Date: October 19, 2013
Location: Houston, Texas
Venue: Toyota Center
Broadcast: PPV, FOX Sports 1, Facebook
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Cain Velasquez vs Junior dos Santos – TKO
Despite the lopsided nature of the first two fights, this will likely go down as one of the great trilogies in MMA. Cain and JDS are head and shoulders above the rest of the HW division, so it’s not entirely out of the question that they end up facing one another again. JDS has great takedown defense and is very strong, but he’s going to have to catch Cain early again, because he won’t be able to handle the pace and pressure. I don’t think anyone can at this point. Much like their second fight, expect Cain to relentlessly close the distance and go for takedowns until JDS begins to fade. I thought Rogan was accurate in his assessment Cain could have finished JDS in RD2 if he had pushed him off and traded with him. JDS just wasn’t there anymore after being dropped in RD1. JDS looks in phenomenal shape and he’s arguably the most powerful striker in MMA, but I expect this fight to go much like their last. This time Cain finishes him inside RD4.
Daniel Cormier vs. Roy Nelson – Decision
Both these guys should be LHWs and it looks like Cormier is committed to dropping down permanently after this fight. This is a big fight for both guys. Nelson suffered a setback taking a short notice fight against Miocic. Nelson wants big fights but he hasn’t answered the bell when he’s had his opportunities (Arlovski, JDS, Mir, Werdum). I’m interested to see if Cormier comes in & lt;230lbs and if he still looks light on his feet. He’s gotta be careful trading with Big Country, because he has an iron chin and can KO anyone. But I expect Cormier to use the clinch, dirty boxing, TDs and GNP to grind out a decision.
Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez - Decision
Two guys with the heart of a lion. This has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. Diego should get back to his wrestling roots if he wants to win this fight, but more than likely he will stand and trade with Gilbert. Melendez is too technical and will pick him apart.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shawn Jordan – Submission
It’s tough not to be impressed by Shawn Jordan’s last two wins over Mike Russow and Pat Barry. He’s an excellent athlete with heavy hands and seems to be improving with each performance. Needs to stay away from Gonzaga on the ground.
John Dodson vs. Darrell Montague – TKO
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)
Tim Boetsch vs. C.B. Dollaway – TKO
Hector Lombard vs. Nate Marquardt – KO
Jessica Eye vs. Sarah Kaufman
K.J. Noons vs. George Sotiropoulos - Decision
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 6 p.m. ET)
Adlan Amagov vs. T.J. Waldburger
Tony Ferguson vs. Mike Rio
Andre Fili vs. Jeremy Larsen
Kyogi Horiguchi vs. Dustin Pague
Daniel Cormier (224) vs. Roy Nelson (249)
Gilbert Melendez (156) vs. Diego Sanchez (156)
Gabriel Gonzaga (257) vs. Shawn Jordan (255)
John Dodson (125) vs. Darrell Montague (126)
Tim Boetsch (186) vs. C.B. Dollaway (186)
Nate Marquardt (171) vs. Hector Lombard (169)
Sarah Kaufman (135) vs. Jessica Eye (135)
George Sotiropoulos (155) vs. K.J. Noons (156)
Adlan Amagov (171) vs. T.J. Waldburger (170.5)
Tony Ferguson (155) vs. Mike Rio (156)
Jeremy Larsen (145.5) vs. Andre Fili (148.5)*
Dustin Pague (135) vs. Kyogi Horiguchi (135)
I bet he gets subbed after he gasses.
Cain should win. Love him and JDS both. A pleasure to watch these guys fight every time.
Would love to see Nelson try some BJJ on Cormier, but he's fallen in love with that overhand right. Simialr to Hendo and doesn't use his other skills enough to pressure guys. Cormier isn't going to gas either. Cormier should win this but who knows w Roy. he certainly has a punchers chance.
Gonzaga is a cypher. Hope Jordan wins ans HW needs new blood badly.
Melendez should win. Diego is a better version of Leonard Garcia. Comes to fight but really isn't good enough for the top guys.
LM, I hear ya on Lombard, but the guy he's fighting has been busted for elevated testosterone levels multiple times as well... Nate the Great's no choir boy...
BTW, any thoughts on Palhares getting cut? Good riddance, IMO... The incident at ADCC a few years ago was even worse than this one... Guy is a real dirtbag...
As far as Palharehes he reminds me of a guy who got kicked out of our academy. Nice guy off the mats but when they go they zone out and hurt guys. Pierce's knee is fucked now. One of my buddies timed it. It was only like 2 seconds between the tap and the release but A LOT can happen to that knee on a heel hook. Its why only top level matches allow in in BJJ.
I'm purple belt and we can only do straight foot locks in competition. No toe holds or knee bars. IMO the UFC doesn't think palhares is all that great and since this is second offense I think they decided to cut bait. He not good enough to challence at 170 so why risk other entertaining fighters i guess.
Cormier looks really good. He can easily hit 205.
JDS will fight 2 or 3 more times and win but he's not beating Cain and find me another guy who will. Werdum next in line but he's got no stand up and Cain is going to be all over him.
I feel bad for JDS as this loss leaves him in no man's land for quite a while... He's way too big to go down... And they are unlikely to let him keep picking off contenders before they get to Cain...
and u watch the other guy die by paper cuts
he is a great fighter, no question, but thats not the style of fight the ufc wants .... very randy couture-like in that way
Then fights Anderson, should he beat silva or moves up to fight Cain.
Cain vs Bones is now the marquee super fight.
I want Phil Davis to welcome Cormier to light heavyweight.
Cormier is the next one for Jones. Love Glover and he's a great fighter but he's too slow for Bones. Cormier is vastly superior to Jones w his wrestling and he's already shown he can get inside of big guys. That's the fight we will see sooner than later.
Weidman might also be a guy who can make the jump up if he remains dominant for a year or more w another win over Anderson and then a title defense or two. He's a big Middle weight and with his wrestling pedigree is another guy who can bring it to Jones.
Cain finishes plenty of fights. Just not agains JDS because he respects his power and stand up enough to never want to give him any space. Boring in a way but can't blame him. I expect him to finish Werdum w GNP similar to what he did to Bigfoot. He's too fast and too smart to stay on the mat for that fight.
No one is touching Cain for a while unless its another flash knockout like his loss to JDS.
IMO, JDS and Cain beat Jones to a pulp... I dont expecy that he wants any part of that...