The Forward Roll: UFC 146 Edition

Six months after getting starched by Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez is the No. 1 contender. Something about that seems a little bit off to me. Not that Velasquez isn't a great fighter; he is. But when the best argument for him as dos Santos' challenger is "who else is there?," well, that's a problem.

Maybe I just find it strange that in one breath, UFC president Dana White can say Velasquez is worthy of a rematch while in another, say that he thinks Daniel Cormier should consider a move to light heavyweight.

Velasquez is 6-foot-1, 240 pounds; Cormier is 5-foot-11, 238 pounds. Velasquez won his first nine pro fights; Cormier has won his first 10. Velasquez beat Antonio Silva in 3:36; Cormier took 3:56. Granted, Cormier had hand surgery and is obligated to one more fight in Strikeforce before he comes over to the UFC, but it seems sort of incongruous that one guy is being pushed as the top contender and the other is being gently coaxed into another division, doesn't it? I'm of the opinion that we can use all the good heavyweights we can find, especially the legit contenders.

Rant aside, there seems to be a belief that dos Santos vs. Velasquez will look much different next time with Velasquez healthy. Apparently, most have forgotten that dos Santos was also injured at the time, in need of knee surgery. If Velasquez looks better, won't he, too?

, and no one has shown any signs of slowing him down. When he eventually loses, I bet it will be a striker that beats him at his own game, and not a wrestling/striking hybrid.

On to the fight projections…

-- in town for the fight -- had requested a visit with White. We still don't know if he's interested in returning, but you can virtually guarantee that if he does want to come back, Mir-Lesnar III is a lock. For now though, we have to assume he's still on the retired list and look elsewhere. Antonio Silva would make for an interesting matchup, as they are both decent strikers with solid ground games who are coming off losses.
Prediction: He faces "Bigfoot."

Beating Fedor Emelianenko last February was supposed to be the breakthrough win of his career, but Silva has struggled badly in his last two fights, making it easy to wonder if he's capable of competing against the sport's top tier on a consistent basis. Losses to Velasquez and Cormier aren't embarrassing by any means, but he's in desperate need of a win, or at 32 years old, risk being seen as a gatekeeper. Mir is a good bellwether.

Where does Nelson fit into this heavyweight mess? He's certainly got the entertainment factor on his side. He comes to fight, he's interesting, he's got an "everyman" vibe to him. On the other hand, he's 4-3 in his last seven with his results being spectacularly different. His four wins are all by knockout; meanwhile, in all three of his losses, he's been routed, having failed to win a single round. That makes it maddeningly frustrating to project his place in the pecking order.

fight

was a major step upward for Miocic. Even though del Rosario was coming off a long layoff, he was still young, undefeated and hungry, so that win speaks volumes, particularly coming on short notice. Now 3-0 in the UFC, Miocic deserves a bigger name.

Don't look now but Struve has quietly won five of his last six bouts, all coming by stoppage (three TKOs, two submissions). Struve has in the past been accused of having bad fight IQ, but his decision not to engage Johnson on the feet was a wise choice, resulting in a quick win. After 11 fights in the UFC, it's time to up the ante.

bout

Who saw that coming? You might remember that Varner's last Zuffa run didn't end well, as he went winless in his last four fights before being cut. Since then, he announced his retirement at the ripe old age of 26, reconsidered, and won twice on the regional circuit before getting the short notice call to fight undefeated Edson Barboza. The win came as a surprise and perhaps the feel-good moment of a stellar event.

in a quick submission. Already 32 years old, let's hope Teixeira tries to make up for lost time by getting booked again quickly.

feel-good story, Hardy was its sigh of relief. The Brit who was at one time on the cusp of a UFC welterweight championship, was on the brink of being cut from the organization with another defeat. It must have seemed like an eternity between wins for him since the last one had come in November 2009, but the weight is off of his shoulders.

Grid View

• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos nails Frank Mir with a left at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos walks to the cage at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos readies himself at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos walks into the cage at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir prepares for Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos does his pre-fight ritual at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir covers up from a Junior dos Santos overhand right at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos relaxes between rounds at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos again throws the right at at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir tumbles after eating a hard shot from Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir tries to cover up from punches at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir attempts to land a knee at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos A hard punch forces Frank Mir to step back at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir tries to hang on after being hurt at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Frank Mir lays on the canvas after his loss to Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos is declared the champion at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos is animated and excited after his win at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos poses for the media after his win at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Junior dos Santos and his team pose for pictures after his win at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva readies for Cain Velasquez at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez works top position at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez holds Antonio Silva down at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photo Antonio Silva is covered in his own blood at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez wears the blood of Antonio Silva at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez works a front head lock at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva tries to stand, but Cain Velasquez forces him back down at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Referee Josh Rosenthal yells instructions at Antonio Silva at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez wins by TKO stoppage at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Cain Velasquez is victorious at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva has doctors attend to him at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Antonio Silva walks back to the dressing room at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Roy Nelson follows up on a hurt Dave Herman at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Roy Nelson enters the Octagon at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dave Herman lands a push kick on Roy Nelson at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Roy Nelson lands a hard overhand right at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dave Herman collapses after being hit with a hard punch from Roy Nelson at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Roy Nelson is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Shane del Rosario prepares at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stipe Miocic gets checked by the Nevada State Athletic Commission at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Shane del Rosario lands a body kick on Stipe Miocic at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Shane del Rosario nearly lands a knee at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stipe Miocic fires a right hand at Shane del Rosario at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stipe Miocic lands an elbow on Shane del Rosario at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Shane del Rosario with a huge cut on his eyebrow at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Lavar Johnson readies to fight Stefan Struve at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stefan Struve readies for an armbar at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Lavar Johnson winces as he is armbarred by Stefan Struve at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Lavar Johnson is saved by Yves Lavigne at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Stefan Struve is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Diego Brandao tries to ground and pound Darren Elkins at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins lands on Diego Brando inside at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins continues to work from mount at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins smiles after winning at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jamie Varner lands a hard right hand on Edson Barboza at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jamie Varner follows up on a hurt Edson Barboza at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jamie Varner celebrates after winning at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Edson Barboza protests about the referee stoppage at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jamie Varner is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy readies for Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy waves on UFC announcer Bruce Buffer at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy lands a right elbow on Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy lands a left hook on Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy follows up on a hurt Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy elbows a prostrate Duane Ludwig at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy celebrates his victory at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy kisses the ground after winning at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Dan Hardy is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Duane Ludwig walks to back of the arena at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason Miller spits at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason 'Mayhem' Miller gets controlled by C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason Miller eats an uppercut from C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason Miller tries to stand up from a takedown at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos C.B. Dollaway finishes the round on top at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos C.B. Dollaway is declared the winner at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Jason Miller takes a breath after his loss to C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Paul Sass works an oma plata at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Paul Sass celebrates after submitting Jacob Volkmann at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Paul Sass celebrates after submitting Jacob Volkmann at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Glover Teixeira after winning at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Glover Teixeira submits Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Glover Teixeira elbows Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Mike Brown readies himself for Daniel Pineda at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Mike Brown works on top against Daniel Pineda at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Mike Brown eats a left hook at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Darren Elkins works from mount at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Daniel Pineda takes Mike Brown's back at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Mike Brown is declared the victor at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos Arianny Celeste carries a round card at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.
• UFC 146 Photos A shot of the crowd at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 2012.