Red Ink: Velasquez/Nogueira

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira enjoys high-level wrestlers. Against Dan Henderson, Mark Coleman, and Randy Couture, Nogueira was able to reduce their comfort level on the ground. If he is not the heavyweight division’s most dangerous submission artist, he is certainly the most experienced.

The problem Nogueira will have with the two-time All-American Cain Velasquez is that Velasquez is neither smaller (Henderson) nor significantly older (Couture, Coleman) than the variety of wrestler Nogueira is used to fighting. He smashes opponents from guard effectively; he has the cardio reservoir of a 20-something. If Nogueira plans on getting a tap, he will probably have to suffer tremendously in the process.

What It Means: A probable shot at Brock Lesnar’s title.

Wild Card: Velasquez’s striking on the feet, which seems most effective in the clinch. Distance may benefit Nogueira.

Who Wins: An MMA-credible boxer with tricks to spare on the ground might be asking too much of Velasquez at this point in time: after a gory couple of rounds, Nogueira by submission.