Posts
At UFC 146, Cain Velasquez wanted to make a statement. He wrote it in blood.
In the co-main event of UFC 146, the former heavyweight champ scored a quick takedown and then used his elbow to open a gushing facial cut on Antonio Silva that occluded Silva's vision. Velasquez mercilessly pounded the wounded area and ultimately notched a dominant first-round TKO victory in Las Vegas, Nev.
What We'll Remember from This Fight
The way Silva's blood was squirting over the canvas like that. Good God! And the way Velasquez brutally—but rightly—exploited the cut, pouring on the ground-and-pound pressure to force the stoppage.
What We Learned About Cain Velasquez
Velasquez (10-1) gets a lot of credit for having great speed and cardio and a great all-around game. But I think his power gets overlooked. He overpowered the larger "Bigfoot" Silva tonight.
What We Learned About Antonio Silva
He's tough. Silva (16-4) had a chance to hit the ejector button when referee Josh Rosenthal called timeout to have a doctor check the cut. The doctor asked Silva if he could see. He likely couldn't, but chose to continue anyway. For that, he deserves credit.
What's Next for Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez probably deserves another shot at the strap. Just not quite yet. After tonight, it seems he might be a mismatch for Frank Mir. The winner between Mike Russow and Fabricio Werdum could be another option.
What's Next for Antonio Silva
Silva is still a good heavyweight, and no one can take away his win over Fedor Emelianenko, but it probably makes sense to pull him out of the contender crucible, at least temporarily, and figure out where he slots in within this division. A healthy Gabriel Gonzaga would provide a stiff test. So would Stefan Struve.
No comments:
Post a Comment