Junior dos Santos Says Cain Velasquez Looks Different Since USADA
The UFC heavyweight division is a decisively different place than it was just three years ago. During the period between 2010 and 2013, the 265-pound category was essentially a two-horse race. Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos shared a trilogy of fights for the heavyweight title, so it’s fair to say they know each other very well. First meeting in 2011 on the UFC’s FOX debut, ‘Cigano’ got their rivalry started with a bang. After Velasquez had won the title from Brock Lesnar at UFC 121, he was already gaining notoriety as one of the best heavyweights in the divisions history.
Blasting Velasquez in one minute after the Mexican’s return from a year off, dos Santos claimed the belt in the first of their three fights. Defeating Frank Mir at UFC 146 led ‘Cigano’ to his second fight with Velasquez at UFC 155. Smashing dos Santos over a brutal five-round war, the American Kickboxing Academy wrestler became a two-time champion. Keeping active, both men competed at UFC 160. ”CV’ scored a TKO win over Antonio Silva, and ‘JDS’ finished Mark Hunt with a spinning wheel kick. Once again their paths were destined to cross, this time at UFC 166.
The Rubber Match
The third fight was equally as brutal, but unlike UFC 155 did not go the distance. Velasquez would pummel dos Santos for the TKO win. It would be nearly two years before ‘CV’ fought again, and he lost the belt to Fabricio Werdum upon his return. Defeating Travis Browne at UFC 200, Velasquez set himself up for a rematch with ‘Vai Cavalo’ at UFC 207, albeit not for the title since Stipe Miocic smashed Werdum. ‘Cigano’ would go on to defeat Miocic in 2014, drop a TKO to Alistair Overeem and most recently won a convincing decision over Ben Rothwell.
Giving an update to fans over Instagram, Junior dos Santos made a rather interesting accusation about Cain Velasquez. Here’s the image he posted, with a brief conversation between ‘Cigano’ and a follower:
UFC 155 Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
