UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2 | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Ariel Helwhiney
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2. December 29, 2012. MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. The year-end PPV. Cain Velasquez reclaimed the UFC Heavyweight Championship with a unanimous decision over Junior dos Santos (50-45, 50-43, 50-44) in five complete rounds. The result reversed their first meeting at UFC on Fox 1 in November 2011, where dos Santos had knocked Velasquez out in 64 seconds.
Velasquez dominated every round with wrestling and ground-and-pound, knocking dos Santos down in the first round within the opening minute. JDS absorbed punishment across 25 minutes and showed durability but had no answer for Velasquez’s relentless pace. Jim Miller defeated Joe Lauzon in a co-main event that left Lauzon requiring 40 stitches. Todd Duffee, John Moraga, and Miller each earned bonuses.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: December 29, 2012 (year-end PPV; last UFC PPV of 2012)
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Attendance: 13,561; Gate: $3,286,025; PPV: 590,000
Main Event: Cain Velasquez (c, stripped) vs. Junior dos Santos (c) — UFC HW Championship (rematch; JDS had KO’d Cain in 64 sec at Fox 1 in 2011)
Result: Velasquez def. JDS — UD (50-45, 50-43, 50-44) — DOMINANT; Cain’s revenge; JDS’ first UFC loss; Cain’s second HW reign begins
Notable: JDS knocked down R1 minute 1; Miller def. Lauzon (Lauzon 40 stitches); Brunson UFC debut; $65k bonuses
The Build-Up
The rematch had been anticipated since UFC 146 in May, where both fighters won their respective bouts and were positioned as the two best heavyweights alive. JDS had knocked Velasquez out in 64 seconds at UFC on Fox 1 in November 2011. Most observers expected a closer fight the second time. Velasquez’s camp, which included Daniel Cormier as a training partner, had worked specifically on the defensive weaknesses exposed in the first fight.
Main Event
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos — UFC HW Championship
Velasquez charged across the cage at the bell. Within the first minute, he landed a hard combination that sent JDS to the canvas. JDS rose and continued fighting but was consistently taken down and worked with ground-and-pound. He knocked down dos Santos a second time in round two. JDS showed exceptional durability — absorbing elbows and punches throughout five rounds — but had no effective answers to Velasquez’s wrestling. Final scores: 50-45, 50-43, 50-44.
Co-Main Event
Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon — Lightweight
Miller opened a severe cut above Lauzon’s eye in the opening round. The wound required 40 stitches post-fight. Despite the injury, Lauzon continued competing across three rounds. Miller won by unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) and both fighters received Fight of the Night bonuses.
Full Results
Preliminary Card (FX / Facebook)
John Moraga def. Chris Cariaso — Submission — R? — FW; Sub Night ($65k)
Max Holloway def. Leonard Garcia — Decision — R3 — FW
Todd Duffee def. Phil De Fries — KO — R? — HW; KO Night ($65k)
Jamie Varner def. Melvin Guillard — Decision — R3 — LW
Myles Jury def. Michael Johnson — Decision — R3 — LW
Erik Perez def. Byron Bloodworth — Decision — R3 — BW
Main Card
Derek Brunson def. Chris Leben — Decision — R3 — MW; Brunson UFC debut
Eddie Wineland def. Brad Pickett — Decision — R3 — BW
Yushin Okami def. Alan Belcher — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 — MW
Costas Philippou def. Tim Boetsch — TKO — R? — MW
Jim Miller def. Joe Lauzon — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 — LW; Co-Main; Fight of the Night ($65k each); Lauzon 40 stitches
UFC HW Championship (5 rounds) — Main Event
Cain Velasquez def. Junior dos Santos — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 5:00 (50-45, 50-43, 50-44) — Cain’s revenge; JDS’ first UFC loss
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon — $65,000 to each fighter.
KO of the Night: Todd Duffee — $65,000.
Sub of the Night: John Moraga — $65,000.
Records & Milestones
JDS’ first UFC loss — Junior dos Santos had gone unbeaten across 10 UFC appearances before the Velasquez rematch.
Most lopsided heavyweight title fight since 2010 — 50-43 was among the most extreme HW title fight scorecards in UFC history.
Derek Brunson UFC debut — decision win over Chris Leben; Brunson became a durable top-10 MW over the following decade.
Legacy & Impact
The contrast between the two fights defines how the Cain-JDS trilogy is remembered. JDS won the first in 64 seconds. Cain won the second in 25 minutes across five rounds. The dominant scorecard — 50-43 on one judge’s card — was a statement about what Velasquez could do across the full distance of a heavyweight title fight.
Velasquez’ ability to sustain that pace across five rounds against a heavyweight knockout puncher confirmed him as the sport’s most complete heavyweight. Daniel Cormier was at ringside watching his training partner and friend win back the belt.
FAQ
How did Cain Velasquez win the UFC HW Championship at UFC 155?
Velasquez won by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-43, 50-44) over five rounds. He knocked dos Santos down in the first minute of round one and dominated with wrestling and ground-and-pound for the remainder of the fight.
Was UFC 155 the rematch for the fight JDS won in 64 seconds?
Yes. At UFC on Fox 1 in November 2011, Junior dos Santos knocked out Cain Velasquez in 64 seconds. UFC 155 was the rematch, in which Velasquez dominated five complete rounds.
Was UFC 155 JDS's first UFC loss?
Yes. Junior dos Santos went 10-0 in the UFC before the Velasquez rematch at UFC 155. The loss ended his unbeaten UFC run.
Who was Daniel Cormier at UFC 155?
Cormier was a training partner and teammate of Cain Velasquez at American Kickboxing Academy. He attended UFC 155 as part of Velasquez's support camp. Cormier later became UFC HW Champion himself in 2018.
Who made their UFC debut at UFC 155?
Derek Brunson, a former Strikeforce fighter, made his UFC debut with a decision win over Chris Leben in the MW division. He became a top-10 MW over the following years.
References
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