Geronimo dos Santos
Brazilian heavyweight Geronimo ‘Mondragon’ dos Santos (34-14) was set to debut inside the Octagon next month at UFC 153, but the heavy handed finisher will have to wait for that day after being forced off the card for undisclosed reasons.
Dos Santos had been scheduled to face Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6) at the Rio de Janeiro show, but now leaves ‘Napão’ without an opponent.
UFC officials revealed the Dos Santos withdrawal earlier today, offering no information on what their plans for Gonzaga were.
UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar is scheduled to take place on October 13, 2012 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
‘Mondragon’ has won his last twelve fights, finishing all but one opponent by knockout or submission. He fought as recently as June, finishing his opponent by knockout in 75-seconds at a local event in Brazil. Dos Santos has fought, and lost to, fighters such as UFC champ Junior dos Santos, Josh Barnett, and Bellator’s Thiago Santos.
Gonzaga has won two straight, which includes his return match to the Octagon last January after replacing injured fighter Rob Broughton at UFC 142. Gonzaga finished Ednaldo Oliveira by first round submission at the Rio show. ‘Napão’ had been released from the UFC after a back-to-back losses, after losing a decision to Brendan Schaub at UFC 121 and to Junior dos Santos by KO at UFC on Versus 1.