TRANSLATION:
Hey folks. I'd like to breakdown the Velasquez vs. JDS fight in hopes of helping you guys figure out who you want to bet on. I'll break the fight down into 3 categories; striking, ground fighting, and mental spirit.
Striking
As Joe Rogan always says, all fights start on the feet, and JDS is an expert at keeping it that way. In JDS vs Cain 1, JDS landed a thunderous punch to the side of Cain's head, promptly ending the fight only moments later due to TKO. But can lightning strike twice? Let's discuss!
JDS is arguably the UFC's most effective striker. His boxing is the best in the heavyweight division. Cain is no slouch, but it would be foolish for him to stand with JDS, and he knows it, which leads us to category 2:
Ground Fighting
Although we've never really seen JDS's BJJ, it's a safe bet to assume Cain has the advantage on the ground, where he uses his D1 wrestling experience in combination with brutal GnP to maul opponents into TKOs.
Mental Spirit
Ask yourself: "Are both JDS and Cain 100% ready for this fight from a mental toughness standpoint?" The answer should be obvious. Cain followed up his first career loss at the hands of JDS by brutalizing Bigfoot Silva, qualming anyone's fears that he lost his edge. On the flip side, JDS has looked unstoppable ever since he uppercutted Werdum in 2008. Both have shown incredible mental toughness over the years, and assuming neither men have any serious injuries or family issues going on, it's hard to argue they're not mentally ready for this fight.
Other than Overeem, these two men are almost unanimously hailed as the top 1 & 2 big men on the planet. Logic tells us that whoever can control where the fight takes place will be the victor. If it stays standing, it'll be JDS's show. If it goes to the ground, we'll probably see a former champion return to glory. And the longer the fight goes, the odds tilt towards Cain, a man with a seemingly endless tank of gas. Who will win? It's impossible to know. This is MMA after all, and the heavyweight division to boot, where lightning can and does strike twice, and where one punch is all a man needs to walk away with the belt. Just ask Cain Velasquez.
- additions inspired by TS