UFC on FOX 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos
Date/Time: November 12, 2011, 9pm ET/6pm PT
Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Broadcast: FOX
Cain Velasquez (9-0-0): -165
Junior dos Santos (13-1-0): +145
What a way to usher in a new era of MMA! The Heavyweight Title is on the line on Saturday night and the fight will be broadcast on FOX for the whole world to see. Junior Dos Santos brings his elite level striking to the Octagon to take on the top notch wrestling ability of Champion Cain Velasquez. For the Challenger, his take down defense will be challenged and for the Champion, his chin will certainly be tested.
Cain Velasquez is a dominant wrestler with heavy hands and some of the best cardio in the Heavyweight division. His takedowns and ground control are some of the best that the Heavyweight division has ever seen. Although he is not scared to stand and trade, Velasquez will try to get this fight to the ground. The fact is that Cain has never faced anyone with the striking ability of Junior Dos Santos.
Junior Dos Santos is another fighter that possesses amazing conditioning. He is one of the most feared strikers in the Heavyweight division. Dos Santos has that rare combination of technical and powerful striking that is nearly impossible to defend. He has won eight straight fights, six by strikes against top notch competition. What’s lost in Junior’s striking prowess is the fact that he owns a Brown Belt in jiu-jitsu under Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera. Dos Santos is a handful anywhere this fight happens to go.
Betting Prediction: Cain Velasquez will have to get this fight to the ground – there is no way that he wants to enter into a striking battle with Junior Dos Santos. The danger with that plan is the fact that Dos Santos is one of the most accurate strikers in the game. Junior will know that Velasquez is coming and should be able to keep him at bay with a strong jab. Dos Santos has worked his takedown defense extensively with one of the best camps on the planet – Team Black House that features Anderson Silva, José Aldo, Lyoto Machida, Antônio Rogério Nogueira, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and former Chute Boxe Academy fighter Antonio “Nino” Schembri. There is no way that Velasquez could have improved his ability to get hit by a truck in his training camp! Punching prowess wins over grappling prowess in this one!
Pick: Junior Dos Santos +145
Clay Guida (28-11-0): +210 vs. Benson Henderson (14-2-0): -250
How does this Lightweight fight not make it on National Television? Clay Guida, winner of four straight fights takes on Ben Henderson, the former WEC standout who has been knocking on the door of the UFC Lightweight title since his arrival with the organization. Guida is quick, tough and as relentless as they come. The problem is that Henderson is better in all of those aspects of MMA. Henderson has the speed, the strength and heart to give the unflappable Guida fits. In a tremendous fight, Henderson will prove that he is indeed the next challenger for the UFC Lightweight title. [ad-3573245]
Pick: Ben Henderson -250
Norifumi ‘KID’ Yamamoto (18-4-0): -360 vs. Darren Uyenoyama (6-3-0): +300
Darren Uyenoyama makes his UFC debut against a legend in the sport and former top pound for pound fighter on the planet, Norifumi ‘KID’ Yamamoto. Yamamoto may be long in the tooth and the fact remains that he has only won once in 4 plus years. But he should be able to defeat the inexperienced Uyenoyama on Saturday – if he doesn’t; it is time to hang up the boots!
Pick: Norifumi ‘KID’ Yamamoto -360
Cub Swanson (15-4-0): +130 vs. Ricardo Lamas (10-2-0): -150
Cub Swanson hasn’t been all that impressive lately losing two of his last four fights. But Swanson’s experience and superior ground game will be too much for Lamas to handle.
Pick: Cub Swanson +130
Pablo Garza (11-1-0): +255 vs. Dustin Poirier (10-1-0): -305
A very good Featherweight bout comes our way on Saturday. Both Pablo Garza and Dustin Poirier have lost just once in their MMA careers. Poirier is a handful and could elevate himself to the elite class of Featherweight fighters before too long. Poirier’s ground game will be the difference in this one in a very good fight.
Pick: Dustin Poirier -305
Clay Harvison (9-3-0): +230 vs. DaMarques Johnson (12-9-0): -275
Two former The Ultimate Fighter alums do battle on Saturday. I have never been a fan of Johnson and his 12-9 record. Harvison is in a good position to pull the upset in this one. Take the underdog!
Pick: Clay Harvison +230
Mackens Semerzier (6-3-0): -115 vs. Robert Peralta (15-3-0): -105
In Featherweight action, Robert Peralta puts an eight fight win streak on the line against a rather inexperienced Mackens Semerzier. Peralta makes it nine in a row on Saturday!
Pick: Robert Peralta -105
Mike Pierce (12-4-0): -320 vs. Paul Bradley (18-3-0): +270
These two fighters have fought once before with Pierce winning. Pierce is simply the better fighter and should be able to duplicate his previous success against Bradley.
Pick: Mike Pierce -320
Aaron Rosa (16-4-0): -145 vs. Matt Lucas (14-2-0): +125
Matt Lucas makes his UFC debut in Heavyweight action. Lucas is a beast and should be able to handle Rosa in this one.
Pick: Matt Lucas +125
Alex “Bruce Leroy” Caceres (5-4-0): +215 vs. Cole Escovedo (17-8-0): -255
In Bantamweight action, The Ultimate Fighter alum Alex Caceres moves down a weight class to try to save his employment in the UFC. Don’t bet on it happening against a decent all around fighter, Cole Escovedo.
Pick: Cole Escovedo -255
