JDS guarantees to KO Miocic
Junior dos Santos: “I’m different. I’m as strong as him, and I’m the fastest heavyweight in history. Whatever his strategy is, I will win.”
Guilherme Cruz is the best person in the world to tell you in English what is going with Brazilian fighters and about the MMA scene in Brazil. In his latest interview, he speaks with Junior dos Santos ahead of Cigano’s rematch with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 211 on Saturday. The first fight, on December 13, 2014, ended up with a Unanimous Decision for dos Santos. This time the Brazilian promises an even more emphatic victory.
“I don’t think we will go past the third round this time, said dos Santos to Cruz for MMA Fighting. “I can guarantee you it won’t be a knockdown like in the first fight, it will be a knockout now.”
“I believe he has really evolved, but he can’t use his recent knockouts as a parameter. I’m different. I’m as strong as him, and I’m the fastest heavyweight in history. Whatever his strategy is, I will win.
“Everybody knows I’m more confident standing, that I have my boxing as my background and that I go for the knockout the entire time. There’s nothing new. If he decides to stand and trade with me, he will go down — and this time he won’t get back up again.”
“I knew I’d fight for the belt since my win over Ben Rothwell. It took longer than I expected, but when other athletes started to turn down fights with me, creating millions of excuses, the only option was to fight the one who didn’t hide and accepted the fight, the champion Stipe Miocic.”
After defeating Miocic, dos Santos lost to Alistair Overeem. That was his sole fight in 2015. His sole fight in 2016 was a win over Ben Rothwell. However, dos Santos accepted other fights, any fights, but they fell through for various reasons. That willingness to step up has now paid off with a massive opportunity Saturday night.