Cain Velasquez vs. Brock Lesnar: Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Is Cain Velasquez who we thought he was?

People have begun to question the legitimacy of the former UFC heavyweight champion's world-beater status, following a TKO loss to top contender Junior dos Santos Saturday night at UFC on Fox.

The world has already begun pondering about what's next for Velasquez, who was stopped in 64 seconds of the first round.

He could face Shane Carwin, the winner of Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, or the loser of Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.

What would a Lesnar and Velasquez rematch look like? Would Lesnar be able to rectify past mistakes and avenge his October 2010 loss?

Here is a head-to-toe breakdown of the potential blockbuster rematch.

Be sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things UFC on FOX. B/R is your home for post-fight analysis of the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos fight card. Also, be sure to check out our fight card hub page for news and opinion on the entire UFC on FOX fight card.

Striking

While Lesnar continues to patch up major striking holes, Velasquez has come a long way in his standup.

Even against dos Santos, Velasquez was able to utilize leg kicks and land in pocket exchanges.

His improved knowledge of range and ability to string together combinations makes him a problematic striker for any heavyweight.

Lesnar boasts knockout power, but he tends to shy away when his opponent is pressing forward with strikes.

This usually leaves him open to damage, and his opponents are never threatened with counters. Velasquez has some defensive holes in his overall striking, but Lesnar's problems run deep both defensively and offensively.

If these two ever meet again, Velasquez should have a major advantage on the feet.

Clinch

Lesnar's size is reminiscent of a full grown Grizzly Bear.

There are very few heavyweights that can handle him in the clinch. As long as he's the aggressor, he should have a definitive advantage over Velasquez in this area.

His world class wrestling background and strong hips gives him an edge in leverage and control. This especially holds true if he clinches opponents against the fence.

It would be nearly impossible to escape the clutches of a man with Lesnar's size and technique.

Velasquez could certainly put up a solid effort. Outside of a gargantuan frame, he presents the same technical abilities as Lesnar, if not more.

Technique is greater than strength, but the clinch is definitely an area where size and leverage can play a vital role in who comes out on top.

Wrestling

From a credentials perspective, Lesnar has an edge over Velasquez all day long in the wrestling department.

He is a former NCAA Division I wrestling champion in comparison to Velasquez's NJCAA title, but MMA wrestling and collegiate wrestling aren't necessarily the same thing.

Lesnar may have the credentials, but Velasquez's wrestling is better suited for MMA.

His ability to put everything together is like a poetic timeline. He transitions from striking to wrestling seamlessly, which is a rare sight in the heavyweight division.

Lesnar is a world class wrestler, but other holes in his game inhibit him from realizing his actual potential.

Even if credentials were considered, we would also have to note that Velasquez competed during an era of some of the greatest collegiate heavyweights of all time including Cole Konrad and Steve Mocco, and he still finished top-5 in the country on two separate occasions.

Conditioning

While Lesnar has a submission win over Shane Carwin, submissions really aren't his or Velasquez's forte.

The arm triangle and numerous guillotine variations are among the most common submission techniques utilized by wrestlers.

With that said, we move onto the next important aspect of this proposed rematch––conditioning.

As a behemoth, Lesnar's speed and conditioning are the primary reasons people consider him an athletic freak. It's rare to see a man of his stature move around at such a frantic and persistent pace. It truly is extraordinary to witness.

Still, Velasquez remains arguably the most conditioned athlete in the entire sport.

He is continuously noted for outworking lightweights in the gym, and it shows on fight night. Velasquez doesn't just beat opponents. He wears them completely down by setting a pace that only he can sustain for extended periods of time.

Prediction

It's tough seeing the rematch going any differently than the first bout.

Velasquez is simply the more well-rounded fighter.

With Lesnar's size and power, there is always the chance he clips Velasquez coming in with a big punch, but his inability to exchange in the pocket make that possibility highly unlikely.

Lesnar could grab a takedown or two, but Velasquez would scramble back to his feet and eventually overwhelm Lesnar in the standup exchanges.