UFC on Fox Preview
The UFC will take one of their biggest steps with UFC on Fox that could propel them into the forefront of professional sports. The UFC signed a deal earlier in the year with Fox that will promise to change the standing of the UFC. This deal will be so important because it is the UFC’s first deal with a major television network that will show their fights as well as a number of new programs to feature the sport. This new deal will bring the UFC to the masses and promises to increase the popularity of the UFC throughout North America. It all starts this weekend as the first ever UFC on Fox events will take place and will feature a huge battle. At UFC on Fox there will only be one fight shown on TV while the rest will be on Facebook and foxsports.com. Although there will only be one fight shown it will be a big one as the Heavyweight Championship will finally see a defence. Champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos will face off for the title as the Heavyweight crown will be defended for the first time in over a year. Cain Velasquez became the champion by beating Brock Lesnar who many believed to be the dominant champion that would never be beat. Then came Velasquez who ended Lesnar’s reign and preserve his undefeated record. Velasquez will put his title on the line for the first time after he was injured and unable to fight for over a year. He will finally defend his belt in one of the most important fights in the history of the UFC as he will be a part of the only fight shown on TV. Velasquez will take on this challenge with the same determination and work ethic that has brought him to a 9-0 record in the UFC. As a top-level wrestler in the NCAA Velasquez has the ability to ground and pound anyone in the division. He also has the ability to earn the knockout with some serious power. It will be a challenge for Velasquez to win the fight standing however as Dos Santos is one of the better strikers in the division. Dos Santos also has the skills to hang with anyone’s Jiu Jitsu on the ground. Both fighters are very equally matched and the fight will be a close one. Expect Velasquez to attempt takedowns and get on top of Dos Santos but this is easier said than done as Dos Santos is one of the best heavyweights in terms of stuffing takedowns. This fight will stay standing for a while unless Velasquez can use his great kicks to weaken the legs of Dos Santos and take him down. Even when on the ground it will not be easy for Velasquez as Dos Santos has good Jiu Jitsu and won’t give the champion much room on the ground. The fight will be exciting as both fighters have the ability to end it at any point with either a KO or a submission. With Velasquez on a 9 fight win streak and Dos Santos on a 7 fight win streak both are at the top of the heavyweight division and will not go down easily. Expect both to come out swinging to start the fight as Velasquez will continue to chop at dos Santos’ legs. Velasquez will probably get dos Santos down and be able to do some work on the ground against him. I think these two are too closely matched for one to dominate the other and because of that I think that it will go the distance. I also believe the Cain is just slightly more dangerous at both aspects of the fight and will take home the win to defend his title in a unanimous decision.
The rest of the fights on this card will be displayed online on Facebook and foxsports.com with the heavyweight bout the only one on TV. Even though they are online and not on TV there will still be some amazing fights to see in the prelims. None are more exciting than the Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson in a lightweight matchup. When watching this fight there should be a fair warning, do not blink or you might miss the entire fight. Both of these fighters are fast fighters with endless cardio that don’t know what it means to back up. Guida has been a fan favorite for years because he continues to put on great fights. Guida is good both standing and wrestling and is always active rarely taking a rest even if he is being beat. Meanwhile Ben Henderson has established himself as a great lightweight challenge since entering the UFC from the WEC. Henderson is not as active as Guida but he comes close to it with his ability, much like Guida, to hang either on the mat or standing. There is more to this fight than just the great matchup as both fighters will be looking to take the win and earn a title shot. There are a number of people lining up for the lightweight title after the two fights between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Two of these men are Clay Guida and Ben Henderson who have both proved to be at the top of the division and will fight for their chance to take on Edgar. This is just one of many great prelim fights online in one of the biggest weekends in the UFC’s history as they enter the mainstream with UFC on FOX
Fight Card
Main Event:
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos [Heavyweight Title] (Sportsnet/Fox Sports)
Undercard:
Clay “The Carpenter” Guida vs. Ben “Smooth” Henderson (Facebook)
Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier vs. Pablo “The Scarecrow” Garza (Facebook)
Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas (Facebook)
Damarques “Darkness” Johnson vs. Clay “Heavy Metal” Harvison (Facebook)
Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Darren “BC” Uyenoyama (Facebook)
Mackens “Da Menace” Semerzier vs. Robert “Problems” Peralta (Facebook)
Alex “Bruce Leroy” Caceres vs. Cole “Apache Kid” Escovedo (Facebook)
Mike Pierce vs. Paul “The Gentleman” Bradley (Facebook)
Aaron Rosa vs. Matt “Luke Duke” Lucas (Facebook)
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