There was a lot of pressure on Junior dos Santos heading into UFC 146.
He was defending his UFC Heavyweight Championship for the first time, looking to avenge his friend and mentor Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and doing so against one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time, Frank Mir.
It was a big test for the champion, and he passed with flying colors.
Many expected that if dos Santos could keep the fight standing, it would be a short night for Mir, and that’s exactly what happened. The challenger was unable to bring the fight to the ground, and dos Santos battered him from the opening bell into the second round, where the champion finished the fight.
It was an excellent performance from dos Santos, and it’s clear this young fighter has the potential to be a great champion.
Here’s five things we learned about Junior dos Santos…