Heavyweight Championship Fight: Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez
UFC HW Champion Brock Lesnar faces another tough opponent in Cain Velasquez , who holds a record of 8-0 in the UFC. Velasquez is a former D-1 All-American wrestler (ASU) who is also powerful striker and skilled all around martial artist. He can hurt an opponent with strikes, kicks or his great wrestling moves. However, Velasquez gives up significant size to Lesnar and I think that will prove to be decisive in this fight. At 6′ 3/1 2 and 270 – 280 pounds Brock is 2 1/2 inches taller and 30 to 40 pounds heavier than Cain and is just as athletic, if not more so, imo.
Las Vegas has made Brock Lesnar the favorite (he is -150, to Velasquez’a +120) to win this fight and I would agree. If I to bet on the outcome of this fight I would bet on Lesnar. Will I be shocked if Cain wins? No. I am well aware that he can deliver blows that will stop any fighter in the UFC. But Cain is not invincible either. Yes, he is undefeated in his eight fights but no one that he has fought is anywhere near as good as Lesnar.
Prediction: Lesnar by TKO inside of 3 rounds.
Welterweight Fight: Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann
This will be Jake Shields first fight in the UFC since leaving Strikeforce. Dana White & Co. have decided to give Shields a very challenging opponent in Martin Kampmann, who has a record of 17-3, with victories in his last two fights. Kampmann is a good all around MMA fighter, but he prefers to rely on his striking to win.
Shields is former All-American college wrestler. He has also been trained in Jiu Jitsu by Cesar Gracie. Shields ground skills are top notch and his recent victory over former UFC legend Dan Henderson is proof of that.
This fight will be a classic battle between an elite wrestler and skilled striker who prefers to stand up and trade blows. The fighters with elite wrestling backgrounds have been winning a lot recently in the UFC and I think Shields will continue that trend.
Prediction: Shields by decision.
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