UFC 155: Velasquez’s Retribution VS. Champ Dos Santos’ Retention

Cain Velasquez is serious to say the least. The former UFC heavyweight champion made it clear media obligations are part of his job description, so he’ll do it, but it’s not the enjoyable part. The part Velasquez likes is being a professional athlete in the gym everyday and playing around in “Bigfoot” Silva’s blood come fight night like he did in May at UFC 146–the same night Junior Dos Santos defended the heavyweight title for the first time. The only time Velasquez has been on the wrong side of heavyweight violence was 13 months ago for the UFC’s debut on FOX. It only took 64 seconds for Junior dos Santos to dethrone Velasquez with a thudding overhand right.

Now it’s up to Velasquez to return the favor and affix a loss to Dos Santos’ UFC ledger for the first time. At UFC 155 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.,Velasquez (10-1; 8-1 UFC) enters the rematch trying to regain the gold and “baddest man on the planet” moniker from Junior Dos Santos (15-1; 9-0 UFC). The only reason he is in the sport faces him in the octagon Saturday night.

There’s no questioning the world-class credibility center cage during UFC 155’s main event. Dos Santos has never lost a round. Neither has Velasquez. It’s the best rematch in UFC heavyweight history.

Dos Santos represents Brazil and an audience large enough to fill a soccer stadium watches his fights (including an exodus to Las Vegas to support him live). Velasquez, like his adversary, has the international appeal too because his Mexican-American background. Quite simply: Dos Santos and Velasquez have the “it” factor MMA longs to parallel with boxing. They are true heavyweights and given their trajectory, whoever wins out between the two potentially becomes the greatest heavyweight in the sport’s history.

Dos Santos’ 9-0 UFC win streak is third all-time behind pound-for-pound kings welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. It’s the longest in the organization’s heavyweight history. He’s hit that mark in just four years. Comparatively, the winningest heavyweight in UFC history, Frank Mir, has 14 wins in 10 years. If Dos Santos beats Velasquez, he ties the UFC’s divisional record for most title defenses (two). The division has been around since the UFC instituted divisions. 135-pounders have only been in the octagon for two years and UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz has two title defenses in two appearances. The UFC’s heavyweight crown is the least solidified of any of its belts yet with Dos Santos and Velasquez’s rivalry shaping up that stands to change. It’s just a matter of whom reigns.

Despite it’s concussive qualities, Dos Santos’ knockout of Velasquez sticks out in the American Kickboxing Academy representative’s memory. AKA head trainer Javier Mendez recounted the moment he stepped in the cage to console Velasquez following the first defeat of his career. Mendez started explaining what happened, that Velasquez’s team and family were proud of him no matter what, but was cut off by the now former champion. The former Arizona State University All-American knew losing track of time only means one thing. He knew exactly what to say without his trainer telling him, giving the respect for his opponent and vow of retribution speech post-fight. Velasquez’s composure in the moment shocked even Mendez.

Composure under pressure is what the stoic Velasquez requires to regain the belt.

A Velasquez victory evens the score at 1-1, opening the gates for a trilogy with massive proportions. A loss means rebuilding a win streak from scratch to generate interest in the rare 0-2-trilogy fight. That’s what hangs in the balance at UFC 155. Two fighters who entered the UFC with matching 7-0 win streaks en route to their first clash for the belt now embark on the most telling path ahead.

For Velasquez, it’s resolving the heartbreak of having zero title defenses and for the champion; it’s about doing what his challenger couldn’t do–rule the division. Two fighters with a combined 17-1 octagon record featuring 10 first round finishes battling for combat sports’ prime prize.

Dos Santos-Velasquez II is the last title fight of the year and given the talent and weight, possibly the biggest in sometime.

Watch Acosta’ two-part interview with Velasquez below.