UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos may have already beat, Cain Velasquez, his upcoming opponent at UFC 155, but that doesn’t mean the power-punching Brazilian doesn’t have something to prove.
In a pre-fight interview with the UFC, JDS explains why a victory here is critical to solidify himself as one of the greatest UFC champions of all time (transcription via MMA Mania).
My dream was to become champion, the heavyweight champion, and now my dream to break records. I want to break all the records that I can…This fight I think is going to prove I’m the baddest man on the planet…I really think I’m going to knock him out again. It’s going to be a little longer, maybe the second or third round, but I think I’m going to knock him out again.
Dos Santos, who boasts a perfect 9-0 record under the UFC banner, won the heavyweight strap by knocking out Velasquez at the inaugural UFC on FOX event last November.
He has since successfully defended his belt once, scoring a TKO win over Frank Mir at UFC 146 in May.
Despite already earning a quick and decisive win over the former Arizona State Sun Devil, dos Santos gave high praise to the American Kickboxing Academy product.
Cain Velasquez, he presents a lot of challenges for me. His cardio is the best cardio of the heavyweight division, he got really good skills fighting in the stand up. I think the best is his wrestling skills and his ground-and-pound.
Both well-rounded heavyweights have earned a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, though the biggest difference maker will be Velasquez’s takedowns versus JDS‘s takedown defense…if the fight lasts that long.
What will happen at the rematch on Dec. 29? Will Velasquez be crowned champion for a second time, or will JDS successfully defend his title for the second time?
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com