Heavyweights collide in a massive main event card.
In what is shaping as one of the most-anticipated cards of the year, UFC 160 sees Cain Velasquez defends his heavyweight belt against Antonio ‘Big Foot’ Silva in the main event.
In what is the second time the men have fought, Velasquez is looking to repeat the dose from UFC 146, when he comprehensively beat Silva via a TKO just 3.36mins into the first round.
The two are a different kind of heavyweight fighter, with the champion set to be between 20 to 30 pounds lighter than the massive Silva.
As a result his hand-speed and footwork will tip the fight in his favor depending on how long both men stay on their feet.
Should it be taken to the ground, Velasquez’s sensational wrestling skills will enable him to get on top and pound away on Silva as he did for much of their first fight.
But to do that the champion will need to get the 6ft 4in 260lb Silva to the mat, which is no easy task.
Despite his sheer size, Silva posses excellent cardio and should not be discounted if the fight makes it into the championship rounds of four and five.
Evidence of this was his last win inside the Octagon when he knocked out Alistair Overeem late in the third round after going behind 2-0.
Verdict: Velasquez to win via knockout in the third round
On paper the co-main event between Mark Hunt and Junior dos Santos has all the hallmarks of a slug-fest.
Which ironically means the fight might be decided on the ground if either fighter pulls something different out of their bag of tricks and looks to earn takedowns.
Much like the main event, both strikers posses different skills which makes them equally devastating if they can find their range and rhythm early in a fight.
Dos Santos will look to use his athleticism and keep the fight moving rather than simply standing in front of Hunt, with his quicker hands also possibly giving him an edge.
But the Brazilian and his team will need to think carefully about trading too often with Hunt, who has shown remarkable resilience to make a late run at the possible title shot late in his career.
Hunt, who currently owns the longest active winning streak in the division at four, has shown throughout the years to have an iron chin and even harder hands.
Just ask Stefan Struve how his jaw is feeling.
After paperwork nearly denied him a American visa and with time against the 39-year-old, Hunt will be as hungry as anybody to ride his current form all the way to a title shot.
Because a loss, even a close one, might just be the last time his name is mentioned in the same sentence as the strap.
Verdict: Junior dos Santos via split decision.
Sydney’s James Te Huna has compiled a 5-1 record in the UFC including two first round finishes and has largely flown under the radar, but a win this weekend against Glover Teixeira will change all of that.
Riding an 18-fight win streak, Teixeira most recently ended Quinton Jackson’s UFC career in January, and despite being a jiu-jitsu black belt, the majority of his wins have come from his fists.
The Brazilian will look to throw bombs early in the first round and a half, and if the Australian can survive he should get the chance to end the fight with a knockout in the second half of the three-round fight.
Verdict: James Ta Huna via knockout (punches) third round
COMMENTS