Issue 087
April 2012
Junior Dos Santos might have bettered the previously 9-0 wrestler, but there’s a reason fighters and insiders are so enthusiastic about the skills of AKA’s first UFC champion. Learn the former heavyweight king’s keys to success
BOXING SKILLS
Velasquez has unusually fast and sharp hands for a heavyweight fighter, with equally exceptional punching power. In fact, when he appeared on the Sports Science TV show, they recorded his left hook can produce 2,230lb of force.
IN THE GYM
Here's the same combination that Velasquez used to finish Nogueira translated for mitt work. Throw the right, slip the cross to the outside, and come back with the left hook.
In Action
In 2010, at UFC 110 in Australia, Velasquez spectacularly knocked out Rodrigo Nogueira, slipping ‘Minotauro's cross and simultaneously landing his own right hand, and finishing with the left hook.
CAGE CONTROL
Controlling his opponent against the cage is yet another area where Cain Velasquez excels. Preventing the bottom man from ‘wall walking’ to his feet means Velasquez can dictate the location of the fight, rack up the damage and draw the life out of his opponent, helping him on the judges’ scorecards.
IN THE GYM
Dedicate rounds to standing up and pinning against the fence. If the bottom man is successful in returning to his feet and moving off the cage wall, switch and control the top position in order to give incentive to try harder to escape. Identify clearly when the knees become legal strikes.
?In Action
Velasquez used superior head position on Ben Rothwell in 2009 to achieve the finish. As Rothwell attempted to stand up, Velasquez secured the underhook, kept his head above Rothwell's shoulder, so leaving Rothwell unable to block or stand. posture.
FINISHING FROM THE BACK
Velasquez uses his supreme wrestling to manhandle foes into the turtle position and to keep them there, where he can unleash punishing hooks to end the fight.
IN THE GYM
Pressing hip against hip you can ride the man down to the mat and yourself into a good punching position. Have your sparring partner attempt to hip heist or Granby roll out while you chop the arm at the elbow and continually drive him to the mat. Like many situations in wrestling, persistence and tenacity is the key to success here.
In Action
Velasquez started his pro MMA career with a dominating win over Jesse Fujarczyk on a Strikeforce card in 2006, riding him down to the mat and beating him up with heavy hooks from side ride.
TAKEDOWNS
Velasquez sticks to the fundamental wrestling takedowns – doubles, singles and bodylocks – but what Velasquez does so well is tailor his finishes to the opponent, tweaking his techniques to deal with the opponent’s own physical attributes and technical skill.
IN THE GYM
Drill the following finishes with your training partners so you have many options to finish the takedowns on opponents who react differently.
In Action
JUMP OVER FINISH TO THE DOUBLE-LEG SLAM
At UFC 99 in 2009, Velasquez slammed French Thai boxer Cheick Kongo so hard he was in danger of losing his balance, but compensated by squeezing Kongo’s legs together and jumping over to the far side.
KNEES-TOGETHER FINISH
Velasquez also executed a variety of double-leg finishes on Kongo from against the cage. He pinched Kongo's knees together and pivot stepped back to drop Kongo on the mat.
SINGLE-LEG TO TRIP
When Velasquez captured the single leg on the tall and top-heavy Ben Rothwell at UFC 104 he tripped the back leg, tilting Rothwell to the mat.
SINGLE-LEG, HEAD-ON-OUTSIDE TO DUCK
At UFC 121 in 2010, when faced with the bulk of Brock Lesnar, Velasquez shot a head-on-the-outside single, but wasted no energy trying to move him instead he used the shot as a route to Lesnar’s back.
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