Sunday’s UFC 146 all-heavyweight main card was expected to cause some changes to the landscape of the big boy division, and it most certainly did.
In addition to Roy Nelson solidifying his place as a gatekeeper, and showing that Stipe Miocic is the top prospect in the division, champion Junior dos Santos and the man he beat for the title back in December, Cain Velasquez, proved that they’re head and shoulders ahead of the pack in the UFC’s heavyweight ranks.
Defending his title for the first time, dos Santos breezed through two-time former champion Frank Mir in the main event, stopping the Las Vegas native midway through the second round. “Cigano” was never in trouble, shaking off an early takedown attempt while offering a coy waggle of his finger to let Mir – and everyone else – know that this fight wasn’t going to be contested on the ground. Instead, dos Santos got to wage this war exclusively on the feet, and in this range, and the results were to be as expected.
The champion peppered Mir with jabs and straights, countering any offense the challenger offered with something with just a little more pop on it each time. Unable to put any pressure on dos Santos, Mir was left to fight a losing battle standing with the much more skilled striker, though it didn’t last all that long.
Prior to champion and challenger taking to the Octagon, Velasquez delivered the most impressive heavyweight performance of the night in his first bout since dropping the title to dos Santos back in November.
The 29-year-old American Kickboxing Academy product brutalized Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, taking him down instantly, and opening up on his with vicious ground-and-pound.
It was the most dominant and demonstrative performance of Velasquez’s career to date; one that should have reminded people of how talented and dangerous the former champion can be when he’s healthy.
Though the rest of the action on the main card delivered excitement as well, the final two bouts of the evening showed the clear separation dos Santos and Velasquez have achieved at the top of the heavyweight division right now in the UFC.
The power/speed combination possessed by the two twenty-somethings is something their current crop of contemporaries can’t match. Both force you to fight their fight, and no one seems capable of besting either in a battle on their terms, which is part of the reason a rematch between the two is almost assured for later this year.
However, that’s not to say that new challengers won’t emerge before the year is out.
Alistair Overeem remains a intriguing figure at the top of the division, and should return to the title picture the second he’s able to return to action in December. In all likelihood, the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion will face the winner of the dos Santos-Velasquez rematch for the UFC heavyweight title on a New Year’s Eve show, presumably in Las Vegas.
Daniel Cormier, who cemented himself as the top heavyweight outside of the UFC with his victory over Josh Barnett in the finals of the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix earlier this month, should factor into the discussion by the time the leaves change colours later this year as well. A former two-time Olympic wrestler, Cormier has gone undefeated in his first 10 fights, and continues to grow in leaps and bounds with each subsequent appearance.
The one potential snag in his emergence near the top of the heavyweight division is his close ties to Velasquez. The two are teammates at AKA, and have repeatedly said fighting each other is out of the question.
Additionally, continued success and further development from Stefan Struve and Stipe Miocic, both of whom were also victorious at UFC 146, could have them on the cusp of being contenders later this year, depending on how quickly the UFC looks to move them up the ladder.
But for right now, dos Santos and Velasquez stand alone at the top of the heavyweight mountain, with everyone else much further back on the trail, struggling to keep up.
Follow E. Spencer Kyte on Twitter (@spencerkyte)
E. Spencer Kyte
Roar Guru
I can understand the hesitation to put Struve on a list of contenders, but there is much more to this sport (and his record) than just the wins and losses. Look at who has knocked him out, and where those bouts have taken place over the course of his career: He had no business being in the cage with JDS for his first fight, and losing to the champ who hasn't lost to anyone (in the UFC) is nothing to be ashamed of, especially considering he was 20 or 21 at the time. Roy Nelson has knocked out some solid talents over the years, and planted Struve when they fought, as did heavyweight dark horse Travis Browne, who just so happens to be undefeated at this point in his career. Additionally, Struve is just now, at age 24, starting to fill out and figure out how to use his abundant talents best. Two years ago, he would have tried to stand with Lavar Johnson the way he did with Nelson, and probably ended up laid out, but instead, he pulled guard, got the tap, and kept his winning streak intact. JDS and Cain have separated themselves from the pack, and Cormier and Overeem are the next two in line IMO, but guys like Struve, Browne, Stipe Miocic, and Shane Del Rosario are the future of the division, and could be making an impact by the end of the year. You heard it here.
Trav
Guest
Stefan Struve a potential contender by the end of the year? If you line up all the HW fighters from best to worst, Struve is much much much closer to the 'worst' end then he is the 'best'. He hasn't beaten anyone relevant in his entire UFC career and whenever they have stepped him up in competition he has been knocked out. People think the HW division is stacked, and they are right but it isn't stacked with talent but myths and pretenders. Like your article pointed out JDS and Cain are that far ahead of anyone else in the division its sort of scary. Until Overeem, Cormier and perhaps Carwin enter the division this is going to be a two horse race.
scoper
Guest
turbodweeb , you can't rule Overeem out remember Sonnen ?
E. Spencer Kyte
Roar Guru
Thanks Sam — I think those two really showed how far ahead of the group they are over the weekend. What I like most about it is that I don't see it as a knock on the rest of the division, but rather a testament to how good Cain and Junior are. There are a number of very solid heavyweights out there who could certainly contend for championships if not for those two, but the last two champions are just on a different level. And you're right about the division as a whole too — great to see guys on the way up like Miocic, Del Rosario (even though he lost), and Stefan Struve all look good. Add in Travis Browne (and even Ben Rothwell, whom he fights in August) and there is some "fresh talent" on the way too.
E. Spencer Kyte
Roar Guru
Thank you for inspiring my next column here at The Roar. Please keep your eyes peeled in the coming days — I promise to give you a mention.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
Spot on Spencer JDS and Velasquez are head and shoulders above the rest. Ovreem is an interesting proposition but unfortunately won't factor in till at least next year. I am really keen to see JDS V Dos Santos. It is really exciting to see a stacked HW division though. If UFC 146 showed anything it was that the HW division has a lot of talentand there are some young guys who are quickly on their way up, ready to fill the shoes of some of the vets who may be starting to slow down. It is a long way from how the division once shaped up.
turbodewd
Guest
UFC was a bit disappointing with quick bouts. Struve won quickly Nelson won quickly Cain won quickly JDS easily beat Mir...wasnt even close Stiopic v Rosario was okay and it at least reached the 2nd round. I wonder if Overeem will ever really return, his name is mud now. He's gone from LHW to mega HW...he's clearly juicing. But at the same time, are the UFC mgmt stupid? This was bleedingly obvious to anyone! And Overeem is fooling noone with his tales of a sick grandmother or some injury and treatment causing that crazy testosterone reading. I would be surprised to see Overoid in the UFC again. Looking forward to Cormier entering the UFC...maybe v someone like Carwin...might be an interesting first up bout.
Frank
Guest
Hi there, Well Dos Santos will be difficult to stop. May Cain Velasquez can do it next time. well long live to the champ.