Daniel Cormier And Cain Velasquez Toned Down Their Hardcore Training Methods Leading Up To UFC 200

Cain Velasquez defeated Travis Browne by TKO in the 1st round UFC 200 (Screenshot Report)

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American Kickboxing Academy is notorious for producing champions and having those champions pull out of fights due to injury. Cain Velasquez is equally considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and one of the most likely to not make it to the Octagon on fight day. He reinforced this unfortunate legend after pulling out of various fights, including a Februaryheavyweight title fight rematch with Fabricio Werdum. While Daniel Cormier has only recently pulled out of a fight, his light heavyweight title fight with Jon Jones in April, AKAs Josh Thomson and others carry that injury stigma with them as much as the teams winning pedigree.

Velasquez is now right around the corner from 34 years old, and Cormier turned 37 in March. The hard sparring sessions and intense weightlifting gauntlets take a toll on a fighters body, even if it leads to great success in the cage.

Speaking to MMA Junkie, Cormier and Velasquez admitted that it was time to adjust their methods.

A lot of people dont see behind the scenes what we do to get ready for fights, Velasquez said. They just see fight day, and we go out there and fight. But theres a lot of hard work that needs to happen beforehand, and weve been criticized for sparring too hard. But hey, thats the best way to get ready for a fight, we think, and its proven.

Of course, sparring for some teams is the bread and butter of training, while other champs, like Robbie Lawler, rarely spar. Some dont want to take the damage in training, and now this tweet from DC before Rockhold was knocked out by Michael Bisping is catching flak.

Took 7 years but I am officially a beast. Today I dropped @LukeRockhold :) feeling like a 2 division champ lol jk :)

Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) May 9, 2016

So perhaps the training isnt all that light, but it is different.

Right after Cain got hurt, he talked to me and he goes, We dont want to say old, but us experienced guys, maybe we should reevaluate our training a little bit, Cormier told MMAjunkie. It made me take a hard look at myself, as it did Cain. We both had to take a hard look at ourselves, as we had to prepare for these new fights. It was a blessing in disguise.

The newfangled AKA will get a good look at UFC 200 when Cain Velasquez takes on Travis Browne and Daniel Cormier finally rematches Jon Jones for the undisputed light heavyweight belt. Itll be interesting to see the results.

(Via MMA Junkie)

Source: http://uproxx.com/sports/ufc-200-cain-velasquez-daniel-cormier-injury-training-change/

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UFC 200 Predictions: Early Look At Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne Fight

Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne - UFC 200 Highlights

If there was ever a perfect stage for Cain Velasquez to reignite his mixed martial arts career, it would be UFCs highlybilled bicentennial extravaganza.Thirteen months and 12 events removed from losing his heavyweight crown, former champion Velasquez re-enters the octagon against seventh-ranked and powerful Travis Browne at UFC 200 Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with hopes of earning another title shot in the near future.

In many respects, the 33-year-old Velasquez (13-2) is an obviousfavorite over former 6-foot-7 Gladiator and VFC champion Browne (18-3-1, 14 KOs), however, another loss could spell disaster for Velasquez.

Odds makers at online sports book Bovada.lv have tabbed Velasquez as a -305 favorite and Browne as a +235 underdog, and rightly so.Before succumbing to now former champion Fabricio Werdums third-round guillotine chokeat UFC 188 in June 2015, Velasquez was riding the best and most challenging string of bouts in his career, all while proving resilient in the face of adversity.

Photo: Reuters

Over a three-year span, the California native cast aside a murders row of UFC heavyweights, many in the first round. Velasquez pummeled Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for a shot at the title and then took down Brock Lesnar for the crown in 2010.

He then lost the title in his first defense against Junior dos Santos one year and a month later, but would regain his form with a TKO over the legendary Antonio Silva and followed up with a championship decision over Dos Santos at UFC 155. Velasquez would meet both fighters again over his next two fights (both victories), before falling prey to Werdum.

Still, Velasquez finds himself in a similar spot as 2010 and 2011, with a chance to redeem and prove to himself, UFC, and president Dana White that he belongs atopthe topsy-turvy division.

On the other hand, Browne represents an entirely different animal and may be unlike any opponent Velasquez has faced before.

Blessed with incredible size and knockout power, Browne too is gunning for the top of the heavyweight division and his first realistic title shot in more than two years. Fourteen of the 33-year-olds victories have come by way of knockout, and he does own impressive wins over Brendan Schaub and current No. 3 ranked Alistair Overeem and No. 8 Josh Barnett.

Prediction: Rust and psychology are major factors for Velasquez to shake off. His power cant be questioned, but timing, speed, and mental toughness will have to be rediscovered in the first round in order for a successful bout. A case can be made for Browne to pull off the upset, however, hes prone to make mistakes early with all three of his losses coming by way of first-round knockouts. Look for a slugfest but for Velasquez to prevail with a knockout by the second round.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/ufc-200-predictions-early-look-cain-velasquez-vs-travis-browne-fight-2389450

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