Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Preview: 3 Keys That Will Decide Title Fight

Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos will come down to three keys. These two fighters are evenly matched and well-rounded, however, this fight will be dominated by one or the other if either exploits on of the following keys.

Standing Up vs. Laying Down

The more time this bout spends on the mat the bigger the advantage to Velasquez. He is an excellent wrestler, and clearly the superior wrestler in this match.

Dos Santos will be overwhelmed on the mat on this one. Conversely, the more time these two spend standing up the greater the advantage for JDS.

Santos may be the best boxer in the heavyweight division, and he is a better boxer than Velasquez. Both of these guys have power, but JDS power is unmatched. He also has a strong ability to counter punch if Velasquez tries to go for a knockout.

First Big Shot

With the power and skill of both of these fighters this bout is not likely to last long. The first person to record a stunning blow will use that to end the fight. That may lead to either a knockout or a submission.

While the way they will end may be up in the air the fact that they will end it is not. This puts a premium on strategic and powerful striking.

Length

Velasquez is one of the finest conditioned athletes in the heavyweight division. The longer this fight wears on, it will play to his advantage. As I just said, I don't expect this fight to last long, but if it does it will be a clear advantage to Velasquez.