Velasquez wants belt back from dos Santos in UFC 155 rematch

More than any fighter, “Bigfoot” knows how tough Velasquez can be when he’s got a point to prove.

In May, Silva drew the unenviable task of being Velasquez’s opponent following the first and only defeat of his mixed martial arts career, a 64-second knockout by Junior dos Santos that cost Velasquez his title last November.

In his bounce-back bout, Velasquez quickly got Silva to the ground and unleashed an unrelenting series of blows that left Silva battered and covered in blood in the cage.

That victory earned Velasquez a quick rematch against dos Santos, whom he faces tonight in the main event of UFC 155 at the same MGM Grand Garden venue where Velasquez pummeled Silva.

Though Velasquez’s performance against Silva widely is regarded as the best of his career, he doesn’t concur, claiming it was just another fight in which he prepared well and executed his game plan. Velasquez, however, does admit he had added motivation to defeat Silva.

“I was definitely motivated because I did want to get back to where I am now,” Velasquez said of earning another shot at dos Santos. “I have been thinking about this fight for a year. The whole reason I got into this sport was to be the best and to be the champion. That’s the only goal I have in my career.

“I had a long training camp and a good one. It’s a lot better now that we learned from the first fight. We took that into the fight with Bigfoot and the training camp as well.”

That version of Velasquez likely would offer more resistance than the one who showed up for the first fight against dos Santos. Velasquez admittedly was tentative and paid the price for it, catching an overhand right behind the ear that ended the fight after only 64 seconds.

Velasquez had an injured knee going into that fight, which probably was a major reason he failed to come forward and try to use his wrestling advantage. The soft-spoken 30-year-old doesn’t want to talk about any of it though.

The injury. The questionable strategy. That’s all in the past.

“That was more than a year ago. I’m done talking about that fight,” he said. “He earned the belt. With this fight, I get to go and redeem myself.”

Dos Santos obviously sees the fight a bit differently.

“It’s a rematch for him. Not for me,” dos Santos said. “It’s the next title defense to me.”

Still, he expects a different version of Velasquez in this fight.

“I think it will be longer than the first time for sure. Cain Velasquez is very well prepared for this fight. I’m very well prepared,” dos Santos said. “I know he’s got really good wrestling skills and for sure he’s gonna try to take me down this time. I’m ready to fight on the ground if that happens, I think I will do very well.

“For sure, my intention for this fight is to knock him out again.”

Velasquez said his plan to prevent such an outcome began taking shape as soon as he left the cage without his belt last November.

“I was in the gym right away,” he said. “Knowing what I did wrong and thinking about what I should have done, I just wanted to get back to work.

“You have to learn from a loss instead of dwelling on it. You can’t get down on yourself, just make the best out of it.”

Just how much he learned will be put to the test on the card that airs live on pay per view at 7 p.m.

The five-fight main card also includes a pivotal lightweight clash between Jim Miller and Joe Lauzon and three middleweight bouts.

Highlighting the 185-pound contests is a rematch between contenders Alan Belcher and Yushin Okami. Okami won a decision over Belcher when the two made their UFC debuts against each other in 2006. Also, Chris Leben returns from a one-year suspension to face newcomer Derek Brunson and Tim Boetsch takes on Costa Philippou.

Four fights will air live on FX (Cable 24) at 5, including a potentially explosive lightweight bout between Melvin Guillard and Jamie Varner.

The fight escalated in vitriol when Varner pulled out of their scheduled fight two weeks ago because he was vomiting in the locker room. Guillard accused Varner of playing up his illness and seeking a way out of the fight.

Heavyweight Todd Duffee returns to the UFC to face Phil De Fries as part of the three-fight preliminary card, scheduled to begin around 3:45.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.