UFC on FOX results: Why did Cain Velasquez stand and bang with Junior dos Santos?

That's the question being asked UFC President Dana White after Cain Velasquez lost the heavyweight championship to Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1 last night (Nov. 12, 2011) in Anaheim, California.

The fight, which aired on network television in a landmark broadcast that pulled less than desirable numbers, lasted just 64 seconds. Velasquez feebly attempted just one takedown. It was shaken off easily by "Cigano," who later admitted to hurting his knee just 10 days before the bout.

And that led to a Cain standing in the pocket and trading punches with the most dangerous striker in the heavyweight division.

It's no surprise, then, that the fight ended by way of knockout, or at least it shouldn't be. What is surprising is the fact that Velasquez didn't appear to have the smartest game plan, or if he did, failed miserably in implementing it.

White lamented the performance of the former champ and absolutely swung away with verbal jabs of his own during the post-fight show.

"Listen, I'm no strategist and I'm nobody's coach but I don't understand why they didn't go for the shot early. They should have shot in on Junior Dos Santos knowing that he has the power early in the fight and tries to knock you out. But the truth is that Junior Dos Santos gets tired at the end of fights, you know? Here he is standing right in front of him trying to trade and bang with Junior Dos Santos and gets hit with that big right hand right behind the ear and down he goes. Down goes his heavyweight championship. I'll say it again, not saying that I'm some strategy coach but I don't know why they wouldn't take the shot on him and wrestle early. It's one thing to feel a fight out but when you're standing right in front of a guy that you know his biggest weapons are his hands and he can knock you out and this thing is a five round fight. Get in there and start working him. Stay busy and put him against the fence. Rough him up and tire him out a little bit and bring it into the later rounds where Junior Dos Santos is well known for getting tired."

One possible explanation for Velasquez's puzzling strategy is the fact that he, too, was struggling with knee issues. In fact, color commentator Joe Rogan said he knew "for a fact" that Cain was hurt and actually had to have a cortisone shot before he was able to compete.

Hmmm.

That would certainly shed some light on a troublesome night for Velasquez, who not only suffered the first knockout of his career but also his first defeat.

Rough night.

Is an injured knee enough reason for the fight to go the way it did? After all, dos Santos had a bum knee of his own, at least according to he and his doctor. Is injury to blame for this fight? Or was it just a bad night for Velasquez?

For more on the fight between dos Santos and Velasquez, including our quick blow-by-blow report, click here and here. To check out all our amazing coverage of UFC on Fox 1 before, during and after the historic event, click here.