Just as Velasquez has achieved stardom by perpetually flooring and mauling his opponents, Dos Santos has made his mark by fine-tuning his takedown defense in an effort to impose a Chuck Liddell-esque game plan. They?ve taken different approaches, but both men have managed to utilize their respective departments of wrestling expertise to dictate where their fights transpire.
While Velasquez has competed in just 12 professional tilts, nine of which have come in the UFC, he?s landed 13 more takedowns than Cigano, who has racked up 16 pro bouts, including nine in the UFC. In fact, since his first scrap in the UFC in April 2008, Velasquez has become one of the UFC?s most prolific and efficient takedown artists, executing 71 percent of his attempts (16-of-22) and averaging 6.61 floorings?for every three rounds he fights.
In contrast, Dos Santos has finished just 3-of-4 career takedown attempts and has stuffed 88 percent of his opponent?s shots, including attempts from top-notch grapplers like Shane Carwin, Frank Mir and Roy Nelson.
And like countrymen and UFC featherweight champ?Jos? Aldo, Dos Santos uses his extraordinarily flexible hips to keep the fight standing, a place he can enact a game plan that?s more tailored to his strengths. Just ask Carwin, Mir and Nelson, among others, and they?ll tell you how difficult grounding Cigano has become.
Being on bottom against Velasquez or trying to strike with Cigano from a distance pose different threats to any of their potential challengers. Anyone who?s willing to play to the strengths of Velasquez or Dos Santos will quickly realize that it?s a costly mistake.
clemson pellet gun clay aiken zambrano orange bowl tim howard goal ben gibbard
No comments:
Post a Comment