Velasquez Defeats Dos Santos For UFC Heavyweight Title

Added by Paul Conroy on January 2, 2013.

(AP Photo)

Displaying incredible quickness for a 240-lb. man, Cain Velasquez punished Junior Dos Santos for five rounds to reclaim the UFC Heavyweight title.

Baring no resemblance to the fighter who was knocked out by Dos Santos 13 months earlier, Velasquez used accurate strikes combined with consistent takedowns to pick his opponent apart. Pushing the pace of the fight from the start, Velasquez denied Dos Santos the opportunity to find a rhythm and forced him to stay on the defensive. While Dos Santos showcased his take-down defense early on, Velasquez stayed patient and softened his opponent with precision punches. As the strikes began to take their toll, Dos Santos finally succumbed to Velasquez’s take-downs, where the newly crowned champion continued to control the fight.

Although he failed to submit Dos Santos, Velasquez continued to press the fight on the ground, and his opponent began to run out of gas. Repeated take downs took their toll, as we watched Dos Santos gasping for breath when he returned to his feet. As a result of the punishment, his hands started to drop, leaving him vulnerable to punches. By the end of the fight, the official judges’ decision was not necessary. Dos Santos’ face told the story.

In defeat, Dos Santos displayed incredible heart, somehow finding the strength to continue to throw punches despite the fact that, physically, he had nothing left in the tank. As Velasquez celebrated, Dos Santos claimed that he would “come back and take my belt again”.

And so the stage is set for Velasquez/Dos Santos III.