Junior Dos Santos and Shane Carwin Head to Head: Who will win at UFC 131?
Posted on June 6, 2011, 08:34 AM by Anton GurevichJunior "Cigano" Dos Santos and Shane "The Engineer" Carwin will meet this weekend at the Rogers Center in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, headlining the long-anticipated UFC 131 fight card. The winner will get a shot at the UFC Heavyweight title against the reigning Champion Cain Velasquez.
Here's a preview for what is without a doubt one of the biggest Heavyweight bouts in UFC history:
Shane Carwin
Age: 36
Record: 12-1
Finishes: 12
Streak: W-W-W-W-L
Junior Dos Santos
Age: 26
Record: 12-1
Finishes: 11
Streak: W-W-W-W-W
Striking: 55-45 Junior Dos Santos
Shane Carwin and Junior Dos Santos are famous for knocking their opponents out cold. Carwin has a demonic power in his hands, but when comparing the striking of those two Heavyweight monsters, it's a good idea too looked at the level of competition they faced inside the Octagon. Junior Dos Santos KO'd Stefan Struve, Fabricio Werdum, Gilbert Yvel and brutalized the legendary Mirko Cro Cop. All better strikers than Shane Carwin's victims - Neil Wein, Christian Wellisch and Frank Mir. Dos Santos is more technical and faster with his hands, while Shane Carwin mostly relies on his power. Cigano has the edge in this one, but there's always a chance that one well-timed bomb from Carwin will put the Brazilian heavy-hitter to sleep.
Clinch/Dirty Boxing: 65-35 Shane Carwin
Striking in the clinch combined with wrestling will be Shane Carwin's biggest advantages against Junior Dos Santos. "The Engineer" will weight around 20lbs more than Dos Santos, a crucial difference when fighting at the fence or in the clinch. But it's not all about the size (ask Frank Mir), Dos Santos simply never faced someone as strong and as skilled with dirty boxing like Carwin. Clinch will be Shane Carwin's first option after he realizes Junior Dos Santos is much faster with his hands. Carwin will look to make a dirty war out of this fight, relying on his size and strength advantage.
Wrestling: 80-20 Shane Carwin
Shane Carwin has a strong wrestling background, which was tested in a fight against Brock Lesnar. Carwin managed to defend Lesnar's takedowns in Round 1, proving the Minnesotan Viking that NCAA Div. II guys also can wrestle. Dos Santos never faced a takedown fighter inside the Octagon. Werdum, Cro Cop, Gonzaga, Yvel, Struve and Nelson didn't even try to take Junior Dos Santos to the ground. Shane Carwin will be a totally different story.
Submissions: 55-45 Carwin
Despite the fact that Shane Carwin was submitted by Brock Lesnar at UFC 116, I feel like "The Engineer" still has more than enough tools to submit Junior Dos Santos. Carwin has 2 Rear Naked Choke and 2 Guillotine submission victories, while Junior Dos Santos has only one RNC "W" over a 2-7 fighter Eduardo Maiorino. Plus, Dos Santos was armbarred by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Joaquim Ferreira back in 2007. Obviously, Carwin is not a BJJ Black Belt, but he still has a slightly better submission game than Junior Dos Santos, even in light of the fact that Cigano trains with the Nogueira brothers.
Photo: Junior dos Santos, left, fights Gilbert Yvel during UFC 108 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 2, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Francis Specker
Comments
This is easily the heaveyweight fight of 2011
I disagree. Reem vs. Werdum is.
I think Cain Velasquez vs. the winner of this fight will be the fight of the year.
heavyweight that is
Both fights are.
why do we feel the need to label everything (not just mma) its an awesome fight end of story so is Reem vs Werdum
Thats the best comment on this discussion
Overeem via. Destruction LOL
Its not so much labeling everything its people having fun discussing their feelings on something they are excited about. Don't worry about it. Its fun! Otherwise we won't be able to voice an opinion on any issue here. Why log on? Have fun.
not a fan of a champion choosing to fight in a tournament for another belt while not defending his own..if werdum beats overeem again..the reem should hand him the title
@Anton
I agree with the Reem vs. Werdum fight being the fight of the year thus far.
I am picking Dos Santos over Carwin. I do not think Carwin's boxing (Technical ability) nor Cardio comes close to Dos Santos.
reem vs werdum is just a test on who improve the most from their last fight but still both are good fights. i cant even pick which side cause carwin and jds are both good with a very unpredictable sides on whose gonna win but one things for sure is its gonna be a knockout90% :D
reem is just going to destroy werdum hows that heavyweight fight of 2011
i dont think overoid and werdum is, this is. All reem is doing is finally fighting some1 who fights back
Not sure. Although Carwin completely crumbled rd 2 against Lesnar it was because he didn't have the discipline going all out for the TKO.
As I remember Dos Santos slowed down considerably towards the third round against Nelson and that was just from punching. Add being wrestled or even just defending takedowns from someone that size and its going to be way more fatiguing.
Get a clue.
get a life
i think Carwin should be massive favourite personally but the bookies are giving 6/4 for carwin so get on!!!
JDS has an outside chance of outpointing Carwin but I doubt he'll avoid carwins bombs for a whole 15 minutes. Carwin by KO 1st round.
Great article, although I have to disagree with the submissions, from what I've heard Junior has a good Black belt level
yes we have all heard that but do you think they would tell you his bjj sucks. you do realize this information comes from his friends team mates and manager who obviously have some motivation to stretch the truth. . so far the only evidence we have is reflective of their records in which carwin appears to have the advantage. to the cardio factor shane needs to improve it alot but jds has also visibly slowed way down in the second and third rounds
i really hope dossantos wins, i think people are underrating his bjj and tdd, and on the feet hes definetly better, despite carwins power. i got dossantos by tko probly round 3, but i was so wrong about the finally so i just dont know any more.
Expect to see a faster, lighter Carwin, but I still give the edge to JDS. Let's not forget JDS has a great ground game, we just have not seen much of it yet.
JDS is going to put Carwin to sleep.
I know in the interview with Shane Carwin and Joe Rogan they talked about Carwin slimming down since his last fight. I wonder how much weight he lost.
But i suppose they didn't wanna throw out numbers so it'd be more of a mystery. I don't think he'll lose any power though. just be faster.
I think Carwin's wrestling will be the big difference here. If Shane's cardio has increased as well as his training partners and coaching staff are preaching it has, while still retaining the gorilla-like strength from before, then we could see the best Shane Carwin yet. Dos Santos hasn't fought a wrestler yet. I see him getting pinned against the cage, dirty boxed and then dumped on his back where he'll likely struggle to get back to his feet.
Good article, seems like you're giving the advantage to Carwin. I know you're trying to get people to make up their own minds but it feels like it is lacking a conclusion.
Struve and Werdum are better strikers than Mir.
Mir would KO either one in the first round.
that's why I crossed the Frank Mir name... I guess you didn't understand.
I think dos Santos will win by tko. and Nelson tried to take dos Santos down several times but couldn't. But then again carwin is probably a way better wrestler. Only time will tell
This article said it best, its a Classic battle of power vs. speed. Dos Santos is a better pure boxer, is faster, and much more accurate with his strikes. Carwin is not as accurate but much more powerful, and if he tags Cigano, then Good Night Irene. Carwin's chin hasn't been tested and neither has Dos Santos either. I like both fighters, but Carwin is my favorite UFC heavyweight so I'll be rooting for him in this fight.
how can u give submission advantage to Carwin only because he has submission victories on his record ? lets say Brock(who has 1 sub victory) would fight a guy who has 10-0 record with 10 ko victories and also has a black belt bjj, by your logic you would then give advantage to Brock ??? Give me a brake, Dos Santos is bjj purple belt and is in a camp with some of the best bjj specialists in the world, how can you give a submission advante to Carwin here is beyond me...
Oh and my prediction will be Dos Santos by sub in round 3.
Unlike what the article stated, If the fight goes to the ground, Carwin will take a nap. Also, If the fight goes to distance, JDS's arm will be raised. Carwin's only ways of winning this fight is to either get a quick TKO or KO in the clinch in the first round or by Fitching it.
This will be a great fight. The only problem is that part of me enjoys a KO, but when I get it, like Carwin vs. Mir, it all seems to be over too quickly.
So I will hope for a KO in the third round.
Was there any proof that Carwin used enhancing drugs? I read something awhile back but never saw anything about it again. Can anyone shed any light on this?
Was there any proof that Carwin used enhancing drugs? I read something awhile back but never saw anything about it again. Can anyone shed any light on this?
I always wanted to see the Junior vs Cain fight so...