UFC 131: 5 Reasons Junior Dos Santos Should Utilize Body Shots Against Carwin
From the Rogers Center in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, UFC 131 will feature a main event between heavyweight powerhouse-punchers Junior Dos Santos and Shane Carwin.
Santos (12-1) is undefeated in the UFC at 6-0 while Carwin (12-1) is 4-1 inside the Octagon. They have a combined 15 knockouts in 24 wins between them.
The heavyweight title eliminator bout will be an explosive match-up between two knockout punchers, and they both want their shot at current UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez. Carwin replaced an injured Brock Lesnar, who coached on the opposing team of the last season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Santos will need every advantage he can get against the most powerful striker he has faced yet, and this is his chance to utilize every strike he has in his arsenal.
The body shot is one of the most under-utilized punches in the sport, and Santos throws them very well. They should be part of his game-plan if he plans on defeating the former title challenger.
No. 5: "Kill the Body and the Head Will Die."
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While this probably wouldn't work against a fighter like Roy Nelson, Santos can use the body shots to break down an opponent who has a solid chin.
In Carwin's fight with Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 96, he showed he can take not only a good shot, but two. He recovered quickly from receiving the knockout blows and was taken down, only to get immediately back to his feet and land his own punch. His counter counted more, and it put Gonzaga to sleep.
If Santos feels he isn't doing the necessary damage with head punches, he should use his body shots to wear down Carwin or possibly get a knockout. It will pay off in the end no matter how he uses them, but it could be a short night if he uses them with the same intentions of a head shot.
No. 4: Santos Throws Some of the Very Best Body Shots in MMA
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Some fans have said Santos doesn't mix up his attack enough with kicks, knees and punches, but he does mix up his punches. That is a good start to developing a well-rounded striking game.
He has finished all but one of his opponents by exclusively using punches. He did show some versatility in his fight with Cro Cop, using knees to break down the former kickboxer in the third round.
He understands the importance of the body shot, and for someone who has only been past the first round two times in 13 bouts, that's impressive.
He used them effectively against Cro Cop, Roy Nelson, Stefan Struve and Gilbert Yvel. If they ever meant as much to him in his MMA career, it will be in this bout that they mean the most.
No. 3: They Will Set Up the Head Punches
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In some of Santos' fights, he was using the jab to the body. This is nothing more than a set up punch to make your opponent drop their guard, leaving their head open for a quick follow-up. It's all about speed, and Santos has a lot of it.
He used a right hand to the body against Gilbert Yvel to set up the big left hand that followed, and it put his opponent on the canvas.
If he uses this against Carwin, there is a good chance he will drop his hands as well. Santos, who holds an important advantage in hand speed, will be able to follow up with a left hand to put Carwin down or at least stun him.
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No. 2: Wear Carwin Down in Later Rounds.
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In a three-round fight, it may not play as of important a role had it been two extra rounds, but history shows us that Carwin is a one-round fighter.
In his fight with Brock Lesnar, Carwin could barely stand in the second round and was quickly taken down and choked out. It was the first time he had been past the first round in his entire career.
Depending on what changes Carwin has made to his MMA game, the cardio problem will always be an issue for him unless he drops some muscle.
Santos' gameplan probably consists of him taking Carwin into the later rounds, and he will need to make sure he is wearing his opponent down if this is true.
The body strikes, whether they come by punches, kicks or knees, will need to be utilized to be sure that Carwin isn't the same fighter in the second and third rounds that he was in the first.
No. 1: Carwin May Not Be Expecting Them
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Santos' history of throwing body punches may have Carwin concentrating on covering up his ribs and midsection, but how about knees and kicks to the body? Will he be expecting those?
All of these are possible for the 26-year-old, who is consistently improving his overall MMA game even if we don't see it every time he fights. He trains with the very best at team Black House, including Anderson Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Lyoto Machida and Rafael Cavalcante.
Carwin is expecting a stand-up war, and that's probably what he is going to get. It's good news for fans, and the many possibly scenarios of how this fight plays out makes it very intriguing for everyone who plans on watching it this weekend.
UFC 131: News, Results, Predictions and More
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