Imagining an MMA Hall of Fame: Borderline Candidates, Part 2

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Cain Velasquez Strikeforce (2006); Ultimate Fighting Championship (2008-Current)
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CASE FOR: The American Kickboxing Academy cardio machine had so much buzz surrounding him that he ended up in the Ultimate Fighting Championship for his third professional fight. Since then, it has been consistent dominance. He knocked out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and ended Brock Lesnar’s heavyweight title run. He twice avenged his only loss to Junior dos Santos in emphatic fashion and made people feel pity for the massive Antonio Silva. Velasquez also helped to bring Mexican and Mexican-American fans into the sport, fight fans that have traditionally been loyal to boxing. CASE AGAINST: his first fight with dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1 should have moved him to the next level, and his loss there set him back significantly from a popularity standpoint. Injuries have prevented him from fighting as often as he would like. VERDICT: Should he go in? Yes.

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