Junior dos Santos played it safe and picked Ben Rothwell apart to grab a dominant unanimous decision win in Zagreb, Croatia.
The knockout did not come, but Junior dos Santos dominated Ben Rothwell from bell to bell in order to get a unanimous decision win in Zagreb, Croatia, at UFC Fight Night 86. Following a disappoiting KO loss to Alistair Overeem last December, Dos Santos surprised many of the pro fighters on Twitter.
My favourite heavyweight is about to fight
Hard to cheer against JDS but @RothwellFighter is my guy
This should be a gr8 fight #UFCZagreb— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) April 10, 2016
So, at this point, Rothwell has just gone full Sith Lord, right? #UFCZagreb
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 10, 2016
I’m soooo excited for this #mainevent @ufc #ufccroatia #UFCZagreb #benrothwell
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) April 10, 2016
That sound is weird
— Gilbert DurinhoBurns (@GilbertDurinho) April 10, 2016
I’m rooting for JDS simply for the fact he came out to the Rocky theme music!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 10, 2016
Watching the fights poolside with chuckliddelljr go Ben https://t.co/ceyi2pnXUv
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) April 10, 2016
Croatia love some JDS! #UFCZagreb
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) April 10, 2016
I kinda wanna see Rothwell win tho so we get to see a great post fight celebration!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 10, 2016
Rothwell is the new the age Michael Myers of Mma or the clown guy from the devils rejects! #UFCZagreb #UFCFightNight
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) April 10, 2016
Got Rothwell here #UFCZagreb
— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) April 10, 2016
Man, JDS’s point thingy just gave me chills #UFCZagreb
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 10, 2016
Rothwell coming forward like a zombie or mummy. #UFCZagreb
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 10, 2016
Big Ben makes ugly & awkward work
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) April 10, 2016
Dos Santos be like: “THIS IS SPARTA!!!!”#UFCZagreb
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) April 10, 2016
This is sparta!!!!! #UFCZagreb
— kajan johnson (@IamRagin) April 10, 2016
This is SPAAAARTAAA!
— Vinny Magalhães (@VinnyMMA) April 10, 2016
OMG. What a “THIS IS SPARTA” kick at the end of the round!!! #UFCZagreb
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 10, 2016
Big Ben just got big kicked across the cage. #UFCZagreb
— Johnny Hollywood (@HollywoodCase) April 10, 2016
Well, I was quite off. JDS cardio looks strong. Sparta kick to end it was huge. #UFCZagreb
— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) April 10, 2016
Looks like rothwells trying to set up the eye poke with that fake leg kick #UFCZagreb
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 10, 2016
Lol @junior_cigano just did a “This is SPARTA” from 300
— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) April 10, 2016
Great coaching from Rothwell’s corner between rounds “deep breath” “do what you need to do” #UFCZagreb
— Sean O’Connell (@realOCsports) April 10, 2016
JDS looks amazing in this fight!!! Good seeing him look like the real @junior_cigano
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 10, 2016
Ben is getting outclassed here. And can’t figure out how to cut the cage off on JDS
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 10, 2016
Rothwell needs to at least threaten with a takedown or something. Feel a sense of urgency. #UFCZagreb
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 10, 2016
Dos Santos is looking good. That jab is sharp. Rothwell let up on his leg kicks and can’t close the distance on JDS. #UFCZagreb
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) April 10, 2016
JDS boxing looking slick and on point! #UFCZagreb
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 10, 2016
Rothwell has been a punchbag for 4 rounds
— Neil 2 Tap Seery (@NeilSeeryMMA) April 10, 2016
Dos Santos ?? right hand cocked & ready to fire like Bob Feller & Randy Johnson in their prime. Can’t miss his @ufc fights! #UFCZagreb
— Johnny Hollywood (@HollywoodCase) April 10, 2016
Not only am I impressed with JDS boxing, but his CARDIO, is on one. Constant movement and work for 5rds is no easy task, especially for a HW
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 10, 2016
JDS looked great and big comeback win for his career!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 10, 2016
Masterful performance by @junior_cigano!!! #UFCZagreb
— American Top Team (@AmericanTopTeam) April 10, 2016
What a fight @junior_cigano ! Congrats !! #attnation #UFCFightNightZagreb
— Valerie Letourneau (@ValTroubleMMA) April 10, 2016
Rothwell vs Dos Santos @ufc main event summed up:
JDS jab – head??
JDS jab – body??
JDS right – body??
JDS right – head shot??#UFCZagreb— Johnny Hollywood (@HollywoodCase) April 10, 2016
Rothwell is on tough dude with a top notch espresso machine.
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) April 10, 2016
Clearly Rothwell is thinking, “I fu***d up… Well Star Wars re-runs are on tonight. “#UFCZagreb
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) April 10, 2016
Footwork was a huge difference maker tonight
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) April 10, 2016
JDS moved like a MW tonight.
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 10, 2016
Congrats to @junior_cigano and @AmericanTopTeam good win next month @BigfootSilva pic.twitter.com/b0vNeR0tUg
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) April 10, 2016