UFC 99 Red Ink: Velasquez vs. Kongo
Jake Rossen Jun 13, 2009
Cain
Velasquez has logged less than three years and only five bouts
as a professional, but he’ll enter the Octagon Saturday as a
favorite over 19-fight veteran Cheick
Kongo. Why? More tools in the shed. If he’s in trouble
standing, he can take it to the mat, where others have controlled
Kongo before.
But pressure can make men out of monsters. Kongo is a brick with arms, his ground game is much improved since a decision loss to Heath Herring, and has knees exactly as damaging as you’d expect from a 6-foot-4, 230-pound kickboxer. Whoever wins is still likely to see a doctor.
What It Means: A chance to take a bite out of the UFC’s heavyweight champion.
Third-Party Investor: The winner of July’s Brock Lesnar/Frank Mir fight. Velasquez would give either one of them fits.
Who Wins: Velasquez. Kongo is taking the bout on a few weeks’ notice, which is ill-advised at this level and with this much on the line.
But pressure can make men out of monsters. Kongo is a brick with arms, his ground game is much improved since a decision loss to Heath Herring, and has knees exactly as damaging as you’d expect from a 6-foot-4, 230-pound kickboxer. Whoever wins is still likely to see a doctor.
What It Means: A chance to take a bite out of the UFC’s heavyweight champion.
Third-Party Investor: The winner of July’s Brock Lesnar/Frank Mir fight. Velasquez would give either one of them fits.
Who Wins: Velasquez. Kongo is taking the bout on a few weeks’ notice, which is ill-advised at this level and with this much on the line.
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