Undefeated Cain Velasquez (7-0) takes on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5) at UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia, with a possible title shot on the line.
During his preparation for the former UFC and Pride titleholder, Velasquez has studied tapes of countless Nogueira fights, but one he didn't put much stock in was the Brazilian's loss to Frank Mir at UFC 92 in December 2008.
"From watching all of the previous fights and the fights after that, I can't really study that night and say that's the same Nogueira that fought in all the previous fights and the fights after that," said the American Kickboxing Academy trained Velasquez.
Nogueira entered the bout with a staph infection and for the first time in his legendary mixed martial arts career, he was finished by an opponent.
"It's just a different guy. He just wasn't the same guy," stated Velasquez. "He's a lot better than he was in that fight."
25 comments:
Who is it you to judge Velazquez.........he is just setting up the possiblity that if he would happen to finish Nog then they could say he was the first person by disregarding mir.....if you watch every single fight that nog has fought he fought no different than he did against mir.....he uses no head movement, not light on his feet, and is a ground specialist........he may of been slow pulling the trigger but he was slow doing that because he felt mir was so much faster and would make him pay for every sec he was not blocking the shots......it is total BS to make excuses.....no fighter comes into any fight 100% it is the true champions that can win at 75%.......also if mir wanted to make excuses than the freeman and lesnar loss should be his only ones since the other ones were substained while returning from his motorcycle accident which many believed he would never walk again
whatever mir's paying you, don't spend it all in one place
Now, now ... spiteful blogs for the sake of being spiteful are simply lame ... have a take and don't suck!
The first blogger has a point. If Noguiera were not healthy enough to fight he would never have been cleared by the Doc's. Though he may not have had sufficient time for a proper training camp is too be considered, however a fight is a fight and he had no less of a punchers chance than an opponent of lesser experience and skill. Obviously, Valasquez was simply pointing out that he expects Nog's best game come (Sat.) Sunday. Cain is a stud and we'll see how just how far up the ladder he has climbed when they hook up. Remember that Nog might look like he's 50, but unless he has lied all these years about his age, he's still in the prime of his athletic abilities in his mid 30's (not sure his exact age ... 34-35?). His window is not yet closed, be sure of that! I also agree that Mir's recovery and the progressions he has made to evole and advance his overall game, make him a contender to be rivaled with and are testament to his mental and physical fortitude. I could easily see Mir/Lesnar 3 this summer, with Mir coming out on top due to Lesnars long lay-off. Ring rust on top of regaining his strength and conditioning to the level he was at prior to his illness would seem a challenge to anyone, but if anyone can do it Lesnar would be a good pick. Listen, I'm a fight fan, I want to see great fights with great fighters and I want to see them stand toe to toe with each other and settle it in the cage. All the posturing hype bs and all the paper lion quotes go out the window when that cage door closes! So, in the immortal words of "Big" John ... "Let's get it on!"
In response to the Anonyous comment on 2/18/2010 at 9:42...
He isn't judging. He is just posting his opinion of the fight and isn't degrading either of the fighters who participated in that match. He believes Nog didn't have his best performance during that match up and that is all.
No fighter is ever at a 100%, but with a staph infection you're only not at 100% cut you can't spar during that time either. Limiting the amount of sparring that can be done leading up to a fight will definitely impact performance. Comparing a staph infection to other injuries isn't really a fair comparison in my opinion.
Dude. Stating opinion is stating your judgment.
I think Cain is trying to be respectful and also buying an insurance as well.
It is not a good idea to bash on your opponents. If you lose, you will be the laughing stock of the town. If you win, it makes you good like a good sport and a strong fighter.
I disagree with Cain. Nog has looked great in his last fight because he fought Randy the paper champ.
Nog always struggled with bigger opponents: Ricco, Barnett, and Mir. Those three beat Nog by neutralizing Nog's submissions and out muscling him. All three had decent stand-up as well.
Nog has been in decline since 2008 when he came to the UFC. He is just past his prime at this point.
I wouldn't be surprised if Cain destroys this guy. Nog has a submitter's luck and maybe able to capitalize on Cain's relative inexperience.
But Cain is 1/2 Nog's age (MMA age) and is extremely hungry.
Cain vs Nog could be Sergei vs Rizzo. Coming of new age.
Ask your self this. If you were about to fight Nog would you study the Mir fight to set up your game plan> If the answer is yes you are an idiot and you would loose. Anyone with eyes can see Nog was not himself in that fight and using it as an example of what you can expect from him in this fight would be a mistake
I don't buy Nog's excuse...he was embarrassed by a far better fighter in Mir...people like to count Mir out, but his game is evolving as fast as anybody's right now and he is a top contender in ANY organization...I don't think Nog was nearly as sick as he's been saying, brazilians always make excuses when they lose or underperform....if Kongo was Brazilian, he would have made some excuse too...Nog had his hayday, now he's obviously aging, and his days are numbered...good chance he loses out until he gets released, then he can go to Strikeforce with all the other UFC failures....Velazquez will win this via boring lay n pray for a three round decision
I'm rooting for Nog, but I can see Velasquez winning. As for the guy who said Nog has a submitter's luck, you must have only seen his fight against Tim Sylvia. Nog is as good as a BJJ as Mir or BJ Penn. I do agree that I think Minotauro looked like crap in his Mir fight and would like to see a rematch. The guy who posted the fact that if he was truly unhealthy, they wouldn't have allowed him to fight is right on the money. I think he wasn't 100% (which I know no one is) and probably wasn't able to do much training. Back to Velasquez vs Nogueira, I think if Nog can keep it standing, his boxing is so much better than Cain's and can win this. If Velasquez takes him down (which I think he will) then he has a chance to win by his very boring ground and pound. The thing is Nog is great in guard. He still has a good chance of submitting him. I'd rather see Nog win cause Velasquez will not be able to smother Lesnar in a fight. They both are equals in wrestling but Lesnar has bout 30 pounds more strength. Just don't see that happening. Nog could still pull a Lesnar/Mir I victory.
EQUALS!?!?! Velazquez isn't anywhere near Brock's wrestling level....fuckin retard
Yeah, his college background isnt near Lesnar's, but how he has trained since, their wrestling abilities are about equal. Would you say GSP's wrestling isn't anywhere near Hughes or Koscheck's? He didn't train for wrestling in high school but has become a great wrestler after he began his mma career. Fucking retard.
Tice...some of the things you type on here make me wonder what UFC you're watching dude. and that guy was right, you certainly are a fuckin retard. what the fuck do gsp and hughes have to do with ANYTHING here. you've seen Cain take guys down who have NO takedown defense...he would never handle brock like he did rothwell. again, it is you, tice, who is the retard
Obviously the last two bloggers don't have the intellect to understand the analogy between GSP and Hughes/Koscheck. Most 12 year olds play the "retard" card when no other argument in their defense presents itself. However, all wrestling pedigrees aside(this is MMA afterall) Lesnar is 3-4" taller and 40-50lbs. heavier. All skills being "equal", size does matter! Even a "retard" could figure that out ...
Cain is tough as nails and Nog is tough as nails. I think it has the potential to be a war. Say what you will, but win or lose, Nog is never in a boring fight! So, stop talking trash and enjoy the fight!
I like both fighters Nog and Cain. I am going to put it to you like this. Nogueira by Submission. Im a Wrestler as well and know a few years of BJJ but Nog Has the Experience and Thats my Final Answer. I also see Vanderlei 1st round Knockout of Bisping. I see Joe Stevenson winning on Heart and Determination over his Aussie opponent.
Thanks smoka
Tice, I got your back Bro!
Anyone who is saying Nog is gonna win should be ready to put everything on the line.
I am 100% confident that Cain will win and you can laugh at me if he loses. However, if Nog loses (like I predicted) then all of you fags shall be labeled noobs.
I am a pride fan. I am a Nog fan. But his days are numbered. And Cain is young and fresh.
aaawwww, does Tice need someone to speak for him...thats sweet...man you guys are fuckin gay
I am the poster above at February 20, 2010 4:58 PM
I told you Nog was past his prime.
SO ALL OF YOU NOOBS THAT'S BEEN SAYING THAT NOG IS BACK BECAUSE HE IS ONLY 33 AND JUST BEAT RANDY THE ULTIMATE COUTURE CAN JUST BE LABELED A NOOB FOREVER.
Don't ever come back here and talk about MMA ever again.
You don't know shit about MMA. Just blind Pride nuthuggers. I am a Pride fan and I hate it when there is blind Pride nuthugging going on.
@ dan shanahan
You didn't predict a single fight correctly you fucking noob.
LOL!
Don't ever come back here again. You don't know shit about MMA. You think you are hardcore because you chat on line?
Think again you faggot. You don't know shit.
Tice
You are a noob once again. I am the dude that said Nog has only a submitter's luck.
You post here all the time and you are fucking wrong all the time. This makes you a MMA noob.
So stop your dumb shit and go kill your self.
Ah, I forgot, once the "retard" card has been played, 12 yr. old resorts to the "fag" card! You're right buddy, I am gay! Just a lesbian trapped in a man's body!
smoka, your also a fuckin retard...and its not that cool to put smoka in your name...unless you're in junior high
Hey buddy, I guess I'll sink to your level now. You're a fuckin' douchebag piece 'o shit little bitch ass punk! For your information my moniker is a combination of nicknames in homage to some very close friends of mine. I'm a 40 yr. old family man, not some little bitch still living with my parents that gets his rocks off posting "anonymous" slurs against people on the internet because they disagree with someones opinions. I have been a fan of MMA for nearly 20 yrs., I think I know a thing or two about the sport. It's assholes like you that give this great sport a bad reputation. Fuck off pal!
yeah, me posting something anonymously on a mma website gives mma a bad name...and I don't believe you about the nickname thing...smoka...call me smoka, I'm really cool...yeah, sure you been watchin for 20 years...why don't you and tice go taste eachothers nutz some more
Alright look buddy you're a fuckin' tool! And this exchange is getting tiresome ... I'm assuming that you are some sort of Valsquez groupie and have a hard on for the guy, but if you actually read my past blogs about the fight, never once will you find that I said anything negative about the guy. Of course since a relivant agrument about the initial opinion I stated about a wrestling analogy that was made was never presented by yourself, am I forced to draw no further conclusion than that you are nothing more than some deralict teenager who thinks sarcasism is cool. I can't stand when assholes come on here to simply bash others, it's not funny to anyone over the age of 18. And yes, I have been watching the UFC since the very first one aired in '93. I really don't give two shits whether you believe it or not. And lastly, my user name is a combination of references to an inside joke amongst my friends and I and a nickname that has nothing, I repeat nothing to do with a any drug reference as I'm sure you were implying you fuckin' moron. But then again why am explaining myself to a fuckin' twit like you? Grow up and grab a sack bitch.
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