1 takedown and 53 horrible strikes: the essential recipe ingredients for Cain Velasquez's finished obliteration of Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva for UFC 146. In a performance that will even MMA purists perceived as borderline assault and battery, Velasquez used Bigfoot to be a mere stepping stone to help reclaiming his UFC heavyweight tournament belt.
In the buildup to next week's UFC 160 main event, Bigfoot has done much to reassure this MMA masses that his rematch will tell some wholly different story. Don't think the hype, though. Cain will demonstrate that the 1st time wasn't a fluke.
Both men were coming off losses—Cain had just handed over the belt in an upset to Junior Dos Santos despite the fact that Bigfoot Silva suffered some sort of knockout loss to Daniel Cormier. All signs pointed for a competitive fight between the above heavyweights on the quest to regain title contention. Cage-side fans cheered for the reason that opening bell ushered both men towards the middle of the Octagon.
Ten a few seconds later, Bigfoot was on their back and enduring an onslaught destined to cease the fight at 3: 36 within the opening round. Cain had opened a wide cut on Bigfoot's forehead by having a superbly placed elbow. A veritable bloodbath ensued as Velasquez targeted the wound with an unforeseen ferocity. Covered in red, Velasquez walked faraway from that fight with some sort of declaration to regain this championship.
Through the UFC 160 conference phone call, Silva addressed these factors: "A lot of my preparation has been identical to from the first battle. Obviously in the first fight, I made a major mistake, but there were a lot of things that I did right going into that fight, that unfortunately you guys didn't get to view. Much of that has been maintained. Overall, my strategy is simply not to let his elbows find near my forehead; that might be a change. "
Sadly for Silva, the concern lies more while using vulnerabilities of his MMA game and less with his strengths. Bleacher Report's own Jack Slack addresses the important points:
Silva also showed good quality boxing sense in your partner's match with Overeem, as he took observe of Overeem's head action and caught the Dutchman with a solid uppercut which served as the start of the end.
The second—and more important—factor may be to actually work to get hold of opponents underneath him. Bigfoot Silva could starch an elephant if he mounted it, nevertheless he lacks the wrestling or guard games to help you trouble 230-pound wrestlers.
Oh, and of course, he should eliminate kicking altogether. His kicks are hard, but that they aren't fight-changers—unless they're obtaining him underneath someone.
Not surprisingly, Silva could pull up from the upset against Velasquez—he is a puncher's chance with some sort of black belt attached—but he may not show any steadiness against truly elite competitors until he addresses a lot of these issues.
This is not to say that Bigfoot is undeserving of this title shot. On your contrary, he's demonstrated an extraordinary ability to deliver historic upsets—he practically rearranged Fedor Emelianenko's face, became the main man to defeat that promising Travis Browne, and shocked the entire world by knocking out Alistair Overeem in what the UFC has officially come to regard as the "Biggest Upset of 2013" (via UFC. com).
When ever all is said and done, Bigfoot Silva is a formidable contender with serious hands and wealth with experience to reassure him as he steps inside the Octagon at UFC 160—but standing along the cage will be certainly not an ordinary heavyweight champ.
Bigfoot will be facing an enigma that had once managed to walk right through him. He'll need to summon every ounce of his composure to ensure that Cain doesn't repeat the attack unleashed in 2009.
Cain's superior wrestling sport will prevent Bigfoot from throwing many kicks. Similarly, Cain are able to ensure that the fight comes together in any position associated with his choosing. His relentless attack when in top control will overwhelm any planned submissions Silva sometimes have from his guard.
Throw in the added variable of Cain's lauded vehicle's gas tank and you have the formula for sometimes a repeat of UFC 146 or—worse yet—a showing of what Cain is capable of with the added self esteem of his second distinction run.
Could Antonio Silva proceed his streak of breathtaking upsets by connecting this 4XL gloves with Cain Velasquez's chin at UFC 160? You'll be foolish to assert otherwise. The potential is always there—the concern has to be present when facing a huge as large as Silva. The champion, along with your partner's training camp, have likely prepared and avoid such a scenario without exceptions.
When the cage door closes, Antonio Silva will have to fight inner demons reminding him of his last deal with Velasquez. He'll then must step forward and battle the actual that—since their first confrontation—Cain has were able to reclaim the belt this Silva so eagerly wishes.
Regardless of his composure in your pre-fight build up, Bigfoot has to understand that Cain won't wilt under pressure. He'll have to stop the champion's rhythm before it quite possibly gets underway.
If he or she telegraphs a kick, Cain might capitalize. If he techniques forward throwing flat-footed tow hooks, Cain will capitalize. If he a lot as begins to roll, Cain will capitalize.
To strip Velasquez of the crown, Bigfoot Silva ought to stop takedowns, fluidly deliver combinations, and pace himself to your long haul.
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