Ricardo Lamas by decision.Dallas Winston - I won't argue with any of the votes for Lamas above, particularly due to his wrestling and overall toughness. Cub's a bit of a sentimental fave and I love his gameness and diversity. Cub Swanson by decision.Staff Picking Swanson: Anton, Dallas Staff Picking Lamas: Tim, Leland, FraserDaMarques Johnson vs Clay HarvisonLeland Roling - Not much to go on here, but Johnson has fought tougher competition in the past, and I believe he's a bit more seasoned than Harvison. DaMarques Johnson via decision.Tim Burke - I'm sorry, but this fight just doesn't interest me at all. Harvison's...not good. Johnson is a little better. That's all I got. DaMarques Johnson via submission. Matt Roth - Bah. If this was a PPV this would be the first fight on the main card. Thankfully this isn't a pay per view. I guess DaMarques Johnson with DaSubmission. Dallas Winston - No offense to Clay, but I think he got lucky because Edwards gassed horribly. He could progress eventually but he's not at Johnson's level right now. DaMarques Johnson by TKO.Staff Picking Johnson: Tim, Leland, Anton, RothStaff Picking Harvison: FraserNorifumi Yamamoto vs Darren UyenoyamaAnton Tabuena - Don't let me down Kid. Norifumi Yamamoto by TKO.Leland Roling - I like Uyenoyama, but he's bitten off more than he can chew here. Kid takes advantage of his training stateside and Darren's long layoff, eventually finding the mark and knocking him out. Kid Yamamoto via KO.Tim Burke - Now this is a fight I like, and it's not because I'm a Kid fanboy. It's because I like watching Darren U. fight. Go find Uyenoyama vs. Hideo Tokoro from Dream 4, and enjoy. Uyenoyama's win over Katsumura was awesome as well, but issues with Shooto have held him out of the cage/ring for 14 months. Unfortunately for Darren, Kid's not going to roll with him...he's gonna try and kick his legs off and knock him out. He's going to have a very hard time taking Kid down, and he's going to suffer for it. I hate picking this and I hope I'm wrong, but I've got Kid Yamamoto by late TKO.Matt Roth - What the hell happened to Kid Yamamoto? I like Uyenoyama a lot and figure that he's probably the safer bet. Kid just hasn't been good against non-hand-picked competition in the last couple of years. Uyenoyama's layoff worries me but he's more consistent in my eyes. Darren Uyenoyama by submission.Dallas Winston - For the Kid we've all grown to know and love, Uyenoyama, while a deserved UFCer and exciting talent, should be a perfect match up for him. Kid's persevered through a litany of sub specialists and his striking and wrestling should be too much. BC is tough to finish but I'm going out on a limb and picking a stoppage. Kid Yamamoto by TKO in the 2nd.Staff Picking Yamamoto: Tim, Leland, Dallas, AntonStaff Picking Uyenoyama: Fraser, RothMackens Semerzier vs Robert PeraltaLeland Roling - Peralta is the better striker, and I think he keeps this on the feet and proves once again that people have been sleeping on him for way too long. Robert Peralta via decision.Tim Burke - Everyone's always sayin' that Mackens is "better than his record indicates". I'm not one of those people. Peralta can hang with almost any featherweight on the feet and Semerzier just doesn't have the chops to stop him or decision him. Mackens is still living off a fluke sub win over an injured Wagnney Fabiano. Someone please stop the insanity. Robert Peralta by decision.Matt Roth - Robert Peralta is pretty dang solid. Mackens looks good in fights but never wins them. This isn't a career that forgives lack of wins because of good performances. I feel comfortable with picking Robert Peralta by decision. Dallas Winston - Peralta has a deceiving big brother strength. He's just tough as nails everywhere and I like his subtle Taekwondo adaptations. I'm pretty torn on this but think Semerzier can lullaby him into a striking match and hit surprise takedowns to inch ahead on the cards. Mackens Semerzier by decision.Staff Picking Semerzier: DallasStaff Picking Peralta: Tim, Leland, Anton, Fraser, RothAlex Caceres vs Cole EscovedoLeland Roling - Caceres got his shot in the UFC way too early. He just doesn't have the experience, and Escovedo has all sorts of experience and skill. Easy win for Cole. Cole Escovedo via submission.Tim Burke - Alex Caceres sucks. He could drop to amoebaweight and he'd get submitted by a virus. Cole Escovedo by submissionMatt Roth - At this point I'm just convinced that Joe Silva hates Alex Caceres. Cole Escovedo via submission.Dallas Winston - I think everyone is too hard on Caceres. He's a young kid with great instincts who's been thrown into the fire early in his career. He'll also be a rather large BW which could be scary considering his quickness. However, Cole's my boy. His performance against Barao is even more impressive now and the guy deserves a win. Cole Escovedo by submission in the 3rd.Staff Picking Caceres: Staff Picking Escovedo: Tim, Leland, Anton, Fraser, Dallas, RothMike Pierce vs Paul BradleyAnton Tabuena - This could be very ugly, or very entertaining. Either way, I see Pierce winning. Mike Pierce by Lopsided Decision.Leland Roling - Pierce is a relentless, blue-collar wrestler who is improving in both the grappling and stand-up departments. He should be able to run over Bradley. Mike Pierce via submission.Tim Burke - Two wrestlers. One with heavy hands. One with terrible technique on the feet. I'm going with the more refined fighter. Mike Pierce by decisionMatt Roth - Going with my dawg Mike Pierce. Heavy hands. And better set ups on takedowns. Paul Bradley just doesn't have the skill set or footwork. Mike Pierce by decision.Dallas Winston - This fight is actually a rematch. Pierce beat Bradley by decision in a small Pennsylvania show and he'll do the same. He's a better version of Bradley and the Hendricks fight could have gone either way. Mike Pierce by decision.Staff Picking Pierce: Tim, Leland, Anton, Fraser, Dallas, RothStaff Picking Bradley: Aaron Rosa vs Matt LucasLeland Roling - Rosa looked like crap against Beltran. He was far more accurate and quicker against Wagner at TFC 17, and that version of Rosa would make for a better outcome. If he shows up, he can beat Lucas, who isn't an overly impressive prospect, but he has knockout power. Tough call, but I'll go with Rosa. Aaron Rosa via TKO.Tim Burke - On talent alone, Lucas blows Rosa out of the water. But Rosa's waaaay bigger than Lucas, and I think that will make a huge difference. Aaron Rosa by submissionMatt Roth - I'll be honest. I really don't care. Rosa has looked like crap. Lucas is way more well rounded. That usually is a good way to figure the winner. Rosa isn't scrappy enough to deal with it. Matt Lucas by decision.Dallas Winston - Rosa's cut might actually hurt him. He's not the most graceful cat and he's now in a pool of quicker and more agile fighters. Lucas is extremely takedown-oriented and, while the crowd won't dig it, I don't know if Rosa can stop his shots or sub him. Matt Lucas by decision.Staff Picking Rosa: Tim, Leland, Anton, FraserStaff Picking Lucas: Dallas, Roth    

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Its status as MMA’s weakest and at times, most embarrassing division is well-earned. Its oxygen consumption equals that of every other weight class combined, and cardio is often thrown out the window before Bruce Buffer is done with his fighter introductions. However, every now and then, the heavyweight division offers a bout that captures the imagination of fight fans like no other. Whether it is Randy Couture and Pedro Rizzo setting the gold standard for five-round wars, or Fedor Emelianenko‘s titanic battles with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, little can rival the electricity of a legitimately thrilling heavyweight prizefight. This Saturday night, headlining the UFC‘s historic debut on FOX, Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos have the chance to eclipse any of the previously mentioned encounters. Heavyweight Title Fight: Cain Velasquez (c) vs. Junior Dos Santos The real wild card will be Cain Velasquez’s injury. Extended layoffs have historically affected even the most talented athletes, and coming off a surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff is serious business. There is no telling how much the injury has hindered Velasquez’s wrestling for example, which remains his primary — and so far unstoppable — weapon. And while the champion could very well be totally healed up, rust is likely going to be a factor early on regardless. This could prove to be a deciding factor in the fight, as even under normal circumstances, Velasquez would have had to be extremely careful in the early going, where Dos Santos will ostensibly be at his most dangerous. When you add potential rust to the equation, it could take the Velasquez a while to figure out the range, get his timing going, loosen up, and most importantly, settle his nerves; as being away from action for so long will undoubtedly make it that much more difficult to relax inside the cage. Against a striker as lethal as Dos Santos, Velasquez’s world could come crashing down before he ever gets the chance to re-discover his footing and comfort zone in the Octagon. Dos Santos’ boxing is arguably the best in the division. Very few heavyweights, if any, can put combinations together the way “Cigano” does. His last fight against Shane Carwin showed a more measured — but nonetheless aggressive — approach from the Brazilian, as he displayed a tremendous jab which he used to set the tone of the fight, control the distance, and set up combinations. In particular, Dos Santos’ left hook-right cross combo continuously found its mark. His uppercut is without a doubt his best punch. It remains a game-changer in any fight, and he uses it just as efficiently moving forward as he does when countering. In fact, due to his aggressive nature, Dos Santos’ counter-punching ability is often overlooked. He possesses incredible timing on the aforementioned counter right uppercut, and his counter left hook is almost as deadly. Additionally, Dos Santos often mixes things up by going to the body during his combinations, and does so with remarkable efficiency. However, he has a nasty habit of throwing a single jab to the body with very little set-up, which in turn leaves him exposed to counters. Moreover, he generally tends to drop his left hand whenever he throws, making him quite the hittable target. And while the sheer volume with which he throws can often mask those defensive deficiencies, a gifted striker with good counter-punching skills could make him pay dearly. In his fight with  “Minotauro” Nogueira, Velasquez displayed some terrific boxing skills, and was in fact able to slip a Nogueira jab and counter with a beautiful combination that put the Brazilian legend away. Dos Santos’ striking is obviously a whole different proposition than that of his mentor, but his tendency to leave himself exposed could get him in trouble if Velasquez’s striking is sharp and on point. Velasquez will have the more diverse striking, as he mixes up kicks with his boxing very fluidly, and his leg kicks in particular are some of the best in the division. However, unlike his fight with Nogueira, we might see the champion stick to lead inside leg kicks this time around, as throwing right leg kicks could make him vulnerable to Dos Santos’ right cross, if the latter times it correctly. Velasquez often chooses to use his lead high kick as a way to gauge distance and keep his opponent guessing, and we can expect much of the same here. As always with Velasquez, many three-punch combinations are in order, particularly the 1-4-3 (jab, right hook, left hook), which was the combination he used to drop Minotauro, or 1-2-3 (jab, straight right, left hook); the combination he used to floor Brock Lesnar. However, stiff head movement is something Velasquez has gotten in trouble over before, as Cheick Kongo continuously tagged him with straight rights, some of which even putting the AKA standout on wobbly legs. And while Velasquez did show a tremendous chin and amazing recovery to absorb those shots and plant the Frenchman on his back as though nothing happened, the champion can ill-afford to go through something similar against Dos Santos. For Dos Santos, using the jab to control the distance and prevent Velasquez from closing in and getting the clinch will be crucial for his chances in this fight. Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Velasquez’s game is his proficiency in the clinch, as his dirty boxing, highlighted by some excellent short uppercuts on the inside, coupled with his ability to use that position to drop for single legs in an instant will be a handful for the Brazilian to deal with. Dos Santos is no slouch in the clinch, as he too possesses some fine uppercuts from close-quarters and a brutal knee to the body. However, clinch battles are likely going to be a losing proposition for the challenger. While he did show good footwork and awareness to shake Carwin off of him whenever the American had him pressed against the fence, doing that against Cain Velasquez is a completely different task. After all, the clinch is where Velasquez is most likely going to wear his opponent down. In a five-round fight, Velasquez’s cardio will prevail over any heavyweight alive. Considering that Dos Santos showed signs of fatigue in three-round fights during which he was in complete control against Roy Nelson and Carwin, engaging in long clinch struggles against someone like Velasquez should not be an enticing prospect for “Cigano.” And therein lies the problem for the Dos Santos: the deeper the fight goes, the more it favors Velasquez. This means that however good Dos Santos’ defensive grappling is, getting the upper hand in clinch wars and fending off takedowns for twenty-five minutes is somewhat of an unrealistic expectation. To Dos Santos’ credit, his takedown defense has proven to be extremely solid, and he possesses some excellent hips. His ability to get back to his feet after getting taken down is especially noteworthy. However, in Cain Velasquez, he’ll be dealing with one of the most versatile and technical wrestlers in the sport. Unlike someone like Lesnar, Velasquez doesn’t exclusively rely on power double legs. In fact, he almost never does. Velasquez’s single legs are his bread and butter, and he possesses some fantastic chain wrestling to boot, as he will often effortlessly transition into trip takedowns when necessary. The most notable aspect of Velasquez’s wrestling, and the biggest testament to his understanding of the MMA game is his ability to immediately land in dominant positions off of takedowns. Rarely will you see him finish a takedown and get stuck in his opponent’s guard. Instead, he will often land in side control straight away, and from there, look to unload some of the most relentless ground-and-pound in the business. The drawback however, is that Cain’s top control lends itself into creating scrambling opportunities for the man on the bottom. Velasquez will often opt to stand up above his opponent and drop down some punches, or land punches from the side with his foe turtling up in an attempt to regain his vertical base instead of getting overhooks and dragging him back down, or go for the knee-on-belly position and drop further hammers. While this maximizes the damage and limits any submission threat (however significant it may have been to begin with), this will provide someone as good as Dos Santos with some openings to push off and escape. Therefore, it would be wise for Velasquez to be slightly more composed from the top in the first couple of rounds and look to secure position, before eventually turning up the heat as the fight progresses. To suggest that the fight could go either way would be an understatement. Dos Santos’ striking could give the champion all sorts of fits, and he is more likely to end the fight early than Cain is. However, I expect Velasquez to avoid any big shots early on, overcome a potential slow start, close the distance, get the clinch, and eventually take the fight to the ground. Dos Santos will have his moments in the stand-up, and he will get back to his feet after being taken down, but this will become increasingly hard to pull off with each passing minute, as Velasquez tightens up the screws, turns up the pace, and finishes a tired Dos Santos with some ground-and-pound in the fourth round. Official Prediction: Cain Velasquez to defeat Junior Dos Santos by TKO in Round 4

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ROSEMEAD, Calif. – It wasn't hard to pick out Junior Dos Santos (13-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) at Thursday's...

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXAsk the people who know what it's like to have Cain Velasquez in their faces on a regular basis, and they'll tell you that there's a big difference between thinking you can handle the UFC heavyweight champion's non-stop pressure and actually experiencing it. "There's no doing it until you actually do it," said sparring partner and former Olympic wrestling team captain Daniel Cormier. "It's just no room to breathe. You could be winning, but he's just in your face constantly and it wears on you, man." To hear Velasquez's teammates at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose tell it, simply surviving sparring sessions with the high-energy heavyweight is tough enough. That's why those who are familiar with Velasquez's pace say it could be the difference-maker in the UFC on FOX bout with Junior dos Santos -- especially if the fight makes it to the later rounds. Regardless of what effect it might have on the fight, at least dos Santos knows what an important variable it could be. He said on Thursday that, in his opinion, "the best of Cain Velasquez for sure is cardio." "He's got amazing stamina for this division, and for sure he's like those unstoppable guys," said dos Santos. "That's going to be my challenge, is to stop him." But then, dos Santos hasn't exactly had a ton of experience against fighters like Velasquez. He's only gone the distance twice in his career, and both those opponents -- first Roy Nelson and then Shane Carwin -- slowed down considerably after dos Santos battered them with strikes early on. "When you can step back and shake your arms out, it helps in terms of your cardio," said Cormier. "When Junior was fighting Shane, he could dictate the pace and if he felt tired he could take a little break, but Cain won't ever let him do it. If he steps back, Cain will come forward." As Velasquez told reporters, he's looking for "a long, grueling fight." If it's long and action-packed, the UFC probably wouldn't mind it either. The longer the fight goes, the more chance there is for fans to pass the word along via Twitter or other social networking outlets, lifting ratings as the bout wears on. But for Velasquez, who credited his opponent with having "good cardio, especially for a heavyweight," it's more about turning the fight into the kind of grind that has historically favored the wrestler's skill set over the boxer's. "I think with anybody else I've competed against, I don't think anybody's been able to match my cardio," Velasquez said. He won't get any argument from Cormier, who's gone against some of the best in the world in one of the most demanding cardiovascular sports out there. "I'm in good shape, I fight at a high pace myself, and nobody wears me out," he said. "But when we train, I get tired. I'm like, what the hell? I know I'm in shape. But it's something about the intensity of having him always in your face." In a fight that's scheduled for five rounds, even though very few people expect it to last that long, it's that lasting intensity that could make all the difference. If, that is, both of them are still conscious to hear the words, 'Round two.' Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXAsk the people who know what it's like to have Cain Velasquez in their faces on a regular basis, and they'll tell you that there's a big difference between thinking you can handle the UFC heavyweight champion's non-stop pressure and actually experiencing it. "There's no doing it until you actually do it," said sparring partner and former Olympic wrestling team captain Daniel Cormier. "It's just no room to breathe. You could be winning, but he's just in your face constantly and it wears on you, man." To hear Velasquez's teammates at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose tell it, simply surviving sparring sessions with the high-energy heavyweight is tough enough. That's why those who are familiar with Velasquez's pace say it could be the difference-maker in the UFC on FOX bout with Junior dos Santos -- especially if the fight makes it to the later rounds. Regardless of what effect it might have on the fight, at least dos Santos knows what an important variable it could be. He said on Thursday that, in his opinion, "the best of Cain Velasquez for sure is cardio." More Coverage: UFC on FOX Fight Card | UFC on FOX Results "He's got amazing stamina for this division, and for sure he's like those unstoppable guys," said dos Santos. "That's going to be my challenge, is to stop him." But then, dos Santos hasn't exactly had a ton of experience against fighters like Velasquez. He's only gone the distance twice in his career, and both those opponents -- first Roy Nelson and then Shane Carwin -- slowed down considerably after dos Santos battered them with strikes early on. "When you can step back and shake your arms out, it helps in terms of your cardio," said Cormier. "When Junior was fighting Shane, he could dictate the pace and if he felt tired he could take a little break, but Cain won't ever let him do it. If he steps back, Cain will come forward." As Velasquez told reporters, he's looking for "a long, grueling fight." If it's long and action-packed, the UFC probably wouldn't mind it either. The longer the fight goes, the more chance there is for fans to pass the word along via Twitter or other social networking outlets, lifting ratings as the bout wears on. But for Velasquez, who credited his opponent with having "good cardio, especially for a heavyweight," it's more about turning the fight into the kind of grind that has historically favored the wrestler's skill set over the boxer's. "I think with anybody else I've competed against, I don't think anybody's been able to match my cardio," Velasquez said. He won't get any argument from Cormier, who's gone against some of the best in the world in one of the most demanding cardiovascular sports out there. "I'm in good shape, I fight at a high pace myself, and nobody wears me out," he said. "But when we train, I get tired. I'm like, what the hell? I know I'm in shape. But it's something about the intensity of having him always in your face." In a fight that's scheduled for five rounds, even though very few people expect it to last that long, it's that lasting intensity that could make all the difference. If, that is, both of them are still conscious to hear the words, 'Round two.' Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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UFC on FOX 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos weigh in resultsAnaheim, CACain Velasquez () vs. Junior Dos Santos ()Clay Guida () vs. Ben Henderson ()Pablo Garza () vs. Dustin Poirier ()Ricardo Lamas () vs. Cub Swanson ()Clay Harvsion () vs. DaMarques Johnson ()Norifumi Yamamoto () vs. Darren Uyenoyama ()Robert Peralta () vs. Mackens Semerzier ()Alex Caceres () vs. Cole Escovedo ()Paul Bradley () vs. Mike Pierce ()Matt Lucas () vs. Aaron Rosa ()The UFC on FOX 1 weigh-ins begin at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT local time) at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in California.Cain Velasquez (9-0) vs. Junior Dos Santos (13-1)Clay Guida (29-11) vs. Ben Henderson (14-2)

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ROSEMEAD, California - It wasn't hard to pick out Junior Dos Santos at Thursday's UFC on FOX media workout sessions, even in a room packed full of media. After all, the 6-foot-4 Brazilian slugger does tower over most of the crowd, even without shoes. But it was another feature, Dos Santos' beaming smile, that made it easiest to track the main-event competitor down. So when does that change? When does the grin become a grimace? Hopefully never, said the UFC heavyweight title challenger.

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXThe UFC on FOX main event may well feature the best heavyweight title matchup the UFC has ever offered. That's a subjective assessment of course, but the numbers clearly show there is a valid argument to be made for it. Combined, champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos have a record of 22-1, for a .956 winning percentage. In the 18-year history of the UFC, only one heavyweight title fight has featured participants with a higher mark. At UFC 41 in 2002, Ricco Rodriguez and Tim Sylvia took a combined .968 win percentage into their title bout. Few would disagree that Velasquez and dos Santos are far more skilled as all-around mixed martial artists than those fighters of nearly 10 years ago. The success of both starts with offense. Both men are among the most prolific offensive heavyweights in UFC history. Actually, they are the most prolific offensive fighters in UFC history among all division. Again, this can be proven with numbers. According to FightMetric, they rank No. 1 and 2 in UFC history for significant strikes landed per minute all-time. Velasquez (9-0) is the record holder in the stat, using his high-paced style to land an astonishing 7.46 strikes per minute, a number that easily surpasses dos Santos, who lands 6.79 strikes per minute. Velasquez is an opportunistic offensive fighter, flexible enough in his approach to take whatever opening is available. That makes him quite difficult to prepare for as well as to fight. Compustrike numbers show that he lands 53 percent of his standing arm strikes, a very high number. By contrast, dos Santos -- considered by most the better boxer -- lands 45 percent. No doubt, the threat of takedowns opens up other avenues for him. And takedowns have certainly been a strength of his as well. Velasquez is successful on 72 percent of his attempts, leading to his relentless ground-and-pound attack. Most of his eight TKO wins have come on ground strikes. Perhaps his most valuable weapon though is his conditioning. Velasquez is the record-holder in landed strikes because he can keep a frenetic pace longer than anyone else in his division. As his opponent begins to fade, Velasquez has the energy to keep going and take over the fight. If there is one concern about him, it is the structural integrity of his surgically repaired right shoulder. Orthopedists will tell you that the shoulder is one of the most difficult repairs on a professional athlete, because the joint must be able to pivot in multiple directions, bear weight, push and pull. In Velasquez's case, he has to have the strength and mobility to punch with precision, the power to force dos Santos into directions he doesn't want to go, and the health to sustain his prolonged attacking nature. dos Santos (13-1) will need two things to successfully compete with Velasquez: stamina and takedown defense. Since Velasquez is so unique in the way he attacks, it's hard to determine how dos Santos' previous history will translate into this title fight. At least in both of his UFC fights that have gone to decision, he has maintained his conditioning deep into the fight. In round three of his unanimous decision win over Roy Nelson, for example, he threw more strikes in the third round (111) than in the first (96). Wrestling-wise, dos Santos doesn't have a pedigree to rival that of Velasquez, who was a collegiate All-American, but his takedown defense has been elite, stopping 83 percent of attempts against him. Admittedly, he has never faced any fighter who uses wrestling as effectively as Velasquez. Even his most recent opponent Shane Carwin, who himself was a collegiate All-American wrestler, can't match up. But when dos Santos has been tested, he's passed with flying colors. Carwin was able to take him down once in three tries, but couldn't hold him down. Historically, if a wrestler can't take his opponent down in his early attempts, he will tire and have more trouble early on. But with Velasquez's conditioning, he is not likely to follow that script, and might actually be more effective later on, especially if dos Santos tires first. If dos Santos manages to keep the fight upright, he has shown his skills can match up with anyone in the world. Preferring straight boxing as his style, dos Santos boasts quick hands, good head movement and excellent footwork. The knockout machine Carwin never came close to hitting him with anything major, and looked noticeably slower than him. That's a trend, as his opponents only connect on 36 percent of their strikes against him. The numbers on both fighters are exceptional. Their stats, their percentages, and their success rates are all off the charts. The questions about Velasquez's shoulder after the 13-month layoff are legitimate, but we have to assume he's at least close to what he used to be. Velasquez at 100 percent -- with his unpredictable mix of striking, wrestling and groundwork -- was the best heavyweight in the world. He'll need all the facets of his game to beat dos Santos. While he's more than capable of staying with the challenger punch for punch, he'll have his best chance of victory by dragging dos Santos to the ground. I believe he'll be able to do it, or he'll force dos Santos to expend so much energy staying off the ground that his offense will suffer. dos Santos will no doubt have his moments. He's too good not to. He's shown he has the power to hurt anyone, but his game is dependent on being upright, and there's yet to be anyone who can stop Velasquez from taking him down. I'm banking that dos Santos won't be the first. After a back and forth opening two rounds, dos Santos will begin to slow down, and Velasquez will take the fight over midway through. Velasquez via third-round TKO. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXThe UFC on FOX main event may well feature the best heavyweight title matchup the UFC has ever offered. That's a subjective assessment of course, but the numbers clearly show there is a valid argument to be made for it. Combined, champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos have a record of 22-1, for a .956 winning percentage. In the 18-year history of the UFC, only one heavyweight title fight has featured participants with a higher mark. At UFC 41 in 2002, Ricco Rodriguez and Tim Sylvia took a combined .968 win percentage into their title bout. Few would disagree that Velasquez and dos Santos are far more skilled as all-around mixed martial artists than those fighters of nearly 10 years ago. The success of both starts with offense. Both men are among the most prolific offensive heavyweights in UFC history. Actually, they are the most prolific offensive fighters in UFC history among all divisions. Again, this can be proven with numbers. According to FightMetric, they rank No. 1 and 2 in UFC history for significant strikes landed per minute all-time. Velasquez (9-0) is the record holder in the stat, using his high-paced style to land an astonishing 7.46 strikes per minute, a number that easily surpasses dos Santos, who lands 6.79 strikes per minute. More Coverage: UFC on FOX Fight Card | UFC on FOX Results Velasquez is an opportunistic offensive fighter, flexible enough in his approach to take whatever opening is available. That makes him quite difficult to prepare for as well as to fight. Compustrike numbers show that he lands 53 percent of his standing arm strikes, a very high number. By contrast, dos Santos -- considered by most the better boxer -- lands 45 percent. No doubt, the threat of takedowns opens up other avenues for him. And takedowns have certainly been a strength of his as well. Velasquez is successful on 72 percent of his attempts, leading to his relentless ground-and-pound attack. Most of his eight TKO wins have come on ground strikes. Perhaps his most valuable weapon though is his conditioning. Velasquez is the record-holder in landed strikes because he can keep a frenetic pace longer than anyone else in his division. As his opponent begins to fade, Velasquez has the energy to keep going and take over the fight. If there is one concern about him, it is the structural integrity of his surgically repaired right shoulder. Orthopedists will tell you that the shoulder is one of the most difficult repairs on a professional athlete, because the joint must be able to pivot in multiple directions, bear weight, push and pull. In Velasquez's case, he has to have the strength and mobility to punch with precision, the power to force dos Santos into directions he doesn't want to go, and the health to sustain his prolonged attacking nature. dos Santos (13-1) will need two things to successfully compete with Velasquez: stamina and takedown defense. Since Velasquez is so unique in the way he attacks, it's hard to determine how dos Santos' previous history will translate into this title fight. At least in both of his UFC fights that have gone to decision, he has maintained his conditioning deep into the fight. In round three of his unanimous decision win over Roy Nelson, for example, he threw more strikes in the third round (111) than in the first (96). Wrestling-wise, dos Santos doesn't have a pedigree to rival that of Velasquez, who was a collegiate All-American, but his takedown defense has been elite, stopping 83 percent of attempts against him. Admittedly, he has never faced any fighter who uses wrestling as effectively as Velasquez. Even his most recent opponent Shane Carwin, who himself was a collegiate All-American wrestler, can't match up. But when dos Santos has been tested, he's passed with flying colors. Carwin was able to take him down once in three tries, but couldn't hold him down. Historically, if a wrestler can't take his opponent down in his early attempts, he will tire and have more trouble early on. But with Velasquez's conditioning, he is not likely to follow that script, and might actually be more effective later on, especially if dos Santos tires first. If dos Santos manages to keep the fight upright, he has shown his skills can match up with anyone in the world. Preferring straight boxing as his style, dos Santos boasts quick hands, good head movement and excellent footwork. The knockout machine Carwin never came close to hitting him with anything major, and looked noticeably slower than him. That's a trend, as his opponents only connect on 36 percent of their strikes against him. The numbers on both fighters are exceptional. Their stats, their percentages, and their success rates are all off the charts. The questions about Velasquez's shoulder after the 13-month layoff are legitimate, but we have to assume he's at least close to what he used to be. Velasquez at 100 percent -- with his unpredictable mix of striking, wrestling and groundwork -- was the best heavyweight in the world. He'll need all the facets of his game to beat dos Santos. While he's more than capable of staying with the challenger punch for punch, he'll have his best chance of victory by dragging dos Santos to the ground. I believe he'll be able to do it, or he'll force dos Santos to expend so much energy staying off the ground that his offense will suffer. dos Santos will no doubt have his moments. He's too good not to. He's shown he has the power to hurt anyone, but his game is dependent on being upright, and there's yet to be anyone who can stop Velasquez from taking him down. I'm banking that dos Santos won't be the first. After a back and forth opening two rounds, dos Santos will begin to slow down, and Velasquez will take the fight over midway through. Velasquez via third-round TKO. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Top Heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos, who will challenge division Champion Cain Velasquez in Saturday's main event, discusses his opponent, as well as his training and preparation for the bout. Dos Santos talks about the increased intensity of his camp for this match, and says that though he is ready to fight wherever it goes, he believes his boxing will make a difference in the outcome.

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If you’re wondering why Junior dos Santos is representing the UFC (and the sport of mixed martial arts) along with Cain Velasquez on this Saturday’s premiere event on FOX, it goes way beyond left hooks and right crosses. For me, the ‘a-ha’ moment came on a Sunday night in March of 2010, shortly after dos Santos scored his fifth consecutive UFC victory with a first round knockout of longtime contender Gabriel Gonzaga. We were in the van transporting fighters and staff back to the host hotel, and I called back home to check in on the family. Well, the first words out of my wife’s mouth were all about dos Santos and his KO win. I turned back to the Brazilian contender, who was in the early stages of picking up English to add to his native Portuguese, and told him that my wife was very impressed with his performance.That now familiar dos Santos smile shot from ear to ear and he told me excitedly “Thank you, thank you, give her a hug for me.”My wife was sold, and Junior dos Santos had a fan for life in New York with that comment. I have to assume that it’s been like that for anyone who has encountered “Cigano,” a fighter whose charisma will likely ensnare any new viewer who sees him on Saturday night in Anaheim, and in the time since the Gonzaga fight, his English has improved beyond leaps and bounds, making him even more accessible to fans and the media.“I think the secret is to pay attention, and ask questions,” he said of his impressive grasp of the new language. “I pay attention to everything - TV shows, song lyrics - and when I hear somebody using a word or phrase that I don't know, I ask them what it means. I learn things pretty quickly, so that helps too for sure.”Seeing him these days, it’s hard to fathom that it’s only been slightly over three years since he first exploded on the UFC scene with a first round knockout of countryman Fabricio Werdum in 2008. Back then, he was like many Brazilian fighters who came to the United States - they were great to watch in the Octagon, but there was a distance between them and the fans because of the language barrier. Dos Santos has done wonders in bridging that gap.“It was and is important for me to communicate in English, both so I can communicate with fans but also so I can communicate what I want to say with everybody,” he said. “I wish I could communicate with all of my fans in their language - my Japanese fans, my Ukrainian fans, my French-Canadian fans. It's very frustrating not to be able to communicate, or to not speak the language, so yes, it was very important to me to learn and to be able to speak for myself.”And while he still gets assistance from manager and translator Ana Claudia Guedes when needed, dos Santos’ ability to carry his end of the media load has helped make this fight the event it is. So while everyone loves a good old-fashioned grudge match, at this important juncture in the history of the sport, you couldn’t have two better representatives for MMA than dos Santos and Velasquez. Dos Santos humbly agrees.“I think people have a lot of misconceptions about the sport,” he said. “And it doesn't help when fighters act like cavemen to each other. But sometimes people who scream the loudest get the most attention, and in effect the negative behavior is rewarded. It's tough to fault somebody for something that seems to work effectively in their favor. For me, personally, I prefer to do my talking inside the Octagon. I treat other athletes with respect, and I have no ill will or hard feelings towards anybody. I fight for the sport, and I talk where it matters - in the Octagon.”That’s the main reason dos Santos is here, because while there are plenty of nice guys in this business, not all of them pack the punch and possess the talent that the number one contender from Salvador has. And in the process of going 7-0 in the Octagon with five finishes, he has achieved something unique in the ultra-competitive world of the UFC. He is an undisputed number one contender. There are no arguments that this guy or that guy should get the next shot at Velasquez’ belt. It’s dos Santos and no one else. “The importance of the fight isn't lost on me,” he said. “I know what a huge event it is. But I go into every fight ready to give my best, ready to give my all. I take the importance of the event, I take what you call “pressure,” and I turn that into motivation. That's what it is for me - motivation to fight my best game, and to leave everything I have inside that Octagon.”Dos Santos and Velasquez have both dismissed the idea of pressure so much over the past few weeks that you have to start believing them. And maybe it is true. Maybe after you’ve made that walk so many times it becomes just part of your routine. But make no mistake - this is no ordinary fight. In fact, given that dos Santos and Velasquez are elite and dynamic heavyweights who haven’t reached their 30th birthdays yet, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that Saturday’s bout could be the beginning of the UFC’s version of Ali-Frazier.“Yes, I'm sure that regardless of the outcome of this fight, we will fight each other again,” said dos Santos. “I know that, but I don't spend time thinking about future fights; the only fight on my horizon is the one directly ahead of me.”And in Velasquez, dos Santos will be facing someone unlike anyone he’s faced before.“Cain Velasquez is a really complete fighter, and also a very nice guy,” he said. “He has always treated me well, and with a lot of respect. I think Cain's strengths are fairly clear to those who watch his fights: his cardio is his top strength, and his ground and pound is brutal. But I am prepared for both of those, and I feel really good. I'm more excited than I am concerned; it's an honor for me to fight somebody of his caliber, and I look forward to it.”The simple breakdown to the fight is that standing it favors dos Santos and on the mat it favors Velasquez. But what may be the key factor is how Velasquez reacts in his first fight since surgery on his right rotator cuff and his title-winning bout against Brock Lesnar in October of last year. Dos Santos was in attendance for that fight, scouting his next foe.“That fight put two top wrestlers against each other, and consisted of each trying to take the other down,” said the 27-year old. “There were some good strikes, especially that knee that Cain got in. But I think Brock may have spent too much energy trying to get Cain down; he may have worn himself out before he even took that knee to the head.”What Velasquez certainly showed that night was the ability to deal with adversity, just like he did in his UFC 99 win over Cheick Kongo. And while neither has gone five rounds, Velasquez does have the experience of preparing for the championship distance in the lead up to the Lesnar bout. How did that process go for “Cigano?”“I think my fights against Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin helped me with that, helped me to learn to pace myself to go several rounds,” said dos Santos. “I think at the Roy Nelson fight, for a little while I got frustrated because he wasn't going down. And I learned from that. I learned that I have to take my time, stick to my own fight strategy, and take good technical shots. So I'm definitely prepared, physically and mentally, for a five round fight. That said, I don't think this fight will go five rounds. And I don't want it to. Five rounds is boring in the heavyweight division - I don't want a boring fight. Somebody will get knocked out.”That’s what fans want to hear from their heavyweights. What does Junior dos Santos want to hear on Saturday night? That answer is as big as the smile on his face.“What I want to hear is ‘the NEW UFC heavyweight champion,’” he said. “That's what I want to hear. I sometimes imagine Bruce Buffer saying that, and it gives me motivation. Becoming the champion is a dream so big that I could never have imagined it.”

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The extremely talented Esther Lin was on the scene in California to freeze-frame some of the UFC on FOX 1 combatants at today's (Nov. 10) open workouts, including the big dogs in the yard, Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. The two heavy hitters will square off on Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011) in the promotion's major debut on network television with the heavyweight championship on the line at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Someone tell Dana White they made it through and only the weigh-ins remain before fight night and the biggest bout in the history of MMA. Velasquez and dos Santos may be the only fight airing on FOX on Saturday but a major lightweight clash in going down earlier in the evening with Clay Guida taking on Ben Henderson in a potential lightweight number one contender match-up. Check out a few shots of all involved after the jump, courtesy of Esther Lin at MMAFighting.com. Cain Velasquez: Clay Guida: Ben Henderson: For the complete UFC on FOX 1 open workout photos gallery by Esther Lin click here.

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Saturday Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos will be on a stage no UFC fighter has been on before. But to them, it's the same old Octagon.

Posted in: fighter, do, ufc fighter, stage, stage saturday

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MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani caught up with Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Ben Henderson and Clay Guida to talk about their fights this Saturday at UFC on FOX 1.

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Junior dos Santos isn't a fan of heavyweight fights going five rounds because they are 'boring'. So he plans to put Cain Velasquez away before the third round.

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Are Cain Velaquez & Junior dos Santos going to be fighting with serious injuries during their title fight on Fox?

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Never in its 18-year history has the UFC pitted main event fighters who have been more dominant than Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

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Junior Dos Santos challenges for the UFC heavyweight this weekend, the culmination of a seven-fight unbeaten run in the UFC which commenced with a (at...

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Saturday’s UFC on Fox main event between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos will be the “biggest fight in UFC history,” UFC President Dana White said at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference, as the UFC makes its first impression for millions of viewers. “This is without a doubt the biggest fight in UFC history,” White said. “This thing started as a small fringe sport and has grown to what it is today. This Saturday night as we step out onto FOX, millions of people will see UFC who’ve never watched before. As we take this step forward into what we call ‘mainstream,’ we were much more fortunate in that we were able to hand pick a fight that we wanted to put on FOX. If I had to do it all over again, this is still the fight I’d pick to put on network television.” Velasquez and dos Santos both promised an exciting fight, while dos Santos predicted a finish of the champion “From both of us, we have exciting fighting styles, Velasquez said. We don’t go out there and put on boring fights. We’re both going to go forward. That’s what fans are going to see, that’s what people who haven’t seen this before are going to see on Saturday.” “It’s going to be a great fight and a war,” dos Santos said. “I think a lot of people are going to be rooting for him on Saturday night, but I know I’ll have a lot of people rooting for me around the world. I’ll use that energy on Saturday night. I will give my best to make this belt a Brazilian belt. I’m ready to go five rounds, but I think this fight finishes before.” Wednesday’s press conference also brought more details about UFC programming on Fox in 2012. While Saturday’s event features just Velasquez vs. dos Santos on Fox, with a full preliminary card topped by lightweight contenders Clay Guida and Ben Henderson streaming on Facebook.com/UFC, future shows on the network will run 90 minutes and feature 2 or 3 fights. In 2012, every UFC fight will be televised, as the prelims that currently air on Facebook will move to FUEL TV, which will air 2000 hours of UFC programming during the year, and featured preliminary bouts will shift from Spike to FX. For the latest UFC news and complete UFC on Fox coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Velasquez and dos Santos (via @DanaWhite)

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"I think dos Santos is a great opponent. I've watched his other fights and I think he's definitely one of the most talented boxers out there in MMA. He punches hard, he has good takedown defense, he's athletic; he really doesn't have a hole in his game so that's going to make it a tough fight for me, definitely." Cain Velasquez is no Chael Sonnen when it comes to hyping a fight. He's just honest in his assessment of his opponent, Junior dos Santos, who he will take on this Sat., Nov. 12, 2011, at UFC on FOX 1 in Anaheim, California. The heavyweight champion sees no holes in "Cigano's" game and knows he's got one hell of a test for his very first title defense. Not only that, he's got the added stress of performing in the biggest fight in UFC history. No pressure.

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, Videos, UFC on FOXROSEMEAD, Calif. -- MMA Fighting spoke to heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos on Thursday about if he ever gets upset, why he's always smiling, dealing with his newfound fame, where he thinks he has the advantage over Cain Velasquez and whether or not this fight feels any different than the others because it's on FOX.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Watch the video to see if you think UFC Undisputed got Saturday's UFC on Fox main event between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos right.

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For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 1 and Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

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Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum, and UFC 138 headliner Mark Munoz make their predictions of the main event heavyweight title showdown between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, scheduled to take place on Saturday in Anaheim, California. UFC veterans Krzysztof Soszynski and Jake Ellenberger also give their predictions. (Source: FightHubTV.com)   Mark Munoz - "If it stays on the feet, I'll go with Junior dos Santos. If it goes to the ground, I'll go with Cain Velasquez." Tito Ortiz - "I love Cain, I hope he gives Dos Santos an ass-whooping." Krzysztof Soszynski - "I'm gonna go with the champ, with Cain. I think his overall wrestling skills and his clinch game on the inside, and his striking on the inside is gonna win him the fight..." Jake Ellenberger - "Someone's going to get knocked out for sure, but I couldn't even tell you who's going to win that fight." SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, jake ellenberger, heavyweight, do, velasquez

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LOS ANGELES – Brock Lesnar has intimate knowledge of Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

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Cain Velasquez spoke exclusively with Sherdog.com ahead of his title bout with Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1.

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Two HeavyMMA writers debate the UFC on Fox main event between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXLOS ANGELES -- UFC president Dana White has made no secret of what he's hoping to see when Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos climb in the cage for the first UFC on FOX fight this Saturday night. "You see what these two fight like and you can pretty guarantee the way this fight is going to go," White said at Wednesday's press conference. "I can tell you what's not going to happen. It's not going to be boring, there's not going to be any stalemating, and this fight's going to be an absolute war." In other words, a cross between Griffin-Bonnar I and Hagler-Hearns might be acceptable. Anything less and it will feel like a disappointment. But projecting such enormous expectations onto the fight could have unforeseen consequences, especially if the fighters feel an obligation to deliver a certain kind of fight in order to please their boss and make a good impression on the network TV audience. Some segment of the viewing public might like to see the fight become a wild brawl, but that seems like an outcome that would benefit the precision striker dos Santos much more than the former All-American wrestler Velasquez. It's not hard to imagine the champ leaving his game plan in the locker room in an attempt to deliver what White has promised, and if he does he could be looking at a fight that doesn't necessarily play to his strengths. If Velasquez's camp is worried about the effect of the pressure of their fighter, however, they won't admit it. But that doesn't mean they recognize the danger. "If they go out there and go crazy, it probably will be to [dos Santos'] advantage, because I think Cain has more skills than he does," said AKA teammate and sparring partner Daniel Cormier. "...But Cain could fight the strategy that's been laid out for him on cruise control. That's the best thing about being at AKA, is we emphasize strategy and how we're going to fight and our game plan and we follow it every day of the week in training. It's not like you're going to spar however you want. You spar according to the game plan that [head trainer Javier Mendez] sets out in front of us. You don't abandon it." Undoubtedly Velasquez will benefit from having the experience of his trainers and teammates behind him, but at the same time, has any of them ever been in a fight of this magnitude? Are they fully prepared for what it might do to their fighter's mind to have White promising a war whether Velasquez's game plan calls for it or not? According to Mendez, the team isn't relying on Velasquez's ability to block out the hype so much as his ability to deliver on it without changing anything about his fighting style. "Cain's going to come in and if Junior can be mauled right away, I'm sure Cain will maul him right away," said Mendez. "But Cain's never put on a boring fight because he's constant action, he doesn't stall, doesn't hold. He's a chain-type fighter. He's always looking to do the most damage and get you out of there as fast as possible, so I can guarantee you this fight will be the most exciting fight in the heavyweight division. There's no way this fight will be boring. I'd bet my life on it." Still, it's an awful lot to ask for from any fighter, particularly one who's been out of action for a little over a year. Velasquez suffered a torn rotator cuff in victory over Brock Lesnar to claim the title last October, and had surgery to repair the injured shoulder in January. The road back wasn't an easy one for the champ, who slipped out of fighting shape when he couldn't train like he'd become accustomed to. "He got big," chuckled Cormier. "I don't know how heavy he got, but he got big. I used to give him a hard time, calling him Mark Hunt. He didn't like that very much." According to Mendez, it took about a month of gradually getting Velasquez back into good condition before they could begin the real work. "In the beginning it was hard," Mendez said. "I was having him just do footwork stuff and he was so out of shape, he got tired just doing footwork. He had a callous on the bottom of his foot and he ripped it so I had to have him stop. It went from that to where he is now, which is pretty amazing." But even as Velasquez and dos Santos both swear that they've barely noticed the added pressure for this fight, those around them certainly have. "It's bigger," said Cormier. "It means a lot more. But I think those guys are trained to ignore it, and that's good. When you're in the fight, whether it's on FOX or on Spike or in a damn garage somewhere, you have to focus on the fight. That's really all that matters. But for everyone else around, we know it's bigger. You can feel that it means so much for the sport. If they go out and lay an egg, it's not going to be good." Even Mendez, who initially insisted that it felt like any other fight, had to stop himself and admit, "well, you know, actually I'm probably lying about that." There's no use in denying it: this is a different kind of fight. If Velasquez and dos Santos didn't know it already, they found out when they showed up to the presser and White started making promises and guarantees on their behalf. "Give me my entire roster of guys, make every one of them healthy, and this is still the fight I'd pick," said White. "This is the fight that I picked to put on network television, and it is important, and I picked this fight for a reason." With the bar set that high, it would be easy to get a reckless while trying to reach it. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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No. 1 UFC heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos is ready to take home a title. He's focused on Cain Velasquez and the toughest fight of the Brazilian's career.

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This Saturday is going to be exciting. After running the UFC for over a decade that included over a hundred events aired worldwide on TV and pay-per-view, 14 successful seasons of The Ultimate Fighter, and dozens of champions come and gone, for UFC President Dana White, it has all paved the way for this Saturday night. For the first time ever, the UFC will be live on network television with UFC on FOX. It will be one fight, but what a fight it will be, as the UFC heavyweight title is on the line when Junior dos Santos takes on the champion, Cain Velasquez. “This is without a doubt the biggest fight in UFC history,” declared White. “This thing started as a small fringe sport and has grown to what it is today. This Saturday night as we step out onto FOX, millions of people will see UFC who’ve never watched before. As we take this step forward into what we call ‘mainstream,’ we were much more fortunate in that we were able to hand pick a fight that we wanted to put on FOX. If I had to do it all over again, this is still the fight I’d pick to put on network television.”On Wednesday at the Nokia Plaza in sunny Los Angeles, California, the MMA media and UFC fans gathered one more time for a chance to talk to the two fighters who are the faces of this historic event and whose fight is the main attraction for good reason. For literally millions of people, what transpires in that Octagon on Saturday night will be their first real exposure to the sport so many know and love. From their past fights and from this grueling schedule of media relations, no two fighters could have been better chosen than dos Santos and Velasquez. “On the UFC Primetime special people got to see the kind of human beings they are, the kind of athletes they are, and on this Saturday they will get to see what kind of fighters they are,” said White. Do not be mistaken, this is indeed the first huge step into the mainstream. We’re not talking about Chuck Liddell making a cameo on Entourage. This is the UFC heavyweight belt being defended in the Octagon on the same channel that has the National Football League, Major League Baseball and Nascar. This main event, which as mentioned is being billed as “without a doubt the biggest fight” in company history, is also just the tip of the FOX iceberg, as the UFC signed a seven year broadcast partnership which doesn’t even begin until next year. In many ways, this is just the beginning and it’s an incredible beginning.Besides the hyperbole, the mainstream, the predictions for the future, and mundane mentions of ratings projections and ad revenues, there is an absolutely amazing fight that will be contested at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Whether this heavyweight clash was on FOX, pay-per-view, cable or streaming on Facebook, fight fans would be worked up into the same frenzied lather about seeing easily the two best heavies in the UFC tangle once and for all. It’s the fight we’ve all wanted to see since these two burst onto the scene in 2008 with impressive first round stoppages in their Octagon debuts. “From both of us, we have exciting fighting styles,” states Velasquez. “We don’t go out there and put on boring fights. We’re both going to go forward. That’s what fans are going to see, that’s what people who haven’t seen this before are going to see on Saturday.”Neither dos Santos nor Velasquez have been in a boring fight, that’s for sure. The 13-1 challenger, dos Santos, finished his first five fights in the UFC with his fists and capped off the last two brutalizing Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin for three rounds. The 9-0 champion, Velasquez, has stopped all but one of his opponents within two rounds, including former champions Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Dos Santos and Velasquez are fast, athletic and when they put their hands on someone - it’s over. “Cain has amazing stamina,” says dos Santos. “I think in this case, Cain Velasquez is the number one heavyweight now. I want to change this on Saturday. It’s going to be a great fight and a war. I think a lot of people are going to be rooting for him on Saturday night, but I know I’ll have a lot of people rooting for me around the world. I’ll use that energy on Saturday night”Much is made of their speed and power standing up, but these two men have dangerous ground games as well, and they could be the deciding factor in this fight. “Dos Santos is a great boxer and I plan to take it to him on the feet, but I plan to take this fight everywhere,” asserts Velasquez, who is a two-time NCAA division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University. Meanwhile, Dos Santos is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the Nogueira brothers and he did display a few textbook takedowns on Carwin at UFC 131 in July. A clear advantage the champion should have over his Brazilian counterpart will be the cheers from the Southern California crowd, as Velasquez is a Mexican-American from California who lives and trains in San Jose at the American Kickboxing Academy. “I want to represent hard working people,” explains Velasquez, who is known for his unparalleled work ethic, which he has credited to his parents, Efrain and Isabel. “Whether in training or in the fight, it’s good to know I have people supporting me and it makes me work harder and train harder. I always want to go out there and represent them well. I appreciate the support from the Mexican fans and fans all over.”On November 12th, live on FOX, the Octagon invades network television for the first time, riding on the shoulders of the top studs of the UFC’s heavyweight division, with dos Santos fighting the champion Velasquez. “I will give my best to make this belt a Brazilian belt,” affirms dos Santos who doesn’t expect this bout to go the distance. Meanwhile, Velasquez is only picturing his first title defense as a five round war, “That's how it is in my head, that's how I'm training and that's how I'm preparing.”Whether it goes 25 seconds or 25 minutes, the build-up for this fight plus the talent in it has the MMA world screaming with excitement, and soon enough the rest of the world too.

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Junior Dos Santos talks about his much anticipated heavyweight title fight vs Cain Velasquez in Anaheim.

Posted in: ufc, title, fox, do, anaheim

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The only thing better than a weekend packed with mixed martial arts (MMA) action is a weekend that includes a major title fight. And the only thing better than that is when it’s free to watch on network television. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will take its biggest step yet toward mainstream acceptance this Saturday (Nov. 12, 2011) when it takes over the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., with its inaugural "UFC on Fox" event. Leading the way are heavyweight monsters Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos, while bonus magnets Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson will headline the Facebook-based undercard. Of course, whenever and wherever there’s awesome MMA action, there’s money to be made.  First you have to win, of course, and you should never bet what you can't afford to lose. But, since I've recently started putting money down on the sport I love, I thought it might be prudent to share some wagering tips before major UFC and MMA events, pointing out the most profitable scraps. And which bouts to avoid. Included in the UFC 136 betting guide are all the odds for tomorrow night's show,  Follow me after the jump as we take a closer look at the odds for UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. dos Santos." as well as the best (and worst) bets to earn a little extra cheddar. But, first check out my three important rules every bettor should follow right here. Ready? Great. Now then, let's get to it: UFC on FOX 1 odds below come courtesy of Bodog.com. Be sure to remember that BestFightOdds also has a side-by-side comparison of various sites’ offerings that ensure you squeeze every nickel out of your profitable picks. Undercard Mike Pierce (-350) vs. Paul Bradley (+265)Aaron Rosa (-135) vs. Matt Lucas (+105)Mackens Semerzier (-135) vs. Robert Peralta (+105)Cole Escovedo (-300) vs. Alex Caceres (+230)Ricardo Lamas (-130) vs. Cub Swanson (EVEN)DaMarques Johnson (-280) vs. Clay Harvison (+220)Norifumi Yamamoto (-370) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (+280)Ben Henderson (-280) vs. Clay Guida (+220)Dustin Poirier (-280) vs. Pablo Garza (+220) Thoughts: There are several ostensible mismatches this time around, but there’s still money to be made if you know where to look. Because of the funky nature of the undercard, I think it best if we look at them one at a time. The Pierce-Bradley line is accurate. Pierce has only lost to the elite, while Bradley has lost to people like, well, Mike Pierce. Overall, I think you should just leave this one alone. But, if you must bet, you might get some value out of putting Pierce in a parlay. However, because of my inability to find too much footage, I can’t give too emphatic a recommendation. As pathetic as Lucas’s recent competition has been, I have enough questions about Rosa to make that +105 line intriguing. Rosa has faced and beaten some good guys, but he’ll be weighing in 40 pounds lighter than he did last time out, not to mention the fact that he hasn’t made this cut in a long time. Lucas seems to have decent power in his hands and a good wrestling game, which should be enough to carry him to victory. I have the same reservations I have about all debuting fighters, so he shouldn’t be the cornerstone of any parlays, but Lucas should be a good bet. Awesome as Semerzier is, he’s still 1-3 in his last four, with the sole win coming against Alex Caceres. Plus, despite his love of the striking game, Semerzier isn’t a knockout artist. Peralta, on the other hand, is -- he’s flattened 11 foes. And, as I mentioned in my Facebook "Prelims," managed to make noted brawler Hiroyuki Takaya gun shy. Plus, if Semerzier does decide to take it to the ground, Peralta has demonstrated a solid ability to stay on his feet, while still working an effective kicking game. Finally, if you, like me, don’t want to see Mack get cut, there’s value in betting on Peralta whether he wins or loses. Put a few on Robbie. Cole Escovedo is going to destroy Alex Caceres. Caceres has dropped two straight, is making the cut to bantamweight for the first time, and really hasn’t looked good at all inside the Octagon. No matter where the fight goes, Escovedo is better. The current line (-300) is pushing it when it comes to making a profit, but you won’t regret sticking him in a parlay. While my major memory of Ricardo Lamas will always be of him getting absolutely obliterated in one punch by Yuri Alcantara (who really should be getting a lot more attention, I might add), he’s a quality fighter in his own right, and there are several things working in his favor Saturday night. Swanson hasn’t fought in a year and is both the smaller and lesser wrestler of the two. Swanson’s entertaining, sure, but he’s not elite and it’s hard to ignore how impotent he was off his back against Chad Mendes. Granted, that’s the standard response for a Mendes opponent and Lamas isn’t Mendes by any stretch of the imagination, but Lamas definitely has the tools to replicate the results of that battle. He’s worth a look. I haven’t seen much of DaMarques Johnson aside from the time he got annihilated in every aspect of MMA by Amir Sadollah, but I have seen Clay Harvison, and I wasn’t impressed. Johnson, however, seems to be a bit too inconsistent to put money on, so I’m going to leave this one alone. Should be entertaining while it lasts, though. I have every reason to think Yamamoto will win his fight in dramatic fashion, and that’s not just my irrational obsession with the guy talking. Uyenoyama has been out of the ring since his fight with Katsumura last year. He was going to fight in the DREAM bantamweight grand prix, but wound up injured. Not only that, but he’s making his UFC debut and really doesn’t  present any stylistic hazards that KID hasn’t brutally overcome before. The only Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist to have any success against Yamamoto was Masanori Kanehara. And while he did get takedowns much more easily than he should have, he also possessed a big size/reach advantage over KID. Uyenoyama does not, and while KID’s chin has been questionable ever since Mike Zambidis hit him with a right hand so huge that local jaw surgeons were dancing in the street afterward, Uyenoyama isn’t the sort of fighter to take advantage of that liability. Look for Yamamoto to bring Japanese fighters up to 3-0 in the past two months and maybe include him if you’re already betting on an underdog. As a massive "Bendo" fan and outspoken Guida critic, I honestly think Henderson is being overvalued here. Yes, he’s looked absolutely monstrous since joining the UFC and, yes, I expect him to win this one handily, but Guida proved against Gomi and Pettis (both coming off of phenomenal, highlight-reel wins at the time) that he is a damn fine spoiler. I’m not betting on him out of principle, but there are definitely worse underdog bets you could make. Garza’s last two finishes were awesome and Poirier’s fight with Young was less so, but this isn’t enough to make me forget that Garza not only got submitted  three fights ago by Tiequan Zhang, but was also getting absolutely tooled by Jabouin in the stand up prior to the triangle. I was underwhelmed by Poirier in his fight with Young, but that effort was still enough to convince me to give him the nod here. Two fantastic moments doesn’t trump a series of solid fights. If you’re betting on an underdog or minor favorite elsewhere on the card, Poirier is a good way to sweeten the deal. Main Event Cain Velasquez (-180) vs. Junior dos Santos (+150) Thoughts: I made a decision a few months ago that I would under no circumstances bet on this fight. I like both fighters too much, there are too many questions, and the odds are too close. If you had a gun to my head and made me make a choice, though, I’d ask you whether a piece of betting advice from a halfwit was worth an inevitably massive prison sentence. Then I’d say dos Santos. Cain has been injured for the past year and nobody has been able to keep "Cigano" down. Plus, if it turns into a firefight, dos Santos is more likely to be the one left standing. I’m not saying Cain has a bad chin -- the right hands Cheick Kongo blasted him with looked like they would have dropped a horse. What that fight did show me, though, is that it’s physically possible to rock Velasquez, and if it’s physically possible, dos Santos can do it. My big caveat would be dos Santos unproven ability to match the absurd workrate for which Velasquez is notorious. He slowed down considerably in the latter half of the Roy Nelson fight, and while he looked much fresher after brutalizing Carwin for 15 minutes, "The Engineer" didn’t force him to work. If the fight goes past the third round, Velasquez will win. I just don’t see it getting there. But, like I said before, the whole thing is just too close for me to recommend putting money on it. My advice is to just sit back and enjoy it. My current bets: Parlay: Norifumi Yamamoto and Matt Lucas: $25 to win $40.10 Parlay: Ricardo Lamas and Dustin Poirier: $25 to win $35.03 Parlay: Cole Escovedo and Robert Peralta: $20 to win $34.67 If you’re not excited for this card, you might want to visit the doctor; you seem to have a mild case of death. We’ve got a great show this weekend; make sure to enjoy it responsibly. Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver live UFC on FOX results this weekend, which is as good a place as any to talk about all the action inside the Octagon, as well as what you've got riding on the sportsbook. See you Saturday!

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On Sat., Nov. 12, 2011, the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. will play host to one of the most titanic heavyweight mixed martial arts (MMA) battles of all time when Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez takes on number one contender Junior dos Santos at UFC on FOX. Both fighters are undefeated inside the Octagon. Both fighters have run through a veritable "who's who" of formidable adversaries and dispatched of them all with relative ease. Sometimes MMA fights are over-hyped. Sometimes the goods are not what they were advertised to be. This, dear Maniacs, is not such an occasion. This is the UFC's version of "Ali vs. Frazier." It's "Hulk Hogan vs. Macho Man." It's "Gozilla vs. King Kong" (or Mothra, if that's your thing). Enough chit-chat. After the jump, we'll breakdown the numbers behind a fight that is certain to go down in the annals of MMA history as one of the most important in the history of the sport.  And some of them may surprise you: According to OddsShark, Velasquez is a -155 favorite to successfully defend his belt. The logic is easy to follow.  Velasquez is a top-level wrestler who just happens to have stellar stand-up. Of his nine wins, eight came by way of (technical) knockout. Six of his fights were first round finishes. He works fast. He finishes violently. The challenger, dos Santos, has won four of his seven UFC fights by (technical) knockout. Two of his wins came via unanimous decision. Both fights ended with dos Santos' opponents looking like their faces had been through a meat-grinder. And then there was Mirko Filipovic, who tapped out in the third round after finally getting tired of "Cigano" punching him in the face.  They're both bad men. That isn't up for debate. But who's badder? As usual, CompuStrike was up to the task of getting down to the brass tacks, sharing the statistical knowledge that it often uncovers. Here's what it came up with regarding the striking game of each fighter: Total Strikes: Velasquez - 88 of 137Dos Santos - 52 of 106 Percentage: Velasquez - 64%Dos Santos - 49% Total Power Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 67Dos Santos - 36 Total Non-Power Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 21Dos Santos - 16 Surprised? Dos Santos has the reputation of being a phenomenal striker, if not having the best hands in the heavyweight division. However, the statistics tell a much different story, which is that Velasquez's overall striking numbers are actually vastly better. What about the specific breakdowns? We've seen the big picture, let's look at the finer points. Check out the data on who holds the advantage in the "arm strikes" department: Total Arm Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 16 of 30Dos Santos - 39 of 87 Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 53%Dos Santos - 45%Power Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 13Dos Santos - 27Non-Power Strikes Landed Velasquez - 3Dos Santos - 12 This is an important category because it shows that Velasquez is a bit more accurate, but dos Santos is decidely busier and does more damage when the hands are in play.Neither fighter uses a ton of kicks. It's unlikely that we'll see that aspect be a major factor on Saturday night. Nonetheless, let's see who has the edge when it comes to "leg strikes:" Total Leg Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 8 of 10Dos Santos - 6 of 7Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 80%Dos Santos - 86%Power Leg Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 6Dos Santos - 3Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 2Dos Santos - 3 Too close to call. It seems a given that things would favor Velasquez, an accomplished NCAA Division I wrestler from Arizona State University (ASU), if this fight hits the mat. Let's check the actual numbers and see if the theory holds true:  Ground Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 64 of 97Dos Santos - 7 of 12Percentage: Velasquez - 66%Dos Santos - 58%Power Ground Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 48Dos Santos - 6 Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed: Velasquez - 16Dos Santos - 1Takedowns: Velasquez - 11 of 15 for 73%Dos Santos - 3 of 4 for 75%Submission Attempts: Velasquez - 2Dos Santos - 0Dominant Positions: Velasquez - 22Dos Santos - 1 Wow. If you weren't sure before that Dos Santos needs to all he can to keep this fight standing, you should be now. Dos Santos is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu- jitsu (BJJ), so he's no slouch. Also, in his defense, he's never really needed to do much on the ground. You can afford to be a one-trick pony when your one trick is as good as his. That said, the canvas is not where he wants to be against Velasquez. If he finds himself on his back, it may be a short night. Did any of the information catch you off-guard? Are you more confident about your pick for 'Velasquez vs. dos Santos' or are you shakier than ever? Opinions, please!

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With the passing of boxer Joe Frazier this week, there has been much talk of the golden days of boxing. Can Velasquez vs. dos Santos usher in the golden days of MMA?

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Everyone knows Junior dos Santos’ mentor is Rodrigo Nogueira, mixed martial artist legend and Brazilian hero in the sport. If there was a person...

Posted in: nogueira, do, rodrigo nogueira, brazilian hero, artist legend

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The UFC on FOX 1 pre-fight press conference begins at the 13:20 mark. Join UFC President Dana White, UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos as they dish the dirt on the upcoming UFC on FOX 1 event, scheduled for this Sat., Nov. 12, 2011, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. For a transcript of all the presser news and notes hit up our UFC 137 press conference live blog right here. And to see the staredown pic of Velasquez vs. dos Santos click here.

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It's almost time, folks. For the very first time, the world's largest fight promotion will invade network television with its UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event that will take place this Sat., Nov. 12, 2011, from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Today (Wed., Nov. 9, 2011) Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and number one contender Junior dos Santos joined UFC President Dana White for the pre-fight press conference in Los Angeles to get everyone primed and ready for the big event this weekend. And, of course, to stare at each other and look menacing. We're just three days out from what will be the most historic night in MMA history. Everybody ready? For a complete rundown of today's press conference click here.

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In less than a week history will be made in Anaheim as the UFC debuts on network television and what an unveiling they’ve planned! Sandwiched between pre/post-fight analysis and coupled with coverage on a number of FOX outlets, UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos is poised to wow new and old fans this Saturday night when undefeated heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defends his title against Brazilian striker Junior dos Santos. Before the two talented competitors take to the Octagon they will take to the stage later today as part of a press conference related to the epic event. Joining them will be Ben Henderson and Clay Guida, two lightweights on the cusp of contendership clashing earlier in the evening, as well as UFC President Dana White. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in throughout and relaying highlights back as they unfold in real time starting at approximately 4:00 PM EST. Read below and see what all of the involved parties have to say: Cain Velasquez: Junior dos Santos: Ben Henderson: Clay Guida:

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXLos Angeles -- Despite the magnitude of the UFC on FOX event this Saturday night in Anaheim, UFC president Dana White kept it simple and direct at Wednesday afternoon's press conference to promote the show. No supporting cast. No big procession to mark the big occasion. Just the two people who mattered, and the one man willing to shout from the rooftops about how important it all is. Right across the street from the Staples Center in downtown L.A., walled in by the trendy bars and restaurants of the L.A. Live complex, White stood flanked by a couple of men whose dented faces and misshapen ears were enough to tell you that they hadn't come down here for a screen test, and squinted into the sun as he declared that what we were looking at was the ingredients for "without a doubt, the biggest fight in UFC history." At least, that's what he's hoping for. It's what he's betting on, and why, White said, he chose heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos to lead the charge in the UFC's network TV debut. "If you're in this position where it is the biggest fight in UFC history, the biggest moment for the sport of mixed martial arts, these are the two guys you want to step in there and go out and fight," said White. Of course, while Velasquez and dos Santos might make for a great pairing in the cage, they don't seem to be the UFC's best and brightest when it comes to selling a fight. Maybe it's that both are just too easy-going, too agreeable. Neither is known as a man of many words, and both are too respectful to reach into the pro wrestling bag of tricks for snappy one-liners and stinging insults. Even when dos Santos was reminded during the presser that he once suggested that the champion in any given weight class isn't necessarily the best fighter in that division, he owned up to the remark before quickly adding that "in this case," Velasquez is the current top dog at heavyweight, "but I'm going to change this on Saturday." For his part, Velasquez was bolstered by the support of the Hispanic fans who had come out for the event, drawing cheers when he thanked "La Raza" for their support, but mostly relying on White to play up that angle for him in typical fight promoter fashion. After running down the bullet points of Velasquez rise to stardom, White called his heavyweight champ "a testament to the American dream...where somebody can go out there and work hard and focus and he really is that story. I don't care if you're Mexican, American, German, or Puerto Rican, man, I don't know how you can't love Cain Velasquez and his story." Velasquez, not surprisingly, kept it slightly more low-key. "I represent hardworking people," he said. "That's what my family is and that's what I've grown up around. Mexicans are hardworking people. That's what it means to me." Not that dos Santos was without his supporters, however. Even after it was suggested to him that he might find himself in unfriendly territory inside the Honda Center, small, but passionate chants of "Cigano! Cigano!" broke out among a few fans. "I think for sure there's going to be a lot of people rooting for Cain on Saturday night, but I know I'm going to get a lot of people rooting for me too, in the whole world," said dos Santos. "That's the energy I will bring with me inside the cage and use in the fight." A question from one enthusiastic fan about which hand dos Santos planned to knock the champ out with drew boos from the mostly pro-Velasquez crowd, but merely seemed to confuse dos Santos at first, before he replied, "I have two hands for a reason...but I like this one," as he held up his right. Another fan told Velasquez that his achievements made him proud to be Mexican, which seemed genuinely touching before he quickly followed it up with a slightly unreasonable request to walk to the cage with the champ's entourage on Saturday night. "I don't think we can do that," said a visibly uncomfortable Velasquez. But White, who'd already agreed to give another fan tickets to the promotion's upcoming Toronto event immediately after telling fans not to ask him for tickets, dismissed such practical concerns easily. "Yeah, we'll do it, dude," he said. Maybe it was the sunshine getting to the UFC president. Maybe he's just feeling so good about the upcoming network debut, he's become a soft touch for increasingly demanding fans. Or maybe sometimes all you have to do is ask and the rest takes care of itself. As for White, he's already made clear what he's hoping for out of Velasquez and dos Santos when FOX pulls back the curtain on Saturday night. Whether he too will get what he wants remains to be seen. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Shoot Media brings us a preview of the UFC on FOX 1 main event: Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos.

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The UFC and Fox are holding a media call today at 2:00 p.m. ET/11 p.m. PT to preview the UFC on Fox card. FOX Sports Media Group Chairman David Hill, FOX Sports Co-President Eric Shanks& FUELTV General Manager George Greenberg join UFC President Dana White and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta to preview UFC ON FOX: LIVE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT: VELASQUEZ VS. DOS SANTOS. The UFC and Fox are going all in for this fight with four and a half hours of coverage on Fuel TV pre and post fight. Fuel will also be airing the weigh ins live on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. Fox Deportes is running a special called "Cain Velasquez: Brown Pride" a series about the life of the UFC champion.  In addition to television coverage provided by FOX Sports, FUEL TV and FOX Deportes, FOXSports.com plans to live stream the press conference on Wednesday, Thursday's open workout, Friday's weigh-in and the nine undercard bouts that precede the Velasquez-Dos Santos showdown on Nov. 12. Editorially, in the days leading up to the bout the site plans: a profile on UFC maestro Dana White by Bill Reiter; a story on the role of religion in fighting; how UFC training has helped several NFL players; profiles on Velasquez and Dos Santos; and more. As per usual, Bloody Elbow will be providing updates from the call. Follow me (@mattroth512) for live tweets from the media call. Following the call I will provide any additional notes for discussion.  SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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ShootMedia takes you inside this Saturday's UFC on Fox Heavyweight title clash between division Champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos. The Shoot speaks with both the champ's coach, Javier Mendez, and the challenger, dos Santos, who each share their thoughts on the landmark title clash. Photo: Scott Hirano

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Luke Thomas takes a critical look at the numbers and asks,"What Is Cain Velasquez Vs. Junior Dos Santos Financially Worth?" Read it at MMA Nation.

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXIt's difficult to tell whether Junior dos Santos truly appreciates the magnitude of what's about to happen to him on Saturday night. Though the Brazilian heavyweight has swiftly picked up the English language like something out of a Rosetta Stone ad, his grasp of American culture might still be a tad hazy. After all, if someone told you that you were about to appear on Brazil's Globo network, would you have any idea what that meant? So it is with dos Santos, who has heard enough by now to know that his UFC heavyweight title fight against Cain Velasquez on FOX is a very big deal, but still seems unclear about the exact ramifications of it all. "I have no idea what that means for sure yet," dos Santos told MMA Fighting on Tuesday afternoon. "I know it's going to be huge for our sport, for all of MMA, and for the UFC. I'm just happy to be here and I want to do my best to win this fight." What it means, of course, is that dos Santos is about to become a significant part of MMA history. The sport has had primetime network TV exposure in the past, but nothing like this. As if fighting for a UFC title wasn't enough, dos Santos is about to help the UFC expose its product to millions of viewers, many of whom will likely have never watched an entire MMA bout before. Talk about pressure. Because dos Santos' meeting with the champ is the only fight scheduled for Saturday night's hour-long broadcast, the stakes couldn't be higher for this fight. If it's a dud, the whole sport may be judged by it. If it's a thriller, dos Santos and Velasquez will likely be heroes not just to their bosses at the UFC, but to the multitudes of other pro MMA fighters -- present and future -- who are hoping that a successful debut on FOX will be the rising tide that lifts all ships. Just thinking about it might be enough to give a normal person a panic attack, but the nerve-wracking immensity of it all doesn't seem capable of reaching dos Santos. "I know it's an important show, it's an important fight, for me and the whole of MMA, but I'm feeling no pressure," he said. "Actually, I'm feeling the same pressure that I had for other fights. ... For me, it's going to be the same thing. I'm really happy with where I am now, fighting for the title, and it's more important than everything. I will keep my focus on the fight, on Cain Velasquez, and I'll try not to think about that other stuff." It's a smart approach, since Velasquez's non-stop motor will probably provide dos Santos with plenty to think about once the cage door closes. The champion is far from the biggest or strongest man in the heavyweight division, but what he lacks in size he has more than made up for with speed and pace. Once the former All-American wrestler gets started, he doesn't stop. He hardly even slows down, and there aren't many big men in the sport who can keep up with him. To make sure that he's one of the few who can go step-for-step and blow-for-blow with the champ, dos Santos had his conditioning coach adjust his training, he said. To prepare for a fast-paced title fight that could, at least theoretically, go five rounds, dos Santos never sparred less than six rounds in training, he said. And while UFC president Dana White once criticized him for beating up on opponents early and then coasting in the later rounds, the Brazilian now says he's "more prepared for this fight, and I train a lot to keep fighting like in the first round for the whole [fight]." "Cain Velasquez has really good stamina. For the heavyweight division, it's very different and that makes him very dangerous for this division. But you know, he seems like an unstoppable guy, and that's going to be my challenge. I'm going to do my best to stop him." And how does he plan to do that, exactly? Fortunately for dos Santos (or maybe unfortunately, depending on how you think about it), he's not one of those fighters who needs to keep his game plan much of a secret. He wants to stay off the mat against the decorated wrestler and put his boxing skills to work, and he doesn't much care who knows it. "I don't know how the fight will be, but I would love to fight standing with him," dos Santos said. "I think he's going to try and take me down and make his ground-and-pound. He's very good at ground-and-pound and I think he will try to do that. But I'm going to try very hard to keep this fight standing, because I want to knock him out and I will try my best to knock him out on Saturday." It's a feat that none of Velasquez's other opponents have accomplished, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. Whether it ends via KO or not, dos Santos insisted, "I will win the title. I'm really confident [that] I will be the heavyweight champion on Saturday." He's known nothing but success so far in the UFC, but a win would vault him to heights that even dos Santos seems incapable of imagining just yet. As he put it, "When I started, I had dreams to fight in the UFC and be one of the best fighters in the world one day. But I never thought I could be here at this point right now. I'm just enjoying everything. I'm really prepared for this fight, and for sure it's going to be huge." How huge? That's a question still waiting for an answer.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Nov. 9, 2011) to promote UFC on Fox: "Velasquez vs. dos Santos," which will take place this Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011). The conference will begin at 4 p.m. ET live from Nokia Plaza in Los Angeles, California, although the fight event will be taking place in Anaheim. Scheduled to attend will be UFC president Dana White, as well as the headlining fighters of the evening, Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, who will be battling for the UFC heavyweight title. Velasquez is the current UFC heavyweight champion. The former standout Arizona State wrestler defeated Brock Lesnar via first round technical knockout to capture the title and has been on the mend rehabbing from shoulder surgery ever since. His challenger, Junior dos Santos, currently sports a spotless 7-0 record in the UFC. The Brazilian won two separate number one contender matches to earn his shot at the title against both Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin. He was also recently a coach on season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter. We'll have complete updates of the UFC on FOX press conference after the jump Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXWill Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos deliver a classic fight in the first-ever UFC broadcast on network television? Will they put on the kind of performance that has the first-time UFC viewers clamoring for more? Will the winner emerge as an American sports star? And ultimately, who will get his hand raised and the UFC heavyweight belt put around his waist on Saturday night? I'll attempt to answer those questions and more below. What: UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos When: Saturday, the Facebook undercard stream begins at 4:45 p.m. ET and the Fox broadcast begins at 9. Where: Honda Center, Anaheim Predictions on all the fights below. Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos From a business perspective, the big question is whether this fight is going to turn new viewers who watch on Fox for the first time into UFC fans. That's what the UFC is really hoping for with the decision to put the heavyweight title on the line for free on network television. It's probably too much to ask that we could get a classic battle along the lines of Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar at the first Ultimate Fighter Finale -- the gold standard for fights that brought the UFC new fans. But I do believe this is going to be a highly entertaining fight: Velasquez and Dos Santos are both compelling figures who rarely look dull in the cage, and unlike so many heavyweights, they both have the gas tank to keep this fight explosive even if it goes into the fifth round. So who wins it? If I were certain that Velasquez is completely healthy, I'd probably give him a slight edge, thanks to his wrestling: We haven't yet seen Dos Santos tested on the ground, and Velasquez might be the man to put him on his back and put him in trouble. However, I have nagging questions about whether Velasquez's rotator cuff surgery could affect him in this fight. Will he have the same strength and movement that he had when he beat Brock Lesnar a year ago? And because of those questions about Velasquez's shoulder, I'm going to give a slight edge to Dos Santos, who I think will be able to keep the fight standing most of the way and get the better of the striking exchanges with Velasquez. Heavyweight fights that go the full five rounds don't come along very often, but I think we're going to see one here: Dos Santos wins by decision and becomes the new UFC heavyweight champion. Pick: Dos Santos Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson The most disappointing part of the UFC on Fox card is that this fight -- which may determine the next contender for the UFC lightweight title -- has been relegated to being shown on an online stream on Facebook and FoxSports.com, and won't make it to TV. This is a great fight that shouldn't be overlooked. Guida's path to victory would be to take Henderson down, control him from the top and grind out a decision, but I think Henderson is going to be too strong for him and should take this one. Pick: Henderson Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza At age 22, Poirier is one of the most promising young fighters in the featherweight division, and a likely future title contender. I like him to win by submission over Garza in what looks to me like the Fight of the Night favorite. Pick: Poirier Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas In what should be another very exciting featherweight fight, Swanson will have too much for Lamas and win a technical knockout. Pick: Swanson DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison In a battle of former Ultimate Fighter contestants, look for Harvison to take control early and finish Johnson off by TKO. Pick: Harvison Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyenoyama There are a whole bunch of American fans these days who have no idea that Kid Yamamoto was once considered among the To 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Yamamoto has only won one fight since New Year's Eve 2007, and the Japanese MMA scene has fallen apart, and so Yamamoto feels like an ancient relic to a lot of newer fans. But even if Yamamoto isn't what he once was, he should still be good enough to beat Uyenoyama, a UFC newcomer. Look for Yamamoto to pick up his first win inside the Octagon. Pick: Yamamoto Mackens Semerzier vs. Robert Peralta Peralta is on an eight-fight winning streak which included a victory over Dream featherweight champion Hiroyuki Takaya, a victory for Peralta that opened a lot of eyes and got him his shot in the UFC. I think he'll make it nine in a row against Semerzier. Pick: Peralta Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo Cacares, the former Ultimate Fighter bad boy, is moving down to bantamweight in what looks like a final attempt to stay on the UFC roster. I like Escovedo to put a beating on "Bruce Leroy" and knock him out of the UFC. Pick: Escovedo Mike Pierce vs. Paul Bradley Pierce, who's 4-2 in the UFC, has already beaten Bradley once before and should do it again in Bradley's UFC debut. Look for a one-sided unanimous decision in Pierce's favor. Pick: Pierce Aaron Rosa vs. Matt Lucas Lucas is getting his first shot in the UFC after fighting for most of his career in Rage in the Cage. I like him to win his debut and likely get Rosa sent packing from the UFC. Pick: Lucas Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Cain Velasquez will defend his UFC Heavyweight title against Junior dos Santos on Saturday, November 12 when the UFC makes their debut on FOX. The title fight will be the only bout broadcast by FOX on Saturday night, as the promotion Here’s a preview for one of the more anticipated fights and fight cards in the history of the UFC. Cain Velasquez Age: 29 Record: 9-0 Finishes: 8 Streak: W-W-W-W-W Junior dos Santos Age: 27 Record: 13-1 Finishes: 11 Streak: W-W-W-W-W Striking: 55-45 for Junior dos

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On Nov. 12, 2011, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will make a giant leap toward carrying the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) mainstream when it showcases a major world title fight, Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos, live (and free) on the FOX television network. UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. dos Santos" will be the biggest heavyweight clash the sport has seen, as well as the first time two heavyweights that are ranked number one and number two, respectively, will compete for a title since Pride FC heavyweights Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira collided almost seven years ago. Since the birth of the sport, we have seen several martial arts disciplines invade and take it over, whether it's the Brazilian jiu-jitsu of Royce Gracie to the wrestling of Mark Coleman to the kickboxing of Mirko Filipovic. From there, it has been an art to integrate all forms of combat to become well rounded enough to compete at any level against any opponent. MMA has a very diverse audience and most non-fringe fans today are very informed when it comes to knowing what is happening when two combatants step inside the Octagon. Whether it is grappling and submissions like we discussed yesterday, or whether it be the simple, subtleness of the striking game. With striking phenom Junior Dos Santos and heavy-handed Cain Velasquez fighting on Saturday night, this is as good an opportunity as any to look at some of the most used strikes we may witness on primetime television from our living rooms. Follow me into the extended entry for the breakdown, analysis and .gifs included: Every MMA fight starts standing, so all fighters must have at least the most rudimentary fundamentals down. Whether they study boxing, kickboxing or Muay Thai, the fighters have studied some sort of striking-based discipline. Boxing is centered on the usage of just your hands as offensive weapons in addition to footwork and head movement as your defense. Fighters like B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz are shining examples of fighters who rarely throw kicks, but have a very boxing-oriented offensive attack. Jabs and straights are the main focus of these types of fighters, as well as evasive techniques to slip punches and find homes for their counters. Kickboxing is built around utilizing your legs as additional weapons. Kick strikes to the head, body and legs focus on really neutralizing your opponent and allowing you to be versatile with two more limbs at your disposal. Fighters like Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo are just two of many fighters who have very strong kickboxing. Muay Thai and Thai boxing is the art of eight limbs. The arts foundation is on the idea that each limb should be used in combat, not just the feet and hands, but also the knees and elbows. Anderson Silva and Mauricio Rua are two vicious Muay Thai fighters. As a result, they have more in their arsenals than most strikers being that they have much more options to use striking. Dos Santos will main event the inaugural fight card on FOX this weekend. The number one heavyweight contender is on a tear as he has never lost since entering the UFC ranks. He has won eight fights straight overall, seven of those under the promotion dating back to Oct. 2008. "Cigano" has outstruck each and every opponent during that time, including finishing five of those foes violently with strikes. Notorious for being considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, he will look to pry the title from current champion Cain Velasquez. To do that he will need to unleash his striking arsenal on the champion. Easily the most important strike in the combat world of striking is the jab. The jab is a lead punch that is thrown with your lead hand. It is the strike that lands quickest as the hand is usually the closest to your opponent. While it lacks the power of other strikes, its effectiveness is unparalleled to any other strike (For a very detailed breakdown on the jab, click here and here). Dos Santos fights out of the orthodox stance, which means his left leg and leg arm lead his body and his right side is angled backward. With the right hand further back from the lead hand, the added space allows more space to create more force and velocity. But, before talking too much about power, the lead hand is the most important hand for a fighter. As you can see, dos Santos is snapping his lead left hand straight and parallel to the ground toward the face of his opponent. The lack of space between the hand and the face of the opponent makes the strike the hardest to anticipate and block. Even though it lacks power, it often accumulates damage as the fight wears on and can even cause damage such as cuts and swelling. What dos Santos also does with these jabs is set up other strikes. With the jab in your face it is hard to anticipate what comes next. When you throw a strike immediately after the initial strike it is called a combination, which is what dos Santos delivers in this clip. He throws additional strikes, while stuffing the jab as far as he can into his opponents face, using it to blind him for the next punch, as well as get an idea as to the range he will need to throw it. Such a subtle strike, with such significant implications. The next series of punches usually thrown are the cross and the hook. The cross will usually follow a jab and is thrown with the rear hand, the power hand, and it will take a straight path to your opponent immediately behind the jab. A hook will be thrown by either hand and will usually be a combination finisher as it is thrown with a hooking motion from the side of your posture. It typically lands on the jaw or the temple at such an angle that it can render your opponent unconscious. Dos Santos, however, has another devastating punch in his arsenal.   In complete contrast to the jab, the uppercut is a strike that has violent power and is thrown with a longer wind up. It is rarely a strike you lead with, yet it is actually the most effective as a closing strike to a combination. As you see dos Santos throws an angled jab, which could also be a lead hook, and follows up simultaneously with the uppercut. The strike is thrown in a sling shot motion from underneath the shoulder and parallel with the hips. The fist starts very low and is thrust in an arching motion upward and will more often than not land on the chin if not the nose. Such a powerful punch has put the long lists of opponents for dos Santos in worlds of troubles, including the likes of Mirko Cro Cop, Fabricio Werdum, Shane Carwin and the pictured Roy Nelson. The strike is so dangerous for several other reasons. Against a power striker like dos Santos, it can at times become a habit to hide the head behind your gloves and make a ducking motion. Sometimes fighters with wrestling backgrounds like Velasquez make the habit of ducking under jabs and shooting for a takedown. Both are opportunities to land the uppercut. Dos Santos doesn’t strictly use his hands either. A very effective kickboxer, the challenger also has showcased more of his arsenal.   Throwing a head kick is very energy sapping; however, the power behind a kick often is a superior strike in terms of power. It is very common to have a kick blocked, but the power tends to still make a mark on the person you are kicking. When you are attempting to avoid jabs and straight punches, it is easy to forget to protect the side of your head. The head kick ideally will land on the side of the face if not behind the ear and will cover a lot of area if the entire foot connects. Dos Santos here lands a kick that is partially blocked, but as you can see, the power still does damage and throws Carwin off balance. Mixing up strikes only makes it harder to counter for the opponent and harder to get into a rhythm. Before Junior dos Santos attempts to showcase his striking in his title fight during the main event of the evening, the undercard fighters will look to make their mark on this historic fight card. One of those fighters is Cub Swanson, a fighter who hasn’t been able to stay healthy since WEC 52 where he won a solid fight over a fighter who has found some success since their fight under the UFC banner. Swanson highlights very effective elusive maneuvers in this small clip of his fight with Mackens Semerzier. He moves his body around, making for a very difficult target to hit. He wings big punches while moving to avoid the counters. What he also does is show a technique perfect leg kick. This is another strike that is unheralded at times and is virtually the jab of the legs (For a break down of leg kicks click here). Swanson plants his feet and launches his rear leg in a chopping motion directly at the area above the knee and below the mid-thigh. The strike not only stings but accumulated strikes make walking very difficult and takes the explosion out of strikes and takedowns. It is a case where an offensive strike actually works defensively, too. Make sure to remember the simplest of strikes such as the jab and leg kick end up being game changers as they can dictate the pace of fights and can alter the direction with one well timed combination set up with one of these strikes. For more on striking breakdowns, this fanposts are focused around the striking aspect of mixed martial arts. The body shot, range striking and Muay Thai basics. That is all for now fight fans, these are just a few of the more common strikes you may see Saturday night for the UFC’s inaugural event on FOX. To read a detailed breakdown of the most frequent submission attempts that you may see on Saturday night click here.

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Forrest Griffin versus Stefan Bonnar has until now been the biggest fight in the history of the UFC.It was the catalyst for an upsurge in popularity that...

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UFC fighters make their picks for UFC on Fox 1. Who did they go with, Cain Velasquez or Junior dos Santos?

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By Will Gray This weekend, the UFC will once again be making history for what they have been able to do, in a time where mixed martial arts is still challenging legislation for national sanctioning and some groups are calling it barbaric, they have managed to sign a multi-million, multi-year broadcasting deal with FOX networks [...]

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UFC stars predict the winner of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos at UFC on Fox.

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Like the other two million reported viewers, I tuned in for the debut of UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos on Fox last Sunday. Admittedly, my expectations for the show were soured by the constant stream of UFC-themed shows I've watched over the years, most notably the similar message the UFC Countdown shows attempted to convey to their audience. Personal triumph over tragedy or succeeding against adversity are common themes, and UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos was no different. What stuck out the most about the show was the lack of personality that both men exhibited. Surprisingly, the Brazilian Junior dos Santos was the more candid participant in the feature, showing off a personality that got him labeled as the gym's clown by his coaches and teammates.  Velasquez, on the other hand, was portrayed as the family man who has an invested interest in his Mexican heritage. While the show pushed images of Velasquez spending time with family, training, and signing autographs with fans, there wasn't a lot of focus on Velasquez's personality. In many moments, he seemed like a robot, so engulfed in the task at hand that he was comatose to the outside world.  Personalities sell fights. The more drama one can create in the lead-up to a fight, the better. If the UFC can promote a fight for four to six months without having the bout get dismantled by injury, it will undoubtedly sell more pay-per-views if the participants are jawing at each other. Fans who think Chael Sonnen won't sell with the proper timeframe and a slot on a Fox show are crazy.  Without that type of hype, what exactly can the UFC and Fox expect Velasquez and Dos Santos to produce in terms of ratings? What about in the context of creating new fans that enjoy the product for 20 years? Ideally, that's what Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White want to happen. They want fans to enjoy the fight so much that they become consumers like most of us, buying up pay-per-views and watching UFC content at every opportunity. Are these the two fighters to do that? The excitement of such a monumental step toward becoming a mainstream sport, in my opinion, has blinded some of the analysis of this event. Obviously, the fact that the UFC is debuting on Fox with a heavyweight title showdown between two sure-fire heavyweight finishers is a huge plus to start, but am I to believe the fighters' bland personalities and the non-existent drama is going to sell this event to non-UFC fans? I suppose the more pertinent question to ask is whether one of these fighters can transcend that line of logic and win fans over purely based on performance. Who's the last fighter who has done that? One could make the argument that Anderson Silva is progressing to that level without the help of a personality that connects with the larger American fanbase, but it isn't quite on par with a guy like Brock Lesnar. Lesnar had the help of crossover appeal, and a guy like Georges St. Pierre was propelled by nationalism. Interestingly enough, my line of thinking has circled around into one final thought. The UFC made the right choice in pitting Velasquez vs. Dos Santos in their debut on Fox. Neither guy has the personality to play the heel or connect emotionally with an enormous fanbase in one hour on a Sunday afternoon. So, why attempt to promote these guys when other options possess those traits? That's the experiment. Can the additional marketing power of Fox produce stars out of Velasquez and Dos Santos despite their inability to "talk smack" or "play the heel"? We won't know for months after the fight goes down this Saturday, but the results could prove what many of us have been asking for years -- can the UFC produce stars quicker? They are now in a position to find out. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

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Where does Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos rank among the top five most important fights in UFC history? MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden has the answer right here.

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Jonathan Snowden looks back at Cain Velasquez Vs. Junior Dos Santos And The Five Most Important Fights In UFC History. Read it at MMA Nation.

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Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos will likely take its place among the most important heavyweight bouts in MMA history

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Kid Nate looks back at 5 all-time MMA classics and hopes that Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos turns out equally awesome. Read it at MMA Nation.

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXWe're just a few days away from the first UFC on FOX event, and still so many questions remain. What will the show look like? Will Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos manage to deliver in the UFC's hour of need? And what ever shall I wear?! To answer at least a couple of these queries, I enlisted the help of my MMA Fighting colleague Mike Chiappetta for a good old-fashioned writers' roundtable. Let's do this. 1. What do you make of the decision to air just one fight on FOX? If you were calling the shots, how would you spend that extra time? Fowlkes: I'm going to file this under 'Decisions I Understand, But Do Not Like.' It's a big file, one that begins with my parents' refusal to take me to a Guns N' Roses concert in 1991, and one that gets a little fatter every time the city denies my request to re-zone my garage as a tanning salon. The UFC made a bold and perhaps brilliant move by throwing a heavyweight title fight on network TV. Everyone, regardless of their combat sports IQ, can appreciate the significance of the heavyweight title. Two big guys are going to try and knock each other out on a channel you could get with your grandmother's TV? Of course you want to see that. When deciding how best to use the hour-long introduction on FOX, I can understand the need to both a) take some time and educate new viewers on what all this MMA nonsense is really about, while also b) preparing for the unlikely possibility that Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will go the full five. That said, would it kill them to keep one of the evening's better fights in the can, just in case? If there's an amazing fight somewhere on the undercard, wouldn't you want the flexibility to throw it onto the broadcast, time permitting? I know you need to take a minute and explain to some viewers that, contrary to what they've heard, biting and eye-gouging are not allowed in this crazy Thunderdome-esque sport, but too much of that and you risk condescending to your audience. I realize I'm biased, but I'd rather see a hand-picked fight from the prelims than a primer on joint locks. Chiappetta: Reality check ... Let's not forget that this fight isn't even part of the actual UFC-FOX contract. It is essentially a one-hour infomercial preview to advertise the coming of the UFC on FOX in 2012. And what do they give us? It's not Ron Popeil talking about a new product that is going to change your life. They're giving us a UFC heavyweight championship fight. For free. Yet people complain this isn't enough? So you're telling me you would rather have paid $54.95 to watch five fights just before the holiday season hits? I'm not buying it. This is a lot of belly-aching over something MMA observers should be thrilled about. I think MMA fans are conditioned to believe they're getting the short end of the stick no matter what. Having the spotlight on just one significant fight will make it easy to understand for those who are tuning into MMA for the first time, and this may hurt to hear, but this fight is more about them than you. I like the fact that FOX will have brief pre-fight interviews with Velasquez and dos Santos, which will probably make the start time of the fight around 9:15 pm ET. If the fight ends in a flash, I would of course show replays and allow time for analysis of what just happened. And in the true spirit of the infomercial sell, I'd have Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem on site to hype their fight and promote the winner as the next contender for the championship. One hour will go by in a flash. 2. A lot seems to depend on whether this fight goes 25 minutes or 25 seconds. Call it: who wins, how, and when? Chiappetta: If Cain Velasquez never suffered through his shoulder injury, this would be easier to predict, but a torn rotator cuff is a serious injury for any athlete, let alone someone whose livelihood depends on punching, pushing and pummeling for position. Because of that, a question mark hangs over this fight that otherwise wouldn't be there. That said, I have to assume that Velasquez is close enough to 100 percent that he'll be able to do most of the things that have led to his unbeaten record and the title. He'll mix up his striking with punches, kicks and elbows, sprinkle in a few takedowns and even grind dos Santos against the cage in hopes of sapping his explosiveness and power. dos Santos' hands are so gifted that there's simply no reason to engage him where he's best, and Velasquez doesn't have to. It is Velasquez's motor that will ultimately win it, though. He can fight at a blistering pace longer than anyone at heavyweight. After the grind of a couple of rounds, that will get to dos Santos. Velasquez wins by TKO from ground strikes late in the third round. Fowlkes: The big question for me is, how conservative will Velasquez decide to play it? Are we looking at a replay of his fight with Cheick Kongo, which was a real nail-biter for every second it stayed standing and a total blowout every time it hit the mat? Or will the pressure to go all Forrest Griffin-Stefan Bonnar for the FOX debut get to the champ and make him do some things that might not be in his best interest? I might be more worried about that with a different fighter, perhaps one known to let the spirit of the moment take him out of his game, but that's not Velasquez. The poise he showed in his bout with Brock Lesnar will serve him well here, and having a smart camp full of veteran coaches won't hurt either. I think he trades punches just long enough to open dos Santos up for the takedown, then he wears him out on the mat. I agree that it will be more of a grind than an explosion, and I also agree that dos Santos will succumb to the pace and the pressure more than the sheer power. But because I agree with you, I must attempt to upstage you by getting even more specific with my prediction. Thus: Velasquez wins by TKO (corner stoppage), at the end of the fourth round, following 20 solid minutes of straight-up beatdown that JDS' trainers simply cannot stand to watch any longer. As Velasquez celebrates across the cage, JDS remains on his stool, blinded by swelling, insisting that he can continue even as his coach fans him with a towel and tells him that he doesn't have anything left to prove. "Not to me," he'll add, choking back tears. "Not to anyone." Thank you and goodnight! 3. The undercard fighters are, in a way, a part of history here, but is this a raw deal for guys like Clay Guida and Ben Henderson? Fowlkes: Short answer: yes. How could it not be a raw deal? Usually, even if you're the curtain-jerker for a UFC pay-per-view, there is at least a chance that you could end up on TV. If you have a great fight or a quick finish you might just make the broadcast and please your sponsors, not to mention your family and friends. Granted, it's far from guaranteed, but at least you have that lottery ticket in your back pocket. With this event, however, there's not even a chance. Even Guida and Henderson will have to be content with a Facebook stream and an appearance on Fox Deportes. No offense to The D (that's a hip new nickname I'm trying to start for Fox Deportes -- just play along), but I'm not sure Guida grew up dreaming of the day he'd be fighting on a Spanish-language cable TV broadcast. Years from now these other guys on the FOX card might be the answers to a trivia question, but Cain and JDS are what people will remember. Kind of a bummer, when you consider what's at stake in some of these fights that will be afterthoughts for the vast majority of viewers. Chiappetta: I don't know Fowlkes, have you ever seen a Spanish telenovela? If the hero gets the girl, I don't think Guida would be so opposed. But yes, it is a raw deal for Guida and Henderson, who will be competing in the biggest fight of their lives before an internet audience of ... thousands? That said, I would expect a raucous crowd at the venue in Anaheim, and there is a huge potential reward in it for both men, so it's not exactly going to be meaningless. In some ways, this might be a bigger letdown for Guida, who has fought for the UFC for five years and probably saw this bout as his coming-out party. Henderson is at a much earlier stage in his career, and after recently coming over from the WEC, he might not take the bright lights and big audiences for granted. An internet stream is not the optimal outlet for a fight of this importance, but at least the winner can soothe himself with the probable top contender status that is likely to come his way. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Undefeated as a professional mixed martial artist. 88.9% of his wins are by knockout. And he is the holder of the sport’s most prized possession – the UFC heavyweight championship. Cain Velasquez is, without question, the baddest man on the planet. He holds that distinction for now, at least. On Saturday night, Velasquez will make the first defense of his heavyweight crown against the man many think is perfectly suited to dethrone him, Junior dos Santos. It is a marquee matchup between fighters who have the potential to make an unforgettable fight together.We broke down the challenger’s keys to victory yesterday. Now, it’s time to focus on the champion. Velasquez is a former elite-level collegiate wrestler. Dos Santos is likely the division’s best wrestler. Many will instantly assume, therefore, that the champion needs to focus on takedowns. I disagree.Velasquez would be well served putting the challenger on the ground and pounding away. No doubt about that. But getting the Brazilian down is a monumental task. Bum rushing him at the opening bell won’t work. Using feints or haphazard strikes as an opening to change levels for a single-leg probably won’t work well, either. Dos Santos expects him to do just that, so he will be well prepared.That is why I believe Velasquez needs to come out looking to lay some wood on the feet. He needs to beat dos Santos at what he does best, and that is when the door will open for takedowns.The key to successfully laying wood on the feet against dos Santos begins and ends with leg kicks. That is something Velasquez does as well as just about anyone in the division – Pat Barry excepted.The champion uses a full hip turn when he fires right kicks to an opponent’s lead leg and body. As a result, his kicks land with tremendous speed and power. Dos Santos’ stance, which employs a wide base, shoulders almost perpendicular to his foe and weight sitting down, is well suited to firing savage right hands at absolute full force. But it is not great for checking leg kicks. Velasquez can take advantage of that by using leg kicks like dos Santos uses his jab, both to set the range and exact damage. After landing a couple of kicks, the challenger will be more focused on checking them, which means leading more with his fists and finishing combinations with a hard kick to the lead leg. Even the best kickboxers in the world struggle to effectively defend leg kicks thrown at the end of fistic combinations. And Velasquez is masterful at finishing up combinations with leg kicks. A series of fast, hard leg kicks will rapidly sap dos Santos of his power because he won’t be able to fully plant and fire onto his left side. A damaged lead leg also greatly reduces lateral movement and the ability to slip punches, particularly since dos Santos prefers to avoid flying fists by shuffling straight back. Of course, Velasquez needs to be mindful of the challenger’s massive power. Rushing in foolishly, even if dos Santos is limping on one leg, is a recipe for disaster. Velasquez knows that. He won’t make that mistake. He will, instead, attack behind combinations, thus forcing dos Santos to continue defending, rather than planting to return full-force fire.But that isn’t the end of the analysis. There is also a standup tendency that the champion should be able to take advantage of.Dos Santos has a habit of throwing jabs and lead right hands to the body. They are almost always thrown in isolation, though sometimes he will shoeshine with a second or third body shot. I have not yet witnessed dos Santos following up those body shots with a shot to the head in the same salvo of punches. Body shots are probably the most underutilized punches in MMA. But leading with them is a very dangerous proposition. It is almost always safer to finish a combination with a shot to the body because an opponent is busy defending his head. Leading to the body doesn’t typically produce the same “cover up” reaction as do shots to the head. An opponent, therefore, is more often in prime position to counter upstairs.Velasquez has excellent hand speed and tremendous reflexes. Knowing Javier Mendez, I’m sure they worked extensively in camp on countering dos Santos’ tendency to lead to the body. If it is a lead right, Velasquez should instantly uncork a left hook. If his foe leads with a jab to the body, the champion should let his right hand go. In all instances, Velasquez’s counters should be in the form of punches in bunches. However the fight unfolds, Velasquez should remain aggressively patient. He is at his best when he is coming forward pressing the action. But Velasquez should not feel any urgency to try and win the fight in the early rounds because this guy has a gas tank that would make the Energizer Bunny salivate. He is legendary for his ability to fight with the pace of a welterweight seemingly without ever getting tired. We don’t know if the challenger’s gas tank is similarly deep. That means drag him into the deep end of the championship rounds and see if he can swim.Of course, all that is designed to create an advantage for Velasquez on the feet so that he can eventually get the fight to the ground, which is where dos Santos, despite his brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the Nogueira brothers, is at his least dangerous.Don’t get me wrong, Velasquez can win this fight by knockout. Anyone doubting that statement needs to pull up his fight against Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. But the safest route to victory against an apex predator like dos Santos is to put him on his back and keep him there. As mentioned, dos Santos knows the takedowns are coming, so Velasquez likely needs to get loose on the feet before he will be able to get the fight to the ground. The question, of course, is does Velasquez really have the standup to best dos Santos? We will all find out soon enough.QUICK FACTSCain Velasquez•    29 years old•    6’1, 240 lbs•    77-inch reach•    9-0 overall (7-0 UFC)•    88.9% of wins by KO/TKO•    11.1% of wins by decision•    No career submissions•    Knockout of the Night in 3 of 7 UFC fights•    Current layoff is 385 days•    Longest layoff of career is 490 days

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Between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis, and the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of. And unto this, Junior Dos Santos, destined to wear the jeweled crown of Aquilonia upon a troubled brow. It is I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure. Oh wait, that's the opening for Conan the Barbarian except I just replaced 'Conan' with 'Junior Dos Santos' in an attempt to look cooler than what I really am. Damn. If you were ever sent to prison and needed a gang to affiliate with, choose the one Junior Dos Santos is in. Trust me. You may get beat up once from another rival gang, but once Junior Dos Santos hears about it -- that guy will be dead, whoever he is. Recently Junior Dos Santos hopped in the cage with fellow teammate, Fabio Maldonado and luckily it was all filmed on a handheld camera for us to view while casually watching Boardwalk Empire in the background. [Source]

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UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. dos Santos quick results on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Anaheim, California. The main event features Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos.

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UFC on Fox 1 play-by-play of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Anaheim, California.

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Here are the listings for international fans to watch Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos

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What are the odds for the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos fight? Velasquez, despite being out of the cage for over a year after undergoing surgery, is currently the favorite over his hard-hitting foe, checking in at -155 for Saturday night's (Nov. 12, 2011) UFC on FOX main event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Dos Santos marches in as a slight underdog at +125. Both fighters are undefeated through seven bouts under the Zuffa banner. Velasquez usurped the throne from Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 in October 2010, shake, rattling and rolling the former WWE star en route to a first round technical knockout stoppage. "Cigano" punched his ticket to Saturday night's main event by traumatizing Shane Carwin at UFC 131 last June, bloodying the persnickety power-puncher across three rounds and putting an exclamation point on his violently improbably title run. The "X" factor for this weekend's network television extravaganza will be not just the health of Velasquez, but the takedown defense of Dos Santos. Can Cain return to form after undergoing major surgery on his shoulder? Can the Brazilian challenger stop the takedown or work effectively from his back? With so many unknowns, this heavyweight brouhaha has become one of the more compelling match-ups of 2011. Add to that the natural appeal of two giant men trying to beat the crap out of each other and we have a terrific headliner for the UFC on FOX debut. But as much as your anticipating this fight, do you feel strongly enough to put money on it in either direction? Why or why not? As always, you can see more UFC odds and betting lines from out fiscal friends at Odds Shark by clicking here.

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Saturday night marks the beginning of a new era for mixed martial arts. The UFC will make its debut on broadcast television, filling the screen on the same channel that broadcasts the World Series, the Super Bowl and, of course, American Idol. It will be a game-changing moment for the sport’s spotlight promotion because millions of people who would not otherwise have access to a live UFC fight will have the opportunity to tune in and form a first impression of the sport. There will be just a single fight shown on Fox this Saturday night, so virgin viewers will have just one opportunity to react to a sport that has grown from virtual anonymity to pay-per-view juggernaut. That created incredible pressure on UFC head honcho Dana White to book a marquee fight that was sure to thrill. Enter UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and the clear number one challenger, Junior dos Santos, a man many believe to be destined for gold. It is a marquee matchup from every angle. The sport’s biggest prize is on the line. Neither man has ever lost inside the Octagon. Their styles suggest a barnburner that should end in spectacular fashion. It is the perfect recipe for success.Suffice to say, if the fight lives up to its potential, it should catapult the UFC to never before seen heights of popularity. And the winner could very well turn into a mainstream sports superstar. Translation: fame and fortune. I know. Lots of hype. But it isn’t hyperbole. It is reality.There is little doubt that the massive stage adds to the pressure that both fighters will face heading into the fight. Pressure often leads to hesitation, which, in turn, leads to poor performance. Dos Santos will have to guard against that, if he wants to take the title, because “Cigano” needs to be active and aggressive. That and land his big right uppercut, which is the single biggest key to victory for the challenger.Dos Santos is probably the best boxer in the heavyweight division. He stands in traditional boxing style, with his legs far apart and his body almost perpendicular to his foe. That allows him to generate tremendous power in his shots because he can really lean into his right hand and fully rotate his hips with his left hook. It also gives him the proper foundation for his most effective weapon – the right uppercut.“Cigano” has a right uppercut that would make heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko green with envy. And he uses it regularly in bouts, both as the second part of a two-piece combination and also as a lead. If he connects cleanly, it could mean good night for Velasquez.Make no mistake about it. Dos Santos can turn out the lights with a variety of strikes. But the uppercut should be particularly effective against Velasquez. The question is how to go about landing it.The first, and most obvious, way is to fire it off the heels of a left hand. The Brazilian bomber has one of the best jabs in the division. He snaps it like a professional boxer, and unlike with most boxers, it is jackhammer that causes very real damage, rather than just serving as a range finder.Dos Santos can jab and quickly fire a right uppercut up the middle. He can also double up on the jab or throw one of his slick jab-left hook combinations before immediately cleaning up with his money punch. Those combinations should be particularly effective because the champion does not retreat straight back in the face of incoming fire, like most mixed martial artists. He instead stays in the pocket and moves his head and upper body like a pendulum to slip shots. Like a pendulum, Velasquez returns to center after slipping a shot. Thus, if the jab, double jab or jab-left hook miss, he could very well be front and center by the time the uppercut arrives.But that isn’t the end of the challenger’s options with his favorite strike. He can also lead with the punch. As crazy as it sounds, dos Santos is extremely effective leading with his right uppercut. Most fighters don’t try that technique because it requires elite hand speed. Otherwise, it is fairly easy to counter by slipping and countering, particularly with a left hook, since the right side of dos Santos’ head will be completely exposed.Of course, dos Santos possesses elite hand speed, so he can effectively lead with a right uppercut without too much concern. He landed that punch several times in his last two bouts, both wins, over Shane Carwin and Roy Nelson. He can land it against Velasquez.The one time that he may want to forget the right uppercut is when he is timing a Velasquez kick.  In that instance, he is better served firing his right straight down the middle. Velasquez is an extremely slick kickboxer, with very few tell signs associated with his deep arsenal of strikes. The one notable exception is when he throws a left kick, whether to the inside of his opponent’s lead leg, body or head. The American Kickboxing Academy superstar always steps forward with his right foot before firing a kick with his left leg in order to set his hips to generate speed and power with the strike.It is a quick shuffle step. But he does it every time. He doesn’t fire any other strike, other than a left kick, when he shuffle steps forward with his right foot. Dos Santos can try to time Velasquez by stepping in and firing the right hand down the middle the second he sees the champion shuffle stepping forward. He must do it instantly in order to arrive at the target first. And he had better hope that Velasquez isn’t uncorking a high kick, because things could get ugly in that instance. Nevertheless, the risk is worth the reward. Velasquez is a very durable, high-energy fighter that can go for days. It is unlikely that dos Santos will outlast Velasquez in a grueling five-round war, so he should be thinking stoppage within the first three rounds. That is a very reasonable outcome, too. The challenger is a first-order power puncher, and some question the durability of Velasquez’s chin. Remember, Cheick Kongo dropped him repeatedly in their 2009 bout. None of those shots put Velasquez out. He popped right up and kept coming, though that doesn’t change the fact that he was dropped several times by a guy that some cognoscenti believe has vastly overrated punching power.I’m not sure if Kongo’s power is overrated. I am certain, however, that dos Santos carries at least as much dynamite in his fists. Probably more. Defensively, dos Santos needs to always be mindful of defending the takedown. Velasquez is a former two-time Division I All American collegiate wrestler. His wrestling chops are so strong that he was able to take down Brock Lesnar in his last bout, something very few people in the world can do. He can remain in good position to defend the takedown by not over committing on his power punches. Selling out with haymakers is the best way to open the door for a takedown. Dos Santos should keep a solid base with his feet and focus on throwing fast, not necessarily hard, punches. If he does that, then he can rely on his biggest strength, his boxing skills, in an attempt to win the fight.The word “attempt” was purposefully chosen to suggest that Velasquez is the rightful favorite heading into the matchup, albeit by the slightest of margins. Dos Santos is a seriously live underdog, though. It actually wouldn’t surprise me to see the betting lines swing in the other direction by fight night. He may not have more tools to use in an attempt to win the fight, but the tool he likes to use (read: his fists) might just be the best in the division.QUICK FACTSJunior “Cigano” dos Santos•    27 years old•    77-inch reach•    13-1 overall (7-0 UFC)•    8-fight winning streak•    Hasn’t lost since November 10, 2007•    69.2% of wins ended by strikes (9 of 13)•    15.4% of wins by submission, other than from strikes (2 out of 13)•    15.4% of wins by decision (2 of 13)•    Last 2 fights went the distance•    57.1% of UFC fights ended in the first round•    Current layoff is 154 days•    Career long layoff is 308 days•    Knockout of the Night twice

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently put the finishing touches on its first foray onto network television with the upcoming "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event scheduled for Sat., Nov. 12, 2011, from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. UFC on FOX 1 will feature just one fight ... but it's a biggie. Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez will put his title on the line for the very first time against number one contender and noted Brazilian knockout artist, Junior dos Santos. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on FOX 1, beginning with the preliminary card bouts on Facebook scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the heavyweight championship bout as it happens. Here's the current UFC on FOX 1 fight card and line-up: Main Event: 265 lbs.: UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos Preliminary Card (May not be broadcast): 155 lbs.: Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson135 lbs.: Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyenoyama145 lbs.: Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas145 lbs.: Robert Peralta vs. Mackens Semerzier185 lbs.: Paul Bradley vs. Mike Pierce205 lbs.: Matt Lucas vs. Aaron Rosa135 lbs.: Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo170 lbs.: DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison We're less than a week away from fight time, Maniacs, so feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the event below. See you on Nov. 12 on FOX.

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Luke Thomas covers Junior dos Santos talking about his UFC heavyweight title fight with Cain Velasquez next weekend, and his impressions of the Fox deal. Check it out over at MMA Nation.

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The UFC on Fox main event between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will be the only fight to air on Fox, even if it “only goes 10 seconds.” Those were the words from UFC President Dana White on Wednesday, who joined Velasquez and dos Santos  on a call to discuss the Nov. 12 event. That leaves a showdown between lightweight contenders Clay Guida and Ben Henderson airing only online along with the rest of the preliminary card, even if time would have allowed it to air on Fox. The UFC on Fox weigh-ins will air live on FUEL TV at 7pm ET on Nov. 11, while Velasuqez vs. dos Santos will also air live in over a dozen other countries, including Canada, Brazil, Australia, and the UK. Quotes from White, Velasquez, and dos Santos are below: Dana White: “This is going to be a different format than we’ve ever done before. Obviously this is a show featuring one fight so we’re doing a lot of things differently. We are going to be rehearsing for this from Thursday. “This is a throw-back to the old days of boxing; we are putting a big fight – a huge fight – on free TV to expose this thing to a new audience. Our goal has always been to bring big fights back to network television; we are thinking long-term for the future of this sport. It is an investment in the future of the UFC. Fans that have never seen the UFC before will see this show and that’s why we decided to put Cain and Junior in this position. “I know for a fact this is going to be an awesome fight. I know it is going to be great. That’s why it was these two in this position. I have no worries at all this is going to be a great fight. “There’s going to be a lot of backstage features, we are going to be talking to both guys backstage before they fight which isn’t something we’ve done for a very long time.” Cain Velasquez: “There’s always butterflies when you have a fight. It is natural to feel nervous, it means you are ready. But I’m not more nervous because I’ve been out (hurt) for more than a year. I know from my training camp I’m 100 percent and ready to go. I was 100 percent in July. “I’m excited and it is a great honor to have this fight chosen by the UFC to be the first one on FOX. But I am not focused on the event, the hype or the (expected large TV audience), like any other fight I am focused on my opponent and not much else. “Dos Santos is a great opponent. He’s very dangerous.” Junior dos Santos: “It was such a long wait for my title shot, but I am not sorry. This, right now, is the greatest opportunity I could have had, fighting for the world heavyweight title live on FOX for the very first time. “I’m very happy in my life right now. I’m in such a good place mentally and physically. I’m proof that if you work hard, treat people right and don’t doubt yourself, you can achieve your dreams. I genuinely believe that Cain is the greatest heavyweight in the world and it is an honor to fight him. “Yes, I come from humble beginnings, but I have been very lucky in my life. “I don’t think this fight will go five rounds. I have trained for five rounds but I don’t expect this to do the distance.” Pictured: Cain Velasquez

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That's according to a tweet from UFC on FOX: Sunday's #UFC PRIMETIME on FOX posted a 1.3 HH nat'l. Ties 3/26 Fight Night as highest-rated UFC program of 2011. UFC Primetime: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos," which aired on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in conjunction with NFL football, featured a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes preparations of heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez as he gets set to take on division number one contender Junior dos Santos. UFC on FOX is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The complete episode of UFC Primetime: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos," which scored a 1.3 household rating for an average of two million viewers, after the jump. For more on UFC on FOX click here.

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The UFC Heavyweight Champion details the "long process" of healing from his shoulder surgery as he gears up for his UFC on FOX title defense against Junior dos Santos on Nov. 12 in Anaheim, California. Anyone think he'll be too rusty to retain? Or will his wrestling carve a path to victory in the promotion's network television debut? More on UFC on FOX right here.

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Fun Fact: Dos Caras Jr - aka the guy in a wrestling match who got his head kicked off by Mirko Crocop - is now better known as Alberto Del Rio, the current WWE champion.

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submitted by nuttyp [link] [1 comment]

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Filed under: UFC, NewsThe calendar has finally turned to November, and the countdown is officially on for the UFC on FOX premiere. Since signing the deal in August, much of the company's attention has been focused on its new partnership, and now, the days will quickly wind down until it's showtime. There is still much work to do until then, but UFC president Dana White says that one thing not on his list of concerns is the night's main event fight. Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos both safely made it through their respective training camps and are primed to seize the spotlight afforded them. At least to dos Santos (13-1), he doesn't expect that spotlight to last very long. Even though the UFC has confirmed that one and only one fight will be shown on the broadcast, dos Santos doesn't plan on taking all 25 minutes afforded to him. "I would be ready for five rounds if it went to five rounds, but personally, I don't think the fight will go five rounds," he said through his interpreter during a Wednesday teleconference. "Both Cain and myself are aggressive fighters. Both of us go on offense. We look to fight. We don't dodge fights. "I know Cain's been out of the octagon for a while, but I also know he's a phenomenal fighter," he continued. "He's a professional, and I'm sure he's going to bring his best inside that octagon and he's going to be ready. I don't want to fight an injured Cain Velasquez. I want to fight the best Cain Velasquez. That's what I'm preparing for. I don't think he'd take a fight if he couldn't give it his all. It's going to be his first title defense. It's a very big fight for him. I look forward to meeting up with the champion Cain Velasquez at his best." Velasquez (9-0) says that he will indeed be at his best, his shoulder at full power and range of motion after surgery, rehabilitation and a full camp. Velasquez stopped short of predicting a stoppage-shortened fight, but given the historic nature of the fight and the UFC's trust in the fighters by placing them in the honored roles, he expects a scrap worthy of the attention it's receiving. "I'm hoping to make it an exciting fight for the fans," he said. "dos Santos is a great opponent, and we're definitely going to go out there and just throw down. That's pretty much it. People love to see that." At least by the numbers, dos Santos has some precedent for his prediction. Both fighters have been big finishers throughout their careers. The challenger dos Santos has 11 stoppages in his 13 victories while the undefeated champion Velasquez has stopped opponents in eight of his nine wins. Velasquez is currently considered a slight favorite according to recent lines. For the UFC there is plenty riding on the November 12 foray into network TV. White said as early as this weekend, his crew will be utilizing extra rehearsals to shore up event production. The show will include elements like backstage interviews with the main-event fighters before the title bout, and other wrinkles. Those changes and the importance of the show caused White to admit that it's the first time in a long time he's had some nerves about a show he's produced. But as far as the in-ring action, he has no doubts. He knows Velasquez and dos Santos will deliver. "We're working hard and we're going to nail this thing," White said. "I know the fight is going to be great. The fight is the least of my worries. That's why these two are in the spotlight and in this position." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Who does everybody think/hope will win? I'm pulling for Dos Santos since he is a very good boxer and he trained with Big Nog so he also learned BJJ from an amazing teacher so I think his jits will help him out with Cain's wrestling. What do you all think? submitted by Laughin_Grass [link] [23 comments]

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The Sunday broadcast on FOX of ‘UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos’ earned two million viewers, it has been reported.It was the first...

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The UFC is preparing for its Fox network TV debut with UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. dos Santos. Listen in as Dana White, Cain Velasquez, and Junior dos Santos talk about the big debut.

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The upcoming card for the UFC on Fox debut is all on the shoulders of Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

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UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos on November 12, 2011, in Anaheim, California, fight card rumors.

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In less than two weeks the UFC will soar to heights few outside of Zuffa’s ivory tower could have imagined years ago when the organization’s heavyweight title is defended on live network television at UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. Headlined by undefeated champion Cain Velasquez putting his gold up for grabs against brilliant Brazilian Junior dos Santos, the card marks the first in what will be numerous UFC/FOX events over the next several years and also features fights like Pablo Garza vs. Dustin Poirier and Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson. Velasquez, Dos Santos, and UFC President Dana White will on be on hand this afternoon for a conference call with media at 2:00 PM EST and, as usual, Five Ounces of Pain will be listening in and reporting back to readers with live highlights. Read below for scintillating soundbytes and other interesting nuggets of information: Cain Velasquez: Junior dos Santos: Dana White:

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Bloody Elbow will be on the UFC on Fox Conference call today to promote the card next Saturday headlined by Cain Velasquez defending his heavyweight title against number one contender Junior Dos Santos. The two fighters will be on the call with UFC President Dana White. The UFC on Fox card is set to air on Fox at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. While not an official part of the UFC's deal with Fox, it is a major event to set the tone for the relationship between the promotion and network. The rest of the card will air live on Facebook and FoxSports.com. There is a potential that Clay Guida and Ben Henderson are fighting for the number one contender to Frankie Edgar's title.  Follow Matthew Roth on Twitter (@mattroth512) for immediate updates. And check this post after the call for the tweets plus additional notes and thoughts.  SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Cain Velasquez - Junior Dos Santos -  Dana White - 

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will hold a special media conference call today (Nov. 2, 2011) to promote UFC on FOX 1: Velasquez vs. dos Santos, which is scheduled for Nov. 12, 2011. The call, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET, will feature UFC President Dana White, as well as the headlining fighters of the evening, Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Velasquez is the current UFC heavyweight champion. The undefeated American Kickboxing Academy product stopped Brock Lesnar via first round technical knockout to capture the title and has been on the mend rehabbing from shoulder surgery for a year now. His challenger, Junior dos Santos, defeated Roy Nelson at UFC 117 to become number one contender. However, when Velasquez was sidelined, he instead opted to coach against Brock Lesnar on season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Lesnar was also scratched with an injury and dos Santos dominated Shane Carwin to regain his position. Join us for complete LIVE updates of the UFC on FOX conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.

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Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXIn less than two weeks, the UFC will finally air a fight on broadcast network television for the first time when it presents UFC on FOX 1, a one-hour special on Nov. 12 that will see heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez attempt to defend his belt against No. 1 contender Junior dos Santos. This past weekend, FOX aired a one-hour Primetime, which gave an all-access look at the fight and its participants. On Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, Primetime producer Jason Hehir discussed the creative process behind the show. Now, in case you missed it, the entire episode of UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. dos Santos is after the jump. <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=cc474626-0acb-431d-967b-860ef577e4c2" _fcksavedurl="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=cc474626-0acb-431d-967b-860ef577e4c2" target="_new" title="">UFC Primetime: Velasquez v. Dos Santos</a> Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Watch the entire episode of "UFC on Fox: Primetime" featuring Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

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In case you missed it on TV, here's the full video of the UFC Primetime special that focuses on the UFC on Fox headlining championship bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Get up close and personal with Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos in the weeks leading up to their November 12 championship bout on Fox. Complete UFC on Fox fight card after the jump. UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos SantosNovember 12, 2011 - 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT Main Card:Cain Velasquez (9-0) vs. Junior dos Santos (13-1)  [HW Title]Preliminary Card:Ben Henderson (14-2) vs. Clay Guida (29-11)Pablo Garza (11-1) vs. Dustin Poirier (10-1)Norifumi Yamamoto (18-4, 1 NC) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (6-3)Ricardo Lamas (10-2) vs. Cub Swanson (15-4)Clay Harvison (9-3) vs. DaMarques Johnson (12-9)Robert Peralta (15-3) vs. Mackens Semerzier (6-3)Paul Bradley (18-3) vs. Mike Pierce (12-4)Aaron Rosa (16-4) vs. Matt Lucas (14-2)Alex Caceres (5-4) vs. Cole Escovedo (17-8)

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The first significant UFC-themed program on FOX aired on Sunday with the debut of "UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos." The in-depth and slickly produced one-hour special previews next week's landmark UFC on FOX 1 event and a heavyweight blockbuster between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. Check out the full episode, which is available for online viewing.

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UFC on Fox main event: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT:Watch live on FoxSaturday, November 12See the full fight cardWatch UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos SantosUFC on Fox Prelims streaming live & free at 4:45 pm ET/1:45 pm PT:Facebook.com/UFCFoxSports.comSaturday, November 12See the full fight cardmore UFC on Fox programming:Prefight Special LIVE at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT Watch live on FUEL TVSaturday, November 12 Jay Glazer, Kenny Florian and special guests are live on FUEL TV for a breakdown on the UFC, fighter profiles and expert analysis, as well as celebrities from the red carpet arriving at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos. Postfight Special LIVE at 10 pm ET/7 pm PTWatch live on FUEL TVSaturday, November 12Join Jay Glazer and Kenny Florian Live on FUEL TV for a complete breakdown of the biggest event in UFC history after Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez, and top contender, Junior dos Santos, go head-to-head on FOX.UFC Velasquez vs. dos Santos Weigh-In LIVE at 7 pm ET/4 pm PTWatch live on FUEL TV and UFC.comFriday, November 11

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Watch the full UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos video before the UFC on Fox debut next weekend.

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Here’s the full episode of UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos that aired on FOX over the weekend.

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Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for complete coverage of UFC on Fox 1, which takes place on Nov. 12 featuring UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos as well as lightweight contenders Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson.

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UFC on Fox Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos is an upcoming special to be aired on October 30th, and features an in-depth look at the Nov. 12 showdown between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior Dos Santos. And to get you hyped for that, here is a brief preview of the special, which includes some press conference snipets ala Creed vs. Drago, some behind-the-scenes training footage ala Marciano vs. Lewis, and even squeezes in some of the lovable, rags-to-riches story of

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Check out the UFC on Fox Primetime: Velasquez vs. dos Santos video promo.

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The UFC is producing another installment of their UFC Primetime series to promote the upcoming heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. The series is set to premiere this weekend before and after this Sunday’s NFL on FOX game, depending on your local market. This hard-hitting episode will premiere Sunday, October 30 following or preceding the NFL on Fox game (varies by market, check local listings). Re-airs will follow on ufc.com beginning Monday, October 31 and on FUEL TV Wednesday, November 2. UFC Primetime, produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®), is a look into the lives and preparation of Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. “This is our Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar, now on a huge, massive platform, and we need to deliver, and there’s no doubt in my mind, and I will bet anything and everything and am betting that these guys (Velasquez and dos Santos) are going to deliver,” said UFC president Dana White, referring to the classic Ultimate Fighter season one finale bout in 2005 that kicked off the mixed martial arts explosion that has turned the sport into the fastest growing one in the world. UFC on FOX 1 “Velasquez vs. Dos Santos” takes place on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and will air live on FOX at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The latest UFC on FOX 1 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

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Check out this 3-minute teaser of the the upcoming "UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" Primetime show.

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Here's a 3-minute preview of the upcoming UFC Primetime special that focuses on the monumental UFC on Fox bout between heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, and number 1 contender, Junior dos Santos. The actual Primetime show will be on October 30th. On Saturday, Nov. 12, two giants of the Octagon will meet when unbeaten UFC champion Cain Velasquez collides with Brazilian knockout artist Junior dos Santos. Velasquez, the first Mexican heavyweight champion in combat sports history, returns after defeating Brock Lesnar for the title last year. Meanwhile, dos Santos has been equally impressive, dominating former interim champion Shane Carwin in his last bout. Two Giants. One Title. Which man leaves the Honda Center on Nov. 12 as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world? Check out the complete fight card after the jump. Main Card:Cain Velasquez (9-0) vs. Junior dos Santos (13-1)  [HW Title]Preliminary Card:Ben Henderson (14-2) vs. Clay Guida (29-11)Pablo Garza (11-1) vs. Dustin Poirier (10-1)Norifumi Yamamoto (18-4, 1 NC) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (6-3)Ricardo Lamas (10-2) vs. Cub Swanson (15-4)Clay Harvison (9-3) vs. DaMarques Johnson (12-9)Robert Peralta (15-3) vs. Mackens Semerzier (6-3)Paul Bradley (18-3) vs. Mike Pierce (12-4)Aaron Rosa (16-4) vs. Matt Lucas (14-2)Alex Caceres (5-4) vs. Cole Escovedo (17-8)

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submitted by 2WAR [link] [comment]

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In anticipation of their world heavyweight title clash at UFC® on FOX: VELASQUEZ VS. DOS SANTOS, UFC® champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos will be featured on UFC Primetime®, an all-access documentary.This hard-hitting episode will premiere Sunday, October 30 following or preceding the NFL on Fox game (varies by market, check local listings). Re-airs will follow on ufc.com beginning Monday, October 31 and on FUEL TV Wednesday, November 2. UFC Primetime, produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®), is a look into the lives and preparation of Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Last October, Cain Velasquez (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) became the promotion's first-ever Mexican heavyweight champion by defeating superstar Brock Lesnar in the first round. Raised by immigrant parents, Velasquez was a two-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State University. His speed and power have been the keys to beating bigger foes throughout his career, which now boasts a perfect record of 9-0. With a perfect 7-0 record in the UFC, Junior dos Santos (fighting out of Santa Catarina, Brazil) finished his first five fights against names such as Mirko Cro Cop, Gabriel Gonzaga, Gilbert Yvel, Stefan Struve and Fabricio Werdum. The rising star has one of the top striking games in the heavyweight division and showed his ability to go into deep water with dominant decisions over Roy “Big Country” Nelson and Shane Carwin.“This is our Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar, now on a huge, massive platform, and we need to deliver, and there’s no doubt in my mind, and I will bet anything and everything and am betting that these guys (Velasquez and dos Santos) are going to deliver,” said UFC president Dana White, referring to the classic Ultimate Fighter season one finale bout in 2005 that kicked off the mixed martial arts explosion that has turned the sport into the fastest growing one in the world. UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos will air live on Fox Saturday, November 12 from the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA at 9:00 PM ET/ 6:00 PM PT. Live prelims will air on a site or channel to be determined.

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A special "UFC Primetime" episode focusing on Velasquez vs. Dos Santos will air this coming Sunday on the Fox network.

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The Cain Velasquez-Junior dos Santos bout is the first in a series that should finally determined the world's best heavyweight.

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submitted by Studdy [link] [1 comment]

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship debuts on Fox Sports with UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos on Nov. 12. Check out the UFC video promo.

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UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defends his title for the first time against Junior dos Santos in the main event of the UFC’s debut on Fox on Nov. 12. For UFC on Fox results and complete UFC on Fox coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

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submitted by tbolts48 [link] [comment]

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Earlier this year, Junior Dos Santos parted ways with manager Ed Soares and struck out on his own. He then retained the services of Brazilian intellectual...

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Soon to be former UFC broadcast partner Spike TV will counter-program the first UFC on Fox event on November 12 with a UFC Unleashed marathon featuring previous fights from UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and fellow headliner Junior dos Santos. The three-hour special, which airs from 9pm to midnight ET, includes Velasquez’s fights with then title-holder Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and dos Santos’ bouts against Shane Carwin and Mirko Cro Cop. The one-hour UFC on Fox broadcast airs at 9pm ET on Nov. 12 featuring just the heavyweight title bout between Velasquez and dos Santos, but a full preliminary card will air elsewhere, including a showdown between lightweight contenders Clay Guida and Ben Henderson. For complete UFC on Fox coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

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Spike TV will counter program the upcoming UFC on Fox debut with some of the past fights featuring Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

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Further solidifying the rift between the UFC and its longtime cable partner, Spike TV today announced counter-programming for the UFC's debut on network TV. On Nov. 12, Spike TV will air a "UFC Unleashed" marathon - dubbed "Dos Santos vs. Velasquez: Unleashed for the Heavyweight Title" - featuring past fights with UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. Not surprisingly, the marathon begins just as Velasquez and Dos Santos fight at UFC on FOX 1, the UFC's first show on network TV.

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UFC on FOX: Cain set for Junior Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos talk to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer about their upcoming heavyweight title fight at UFC on FOX 1. Note: Give the videos a second to load if you don’t see them right away. UFC on FOX: Junior ready for title fight

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Junior dos Santos talked about his battle with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox 1.

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Top Heavyweight contender Junior "Cigano" dos Santos, who will challenge division Champion Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox, discusses his opponent, as well as his expectations for the bout. Dos Santos acknowledges the excellent cardio of Velasquez and says he will be looking to end the fight as early as possible.

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submitted by ImaG [link] [2 comments]

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UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is a humble man. He doesn't get caught up in the trash talking wars or anything like that when approaching a fight. According to him, he just goes in there and lets his fists do the talking.

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MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday caught up with UFC No. 1 heavyweight contender Junior Dos Santos at the UFC on Fox kickoff press conference in Hollywood, Calif.

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UFC president Dana White alongside UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior Dos Santos held a press conference on Tuesday to kick of UFC on Fox 1 set for Nov. 12 in Anaheim, Calif. Listen in.

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UFC heavyweights Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos sat down with media earlier today for the first time since their headlining bout at UFC on FOX was announced and spoke about the challenges each faces in the other. As might be expected given their general attitudes, both showed great respect to the other and made it clear winning on November 12 will be anything but easy. “It’s going to be a war out there for five rounds; that’s how I prepare myself and that’s how I go into each training camp thinking,” said champion Velasquez while admitting Dos Santos will be the hardest opponent he’s faced thus far, adding, “I do think this is my toughest test. He’s got great hands, great power, great boxing. This is definitely going to be a good fight.” “I love to fight standing and I’m sure to be prepared to fight on the ground. I’m learning wrestling very fast. I know Cain is a very good wrestler and he will probably try to take me down, but I will be ready for this and use my BJJ,” explained “Cigano” of what he expects to face when the two lock horns in Anaheim. Velasquez echoed the Brazilian’s statements in regards to being prepared no matter where the action takes place even though he sat on the sidelines for an extended period of time with a shoulder injury. Heavyweight Champ Velasquez Out 6-8 Months After Surgery “I expect to go everywhere in this fight: wrestle, go to the ground, jiu-jitsu – I don’t see this being fought in just one style. My wrestling, boxing, and jiu-jitsu needs to be sharp and intact for this fight. I need to be a well-rounded fighter that night to win the fight”. The two heavyweights combine for an overall record of 22-1 with Dos Santos’ lone defeat occurring nearly four years ago. Meanwhile, the 27-year old striker has beaten the likes of Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin in the Octagon, while Velasquez holds past UFC victories over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Brock Lesnar. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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The winner of the Nov. 12 Cain Velasquez-Junior Dos Santos title fight will have no lack of contenders waiting in the wings.

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Tickets go on sale this week for the November 12th fight between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos.It will be the...

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 UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and number one division contender, Junior dos Santos, as well as company president Dana White and FOX executives today held a press conference to promote the inaugural landmark event scheduled for the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Nov. 12, 2011. For a complete detailed, live account of the presser from earlier today click here. To check out the staredown pic between Velasquez and dos Santos click here. To check out the latest UFC on FOX 1 fight card and rumors click here.

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Junior dos Santos has fought seven times in the UFC, and seven times, his hand has been raised.

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submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [2 comments]

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It'll be here before you know it. UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez will put his title on the line for the first time ever when he takes on number one contender Junior dos Santos at the upcoming UFC on FOX event, which is scheduled to kick off the promotion's network television debut on Nov. 12, 2011. The two behemoths squared off today (Sept. 20) at the UFC on FOX pre-fight press conference, designed to kick-start the promotion's hype train as it leaves the station and chugs its way into the November broadcast special. Aside from Velasquez and Dos Santos, UFC President Dana White and FOX network executive Eric Shanks were on hand to talk turkey to the mixed martial arts media. Highlights of today's presser can be found here. So how about it Maniacs, this pic doing anything for you? Let's hear some early predictions for "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" in the comments section below.

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Though the bout may not have the spice of a personal rivalry, this November’s upcoming title-fight between champion Cain Velasquez and top contender Junior dos Santos should result in a red-hot rumble between the two talented heavyweights. Making matters even more explosive is the fact the bout will take place at UFC on FOX, the organization’s debut on network television, and will be broadcast to an audience unlike any other the UFC has had thus far. Along the many promotional stops before the popular pugilists take to the Octagon to settle their professional dispute, both men will meet with press this afternoon at 4:00 PM EST and Five Ounces of Pain will be along for the ride. Joining Velasquez and Dos Santos on the stage will be UFC President Dana White who should no doubt have some interesting things to say given the scale of the scrap and recent rumors of Dan Henderson heading back to the UFC for a third time. Read below for interesting items of information as they unfold from the press conference including relevant soundbytes: Junior dos Santos: Cain Velasquez: Dana White: PHOTO CREDIT – UFCSimilar Posts: UFC 133 Press Conference Highlights UFC 134 Press Conference Highlights Dana White: no Floyd, no FOX, no WWE, not going public UFC 136 Press Conference Highlights UFC 134 Conference Call Highlights Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, fox, conference, do, press

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Tickets have yet to go on sale for the UFC's maiden voyage on broadcast television, but the promotion can already boast a sellout in perhaps its most important indicator: television ad sales. Just one month after the UFC and FOX announced its seven-year deal will begin with a Nov. 19 event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, the network has already sold out all of its existing commercial slots for the show. The quick sellout is a positive sign that blue-chip, corporate sponsors are willing to test the waters. In turn, that should mean new opportunities for fighters as well. "We've gotten more credibility now because we're on FOX with all these big sports leagues," UFC president Dana White said. "The fact these guys are reaching out to these other sponsors and they've had a great response is big not only for us, but for the fighters, too. This will trickle down to everybody. It's a big deal and yes, it's been great and it's only going to get better." White and FOX Sports president Eric Shanks announced the ad sellout at a press conference launching the event at the W Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California. When asked what type of ratings FOX was expecting from the debut event, Shanks joked that "we have to beat the Two and a Half Men premiere from last night," a show that drew nearly 30 million viewers. While he wouldn't offer a specific number, he acknowledged that the ad sales are a positive indicator in the interest for the event. "So the response from the ad sales community has been unbelievable, and we think that'll carry forward to next season," Shanks said. Meanwhile, Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos were the main attractions, sitting on a stage with "UFC on FOX" and FOX logos behind them. White reiterated what he's said several times since making the bout, that he specifically chose the fight with total belief that the UFC heavyweight champion and No. 1 contender would put on a show. "I can guarantee you if this fight goes 30 seconds or 30 minutes, this is going to be a fight right here," White said, eyeing his fighters. While for Velasquez, it was a relatively short 330-mile trip from his home base of San Jose to Hollywood, dos Santos flew from Brazil to take part. It was clear from the crowd reception that Velasquez will be a massive crowd favorite come fight time, something dos Santos (13-1) acknowledged early on. "I feel great," he said. "It's good to receive good energy from the guys. It doesn't matter if the people are rooting for me or not. It matters that they're here cheering for the fight, for MMA." The unbeaten Velasquez hasn't fought since winning the title from Brock Lesnar in a first-round TKO last October. Ironically, that bout was also at the Anaheim Center, and White noted the atmosphere in the arena was electric, something the UFC is expecting again on Nov. 12. After recovering from shoulder surgery, Velasquez said he is engaging in three daily workout sessions that include weight-lifting, sparring, jiu-jitsu and technical refinements. All of that, stems from his belief in his opponent's skills. "It's definitely my toughest task," he said. "dos Santos is a great fighter. He has great hands, great power, great boxing. He's looked really tough out there in his previous fights, and it's definitely going to be a tough fight." While Velasquez and dos Santos will get most of the ink up until fight time, lightweight contenders Ben Henderson and Clay Guida will tangle in the co-main event. White said it's so far undecided where that will air. There is a chance it could end up on the FOX broadcast, or on Facebook, or elsewhere, but for now, the UFC has its full attention on the main event. "The pressure is on us to deliver," he said. "Meaning [it's on] us and FOX to put out an event that night like you've never seen when it comes to combat sports. [Velasquez and dos Santos] are going to do what they always do. They've been delivering for 10 years, and that's why we're sitting up here today." While White admitted feeling the pressure, both the champ and challenger said for them, it's just another day at the office. Despite the millions of eyes on them, new sponsors with their checkbooks at the ready, and the belt on the line, for them, it's just another fight. "I feel no pressure," dos Santos, a big smile crossing his face. "It's what I do. It's what I love to do, and I'll be ready for sure to make a good show." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, do, velasquez

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

The UFC is hosting a press conference at 4 p.m. ET to promote their debut show on the Fox network. UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, challenger Junior dos Santos , and UFC President Dana White will appear at the press conference. Video will stream at UFC.com. Cain Velasquez (9-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) will attempt to make his first defense of the heavyweight belt he won from Brock Lesnar last October at UFC 121. Velasquez injured his rotator cuff in the fight against Lesnar. The subsequent surgery and rehab kept him out of training for over six months. Junior dos Santos (13-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) reaffirmed his place as the number one contender with a dominant decision victory over Shane Carwin at UFC 131. Dos Santos was originally scheduled to fight former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, but another round of diverticulitis forced Lesnar off the card. The press conference takes place at W Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California, and it is open to the public. More SBN coverage of the UFC on Fox

Posted in: ufc, press conference, conference, do, lesnar

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Sept. 20, 2011) to promote UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. dos Santos, which is scheduled for Nov. 12, 2011. The conference will begin at 4 p.m. ET live from the West Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California, although the fight event will be taking place in Anaheim. Scheduled to attend will be UFC president Dana White, as well as the headlining fighters of the evening, Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Velasquez is the current UFC heavyweight champion. The American Kickboxing Academy product defeated Brock Lesnar via first round technical knockout to capture the title and has been on the mend rehabbing from shoulder surgery ever since. His challenger, Junior dos Santos,  defeated Roy Nelson at UFC 117 to become number one contender but when Velasquez was sidelined, he instead opted to coach against Brock Lesnar on season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Lesnar was also scratched with an injury and dos Santos dominated Shane Carwin to regain his position. We'll have complete updates of the UFC on FOX press conference after the jump The press conference is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

Posted in: ufc, conference, do, velasquez, press

Read the full article at MMA Mania

UFC President Dana White, alongside both Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and top contender Junior dos Santos, was in attendance today at the West Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California for the UFC on Fox 1 Pre-Fight Press Conference. The card, which marks the promotion's network television debut, will be headlined by a Heavyweight title clash between Velasquez and dos Santos, while a Lightweight showdown pitting Clay Guida against Ben Henderson will serve as the co-main event.

Posted in: ufc, co-main event, do, heavyweight champion, velasquez

Read the full article at Low Kick

If the raucous crowd at the UFC on Fox presser Tuesday was any indication of the energy level of the fans come fight night, then the metaphorical and physical roof of the Honda Center is going to be blown off. And, yes, it will all happen live and for free on what UFC President Dana White says is the “biggest and baddest” channel on network television: Fox. On November 12th in Anaheim, California, the UFC makes company history with its first event on network television, which is a precursor to the momentous seven year deal signed with Fox that officially starts next year. This extraordinary occasion where the Octagon will be available to be seen in action on nearly every functioning television in the world is entirely focused on one fight, one division, and one belt: the UFC heavyweight championship. As far as main events go, it does not get any better than a title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. The undefeated champion, Velasquez, will be defending the belt for the first time since defeating Brock Lesnar for it last October at UFC 121. The challenger, dos Santos, has won seven straight inside the Octagon and earned the number one contender status with a unanimous decision victory over Shane Carwin in June at UFC 131. Before these two titans can clash with that coveted 10 pounds of gold on the line, these two enormous cage-fighting gentlemen had to meet the press. The evenly split fans’ chanting and cheering for the fighters was so loud it drowned out some of the media’s questions and were jokingly admonished by White to quiet down. The excitement for the fight and this Fox event was definitely noted and much appreciated by all as dos Santos pointed out, “It's good to receive this good energy from the fans. It doesn't matter if they are cheering for me or not. It is good that they are here cheering for MMA.”At 27 years old, dos Santos is preparing for his first title shot in his native Brazil with the renowned fighters of Team Nogueira: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. “Everyday I'm feeling like I'm learning more and learning the skills to be a better fighter,” says dos Santos, who is best known for his fast and powerful punching, but who showed off some picture perfect takedowns in the third round of the Carwin fight. “I love to fight standing and I'm sure to be prepared to fight on the ground. I'm learning wrestling very fast. I know Cain is a very good wrestler and he will probably try to take me down, but I will be ready for this and use my BJJ.”As for the champion, the seemingly unstoppable Velasquez has spent much of the year rehabbing from shoulder surgery following the winning of the belt. “The recovery has been good,” explains Velasquez, 29, about tearing his rotator cuff, which delayed his first title defense. “I'm doing three practices a day now. It sucked to be off that long, but all I could do was listen to the doctors. That's all I want to do is fight in the Octagon.”In his previous nine fights, Velasquez has only been taken the distance once and past the first round twice, but the champion is training for dos Santos to push him into those later rounds. “It's going to be a war out there for five rounds; that's how I prepare myself and that's how I go into each training camp thinking,” states Velasquez, who has finished eight of his nine fights by KO/TKO including Lesnar. “I do think this is my toughest test. He's got great hands, great power, great boxing. This is definitely going to be a good fight.”The two heavyweights were asked if they felt any additional pressure to perform because the fight is on Fox? Both fighters agreed that it isn’t “pressure” because this is what they love to do. “No pressure to go in there and perform because that is what we do,” asserts Velasquez, noting that they’re professional fighters and going out there and giving the fans a memorable fight is what they train for and are paid to do. “I expect to go everywhere in this fight: wrestle, go to the ground, jiu-jitsu - I don't see this being fought in just one style. My wrestling, boxing, and jiu-jitsu needs to be sharp and intact for this fight. I need to be a well-rounded fighter that night to win the fight.”The Honda Center in Anaheim, California will play host to a historic matchup and event as Cain Velasquez defends the UFC heavyweight championship against Junior dos Santos live on Fox. For the expected millions of first time UFC viewers, there may be no greater introduction to the sport than seeing two talented and athletic monsters like Velasquez and dos Santos scrap in the Octagon. As UFC President White expressed, with these two in the cage, whether the fight goes 30 seconds or 30 minutes, it will be very exciting, especially with a belt hanging in the balance.

Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, do, velasquez

Read the full article at UFC

The heavyweight opponents discuss hanging out together outside of the cage.

Posted in: fight, business, heavyweight, heavyweight opponents, do

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

It looks like the number one contender for the UFC Heavyweight Title, Junior "Cigano" dos Santos, has some tricks stored up his sleeves for the UFC on Fox main event bout with the reigning Champion Cain Velasquez. In this video, dos Santos practices leg-locks (Ric Flair, anyone?) with no other than the eternal UFC 185 King Anderson Silva. Dos Santos has just one (technically 3) Submission victory on his record, in a fight that took place more than five years ago in Brazil. Will "Cigano" force Cain

Posted in: ufc, do, practices leg-locks, anyone ?), event bout

Read the full article at Low Kick