(Photos by Donald Miralle/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC vs Getty Images)
Capturing the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title is one of the great moments in Brazilian fighter Junior dos Santos career, defeating Cain Velasquez in the main event of UFC on FOX Saturday night in Anaheim, California.
‘Cigano’ did it with a highlight reel knockout, landing a solid right hand to his opponents head and following it up with more strikes to finish the fight at 1:04 of the first.
At the post fight press conference, Dos Santos admitted to the gathered media that he was very worried in the fight because just eleven-days before he had spent two days walking around on crutches after tearing his meniscus in his knee.
“I got a very serious injury in my knee, my meniscus. You know, 10 days ago I couldn’t walk very well. I stayed two days with [crutches], but I asked my doctor to help me because it’s the fight of my life and I can’t miss that fight.”
The newly crowned champ did not want to go five rounds with Velasquez and had hoped it would end early, which is exactly what he did.
Reporter Ariel Helwani spoke to Dos Santos physician who stated the new UFC champ would require surgery for the torn meniscus.
“He has a lesion on the meniscus, on the lateral meniscus. A big lesion that should have to have surgery to fix. Eleven days ago we treated him, was everything good. Ten minutes before the fight he told us ‘My knee, I have something in my knee.’ (I said) Calm down. You are a tough guy. You are our warrior. You can go. Now he is the champion.”
His doctor feels that the new champ should be out for one month, citing Dos Santos high level of physical fitness as the reason for a probable quick recover.