Round six in the main event of UFC 211 begins Saturday night when UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic steps back inside the octagon to defend his belt against former champion Junior dos Santos from the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The pair met at UFC on Fox in Dec. 2014. A five-round war ensued with the Brazilian walking out that night winning a razor-thin decision. Things have changed since then: dos Santos has only fought twice going 1-1, and Miocic has won four consecutive fights all by stoppage including his title win over Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198 last May.
MORE: How to watch Miocic vs. dos Santos
But the biggest question remains: Who walks out of UFC 211 the king of the heavyweights and the baddest man on the planet?
Miocic vs. dos Santos: Does either fighter take anything from the first fight?
If the rematch had taken place sooner, then absolutely. But you're looking at almost two and half years in between fights. Miocic and dos Santos have evolved during this time. Both guys have their tendencies on what got them to the dance. Miocic is a striker and a wrestler while dos Santos is a striker who doesn't utiilize his superior jiu-jitsu. Miocic and dos Santos know the script and shouldn't expect them to change too much.
Miocic vs. dos Santos: What does JDS have left?
Fighters can only go through so many wars. Dos Santos has had two epic slugfests with former champion Cain Velasquez and the first fight against Miocic. You can see it in the first fight that dos Santos was starting to age. Shear guys and desire were able to get "Cigano" to the winners circle on the steamy night in Phoenix. There's a reason he's only going into his third fight in about 30 months including a 13-month layoff heading into UFC 211. A fighter can only take so many wars before you start to slow down. Dos Santos has started to show those characteristics. Will taking those long breaks to let his body rest prove to be what the doctor ordered? Father Time doesn't wait for anybody.
Miocic vs. dos Santos: Prediction
One wouldn't expect Miocic and dos Santos to do what they did the first time around and stand and trade bombs inside the octagon for 25 minutes. While it would be surprising, you can't necessarily count it out.
Miocic has the better wrestling but really gone to it much since he fought Mark Hunt back in May 2015. Dos Santos possesses the better jiu-jitsu as he is a black belt but for one reason or another, he never uses it. Just imagine if he took these heavyweights to the ground and the work he would be able to do.
The fight will play out on the feet. At this point in time, Miocic is the more accurate striker and accuracy usually wins the race. If dos Santos can end the fight within two rounds he has a great chance to win.
Miocic is going to batter dos Santos early and often.
Miocic walks out of Dallas still the UFC heavyweight champion of the world defeating dos Santos by fourth-round knockout.
Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and Boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can find his podcast, "The Fight Club Chicago," and subscribe on iTunes. You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.
