• UFC 155

Velasquez not targeting early takedown at UFC 155

ESPN staff
December 19, 2012
Cain Velasquez does his best work on the mat © Getty Images
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Cain Velasquez has revealed he is unlikely to go charging for the takedown in his UFC 155 heavyweight title showdown with Junior Dos Santos.

Velasquez gets the chance to avenge his 64-second loss to the Brazilian as the pair square off for a second time on December 29.

Dos Santos' hands were devastating in the first encounter, and it is widely believed that the challenger will need to be far more aggressive in the sequel, in order to take the fight to the mat.

Velasquez boasts arguably the strongest wrestling background in the UFC heavyweight division, but he insists he will stay patient and mix it on his feet with the champion before targeting the takedown later in the fight.

"I know Junior dos Santos is a dangerous fighter, fast, and has one of the best boxing abilities in MMA," Velasquez told SporTV.com.

"[But] I don't know whether taking him down early in the fight is a good strategy because he has one of the best takedown defences in the UFC.

"My intention, depending on what's going to happen, is to use kickboxing and boxing with him and to take him down when the opportunity comes up."

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