Who really is the best heavyweight in the UFC??

In response to: Cain Velasquez will beat Brock Lesnar

In the past four weeks, the next generation of UFC heavyweights has made their presence abundantly (and violently) clear.

It started at UFC 110 where Cain Velasquez completely starched former UFC and PRIDE champion and probably the best eavyweight in the history of mixed martial arts not named Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. "Minotauro" was put down in just over two minutes with a vicious knockout by the now 9-0 Velasquez. Velasquez is expected to get his crack at the title against the winner of the Undisputed Heavyweight title fight in July.

The guard continued to be changed last week at "UFC on Versus" in Broomfield, Colorado. Brazilian striking phenom, Junior Dos Santos knocked out former title challenger, Gabriel Gonzaga in the first round. Gonzaga was never a top 3 level fighter at heavyweight but with his brutal, upset, head kick knockout over Mirko Cro Cop eventually made him a betting favorite against then champion, Randy Couture, in a fight he eventually lost. UFC President, Dana White, has said that with another win, "Cigano" would find himself in a title fight.

As we all saw on Saturday night, Shane Carwin knocked out two time Heavyweight champion, Frank Mir, in the 1st round. Going into the fight, Mir was #3 in the world at heavyweight (according to Sherdog.com) and it's very likely that Carwin will move up into that spot now. We still have plenty of questions concerning Carwin's gas-tank and his ground acumen but you can't argue with his two knockout wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Mir.

These three men all debuted in the UFC in 2008 and in two years; Carwin, Velasquez, and Dos Santos make up the number 2-4 contender spots in the Octagon right now. I think I can safely say (even as cliche as it sounds) that we're in a new era of heavyweights. Brock Lesnar still reigns at the top with his championship held high. He'll be taking on Carwin in the aforementioned Undisputed Heavyweight title fight in July at UFC 116. However, Brock hasn't fought any one of these new generation of heavyweights. He wiped the floor with journeyman, Heath Herring, in his first UFC win. He then took the title from aging Hall of Famer, Randy Couture and then defended it against Frank Mir.

I think Carwin is a tough but very winnable fight for Lesnar. Carwin's still never been to the 2nd round and he's been on his back for about 20 seconds in his UFC career. Carwin does have a wrestling background but I think Lesnar's wrestling is better and I think he is the faster and stronger of the two. On the feet, it's all Carwin. Lesnar was getting hit on the feet by Randy Couture repeatedly and while Carwin's not exactly Vitali Klitschko, if he hits you then you're probably in dream land. I favor Lesnar in this match-up. I think Carwin is probably the worst of the top 5 guys I mentioned with his one-dimensional striking game and the fact that his wrestling probably is the weakest compared to Velasquez and Lesnar.

Dos Santos also has some of the same question marks that Carwin does. We haven't seen him on his back in the UFC and we don't really know if his jiu-jitsu game has improved since he was submitted in his lone career loss to Joaquim Ferreira in 2007. That being said, Dos Santos' striking is probably the best of these top guys. With the questionable ground and wrestling game, I'd probably put him above Carwin at #4. Could Carwin take him down and out-muscle him? Sure. But I'd expect Dos Santos to knock him out on the feet.

That leaves Cain Velasquez. I truly believe Velasquez is the best of the heavyweights in the UFC. He's the second best technical striker of the five (next to Dos Santos) plus he's the best wrestler. His size is the only thing I have trepidation about. He walks around at 245 while Lesnar is about 275-280 before he cuts weight. Carwin is also around 270-275 at fight time. However, technique almost always beats size. I mean, the best heavyweight in history is a 225 pound, pudgy Russian. Velasquez's cardio and relentless wrestling/ground and pound is an absolute nightmare for the other guys in the division. His wrestling is also just so amazing for mixed martial arts. He can clinch up with guys and throw them around. His finesse in his single-leg is amazing and he can play a power double-leg game if necessary. I'm not even mentioning his physical gifts. Cain just gets better with every fight and I'd have no real qualms about picking Velasquez to beat every heavyweight outside of Fedor Emelianenko. That's how much faith I have in this guy.

So who is the best heavyweight in the UFC? I say it's the guy with the "Brown Pride" tattoo.

Blog – 1 year, 10 months ago by EBWReturns to MMA/Boxing. 1052 views, 5 comments.