FACEBOOK TWITTER RSS APP PODCAST Opinion & Analysis : Roundtables ROUNDTABLE (pt. 1 of 2): What are your early thoughts on the Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez fight at UFC 121? Perez, Bacior, Hobaugh, Marsh and Pelkey

Aug 21, 2010 - 9:15:01 AM

What are your early thoughts on how Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez match up in their UFC 121 showdown?

ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez are going to have an epic match-up. I still believe the only fighter in the division that is going to be able to beat Lesnar is Shane Carwin, so I see Velasquez doing the same Carwin did to Lesnar - give him trouble early - and then Lesnar comes out and demolishes Velasquez. But seeing as how Lesnar continues to evolve his game, it really could be however he wants to end it.

MIKE BACIOR, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Well we know that Cain won't gass like Carwin did, but he also has to deal with a signifigant size disadvantage, and he does not have quite the power that Carwin does. But he has also shown himself to be a very smart fighter who improves everytime, and if he does find a way to hurt Brock, I feel he won't let him off the hook (keep in mind, I give Brock all the credit he deserves for surviving the beating he took last month). However, I feel Cain gets better and better, and his very technical skills could be the difference.

ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH SPECIALIST

The fight with Carwin showed Brock can be hurt. As much as I
want to see Lesnar get beat, Velasquez is not a big enough fighter to keep Lesnar away from him and keep the fight standing long enough to capitalize on his striking weaknesses. In my opinion, Brock wins this one sided fight easily.

GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I do believe a great striker with solid wrestling will beat Brock, however I'm not sure Cain is that man. He has shown good boxing skills, solid wrestling ability and great cardio. And when you think about the skills needed to beat Brock Lesnar, those would definitely be at the top. I just am not convinced Cain has what it takes to beat Brock. If he can take Brock into the 4th and 5th rounds, he will most likely win the fight. If he allows Brock to get every take-down and spends a lot of time on his back, it's another notch in Brock's belt.

MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I liked Cain in the match up before the Lesnar-Carwin fight, and after coming down from the high that was the main event of UFC 116, I still favor Velasquez. Cain isn't the block of muscle that Shane Carwin is. He has the cardio to hang five rounds and the quickness to avoid Brock's doubles. He also has the striking (although not the power) to give Lesnar fits on the feet. Keeping in mind my right to change my mind any time I want, my early prediction is that Velasquez stays on his feet and outworks Lesnar to either a late stoppage or clear-cut decision win.

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