Cain Velasquez vs Junior Dos Santos — Fight recap

Cain Velasquez defeated Junior Dos Santos by unanimous decision after five rounds on December 29, 2012, in a dominant display of wrestling and volume striking. Velasquez landed 111 of 224 significant strikes (49%) while controlling the action for 13:57, establishing his wrestling game early and often—he attempted 11 takedowns and converted on a third of them while scoring one knockdown.

Dos Santos managed only 57 significant strikes (41%) with minimal control time of 1:04, unable to keep Velasquez at distance or prevent the relentless pressure. The striking differential was stark: Velasquez landed 82 head strikes and a perfect 25 of 27 body strikes, showcasing his ability to target the midsection effectively.

This performance cemented Velasquez's status as the heavyweight division's premier wrestler and set the stage for continued dominance at the top of the division.