Junior dos Santos Calls Out Two Top Heavyweights
No. 4-ranked UFC heavyweight Junior dos Santos is coming off of an impressive victory over Ben Rothwell in April and is ready to resume his journey back to the heavyweight title.
The heavy-handed Brazilian defeated Cain Velasquez in their initial meeting at UFC on FOX 1 back in 2011 to win his first heavyweight title via round one knockout. After a successful title defense against Frank Mir he would drop the title to Velasquez via unanimous decision in their rematch at UFC 155.
Since then ‘JDS’ has won two out of his last four contests, including a trilogy bout loss to Velasquez, that featured a unanimous decision win over current heavyweight title-holder Stipe Miocic. Recently speaking to MMA Junkie, ‘Cigano’ is called for a rematch against the Croatian champ as he is the last man to have defeated him in the UFC:
“I’m coming from a good victory against Ben Rothwell,” Dos Santos said. “I was the last guy to beat Stipe Miocic. If the UFC wants to see a really good fight between the standup heavyweights, they will make that fight happen,” he said.
If he can’t get the next shot at the heavyweight throne, however, dos Santos would like a chance to avenge his own last loss against Alistair Overeem:
“I don’t think it’s going to add anything for my career,” Dos Santos said. “But I lost to him, so I need to prove to people that I am the better fighter. I would enjoy fighting against him again, but it seems like he doesn’t want to.”
Currently No. 1 and 2-ranked heavyweights Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez are slated to bang it out at UFC 207, in a bout that is expected to determine Miocic’s next challenger for the title. With the winner of that contest expected to challenge for the gold next, perhaps the Brazilian will get his chance at redemption against Overeem, who is coming off of a heavyweight title bout loss to Miocic in September.
Who do you think ‘Cigano’ should share the Octagon with next?
