UFC 97 Breakdown: The Main Card

Steve Cantwell vs. Luis Arthur Cane

The Breakdown: This represents one of the night’s best style clashes, as Cantwell’s varied and unpredictable striking stands at odds with Cane’s backroom brawler approach. The key difference is that Cane can take punishment by the barrel and still come forward looking to unload. Cantwell is at his best when he has room to work, a luxury that Cane will not afford him. Also at play is Cane’s physical superiority. Appearance and past showings suggest he’s the stronger of the two, which is an advantage upon which the Brazilian’s style is built to capitalize.

The X Factor: In his match with Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at UFC 89, Cane seemed to falter when Sokoudjou put pressure on him, and his recovery not so coincidentally came right after the Team Quest judoka’s gas tank hit empty. Fighters with a bully complex have been knocked down to Earth before, and Cantwell will not be an easy mark, as his active style makes him difficult to throttle. If Cantwell can find a rhythm early, it will be interesting to see how Cane reacts to a tough opponent who can make him work the full 15 minutes.

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The Bottom Line: Of all the WEC imports, Cantwell is one of the best, but, as Carlos Condit recently learned, the UFC is not a place where past reputations carry any weight. The real problem, however, is that Cane’s rugged, close-quarters style is designed to suffocate his opponent’s offense, and Cantwell lacks the power to force him on the defensive. It should be a fun fight early, but it will not take long for Cane to start getting his maul on.