UFC goes big at UFC 146

Published: 15^th Mar 12 12:49 pm

by Chris Shelton
Houston Sports Blogger

RANT It!

In America we love to do things big.

Our cars are enormous Sports Utility Vehicles. They guzzle large amounts of gas. They hold several children and they boss hog the road in a way that is uniquely American.

Our waistlines are expanding because we love large portions and fast food.

Big also gives us a sense of security in an insecure world, as many men like former Dallas Cowboys head coach, Jimmy Johnson try Extenze and several women across the globe get breat enlargement surgery.

Most of all, we appreciate big in sports, especially our fighting sports.

UFC President, Dana White will attempt to tap into your subconscious on this issue on May 26th in Las Vegas at UFC 146 where the ‘Big Daddy’ version of a UFC card will air.

The main card will feature 5 heavy weight bouts:

Champ Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem (for heavyweight title)
Frank Mir vs. Cain Velasquez
Roy Nelson vs. Antonio Silva
Shane Del Rosario vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve

These 10 heavyweights average 6 feet 3 inches and 253 pounds. Most interesting, though, is that they have combined for a 162-51 record, and have 144 finishes among those 162 victories, according to records from Sherdog.

Though the entire card is good, the top two fights on the card are huge fights with title implications.

The title fight is interesting because neither parties are interested in a wrestling match, there will be no lay and prey practiced. Both will be looking for an early knockout.

It will be compelling to see if the carousel at the top of the heavy weight division will continue. Can Dos Santos grab the UFC’s biggest division by the throat or will he be choke slammed as recent title holders have.

Overeem’s journey to the UFC is well documented. His path from a great 205lb to a bad one to a dominant heavy weight is nothing short of extraordinary.

After easily shedding Brock Lesnar’s weight from the UFC with a powerful knee to the gut Overeem now has the title shot that he coveted.

What is known is that one of these gentleman will end up on the canvass, I am just not sure which one.

Cain Velasquez will begin a new quest to regain his title but Frank Mir is standing in his way.

Velasquez is good at all facets of the UFC repertoire, but can he get out of the way of Mir’s submission prowess. Black belt holder, Antonio Nogueria proved that this is no small feat.

Velasquez will keep the fight on the feet because not a single heavy weight wants any part of Mir on the ground.

Boxing and MMA are synonymous in their need for a great heavyweight division. It draws fans in because the knockouts are more powerful and the take downs rattle the cage louder.

Lesnar’s entrance into the UFC brought several new fans. He was the first to consistently garner 1,000,000 pay per views.

The UFC has embraced and developed the heavy weight division and it has repaid them dividends.

I will be watching in May and I am sure you will too.

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