Since dethroning Cain Velasquez in 64 seconds on UFC on FOX, newly crowned UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is still feeling overwhelmed at all of the attention he has received.
“Cigano” spoke exclusively to TATAME.com following the event and he seemed very fortunate and grateful to achieve such an accomplishment.
“I can’t really explain the way I feel. I’m really happy,” dos Santos said. “It’s an incredible feeling. It’s a relief mixed with euphoria. It involved many things. Thanks’ God I have great people besides me and it’s something we all deserved: me, my family, and all Brazilians who cheered for me.”
The Brazilian, who was entering the bout carrying an undefeated UFC record of 8-0, utilized his boxing skills by timing his shots and out-striking his opponent, before landing a overhand right that sent Velasquez crashing to the canvas. Dos Santos would follow up with some ground-and-pound to end the bout and Velasquez’s title reign, less than two minutes into the opening round.
Shortly after the bout, dos Santos revealed that he suffered a knee injury prior to the bout, which required him to walk on crutches. Despite the injury, he was able to compete.
“I felt some pain in my knee for a while now, like for ten days, and it was aching, but I handled it quite well. It was OK by me,” he said.
The 27-year-old will now be focused on his first title defense against either Brock Lesnar or Alistair Overeem, both of whom are set to meet at UFC 141 later this year. When asked who he would prefer to face, dos Santos refused to pick the winner and was focused on making a successful title defense.
“I’ll be there to watch it, but it doesn’t matter who my next opponent is. I’ve never picked an opponent, and I won’t start doing that now. Let’s do it,” he said.
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