UFC 166 fight card primer: Cain Velasquez vs Junior dos Santos

Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

In the main event at UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos, the UFC Heavyweight belt is on the line in a highly anticipated rubber match. Champion Cain Velasquez (12-1 MMA; 10-1 UFC) defends against former champion Junior dos Santos (16-2 MMA; 10-1 UFC). The official UFC rankings have champion Velasquez as the #5 pound-for-pound fighter, with Dos Santos as the #1 Heavyweight contender. UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III airs live from Houston, Texas this Saturday, October 19, with the PPV main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

The marketing for this says it all. Both men have held the gold, both have beaten every opponent they’ve faced in the UFC, both have their only UFC losses coming against tonight’s opponent. The stakes for this one could not possibly be any bigger. It’s for the UFC Heavyweight title, but it’s also for who is the face of the division, and to a certain degree, who is the best HW in UFC history. Both are great contenders, but only one can win the series.

How do these two stack up?

Velasquez: 31 years old | 6’1″ | 77″ reach
Dos Santos: 29 years old | 6’4″ | 77″ reach

What have these two done recently?

Velasquez: W – Antonio Silva (TKO) | W – Junior dos Santos (UD) | W – Antonio Silva (TKO)
Dos Santos: W – Mark Hunt (KO) | L – Cain Velasquez (UD) | W – Frank Mir (TKO)

How did these two get here?

Reigning and two-time UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has already made it to the point where he’s being looked at as one of the best Heavyweights of all time. The result this weekend may have a big impact on that status. With his wrestling, aggression, and incredible cardio, Velasquez has managed to grind down every single opponent he has faced. His lone loss comes, of course, against Dos Santos, who KO’d Cain in 1 minute when Cain was coming off of shoulder surgery. If the champ has a weakness, it may be that chin – a weakness Dos Santos will certainly look to exploit here.

More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 166

Junior dos Santos started his UFC career with an incredible KO of Fabricio Werdum that started a 9 fight UFC win streak. That streak included the title victory over Velasquez, and a successful defense against Mir. His rematch with Velasquez is a fight Cigano would like to forget, as he was soundly beaten over 5 grueling rounds. His bounce back fight was a complete annihilation of the very hard to annihilate Mark Hunt. That fight reminded everyone what a beast JDS can be.

Why should you care?

Come on, seriously? The best HW rivalry in the history of the UFC will be settled. You have to watch.