UFC News: Dos Santos’ Coach Says “Cigano Is Ready to Become the UFC Champion"

After dispatching such opponents as Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson, Mirko Cro Cop and most recently, Shane Carwin, it is safe to say Junior dos Santos is the undisputed No. 1 contender for the UFC heavyweight title. Currently riding a seven-fight win…

After dispatching such opponents as Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson, Mirko Cro Cop and most recently, Shane Carwin, it is safe to say Junior dos Santos is the undisputed No. 1 contender for the UFC heavyweight title. 

Currently riding a seven-fight winning streak, Dos Santos has earned the opportunity to challenge UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez at UFC 138 this fall. It is an opportunity that seems the Brazilian has been destined for ever since he arrived in the UFC in 2008. 

Dos Santos’ boxing coach, Luis Dorea, spoke with TATAME.com and praised the Team Blackhouse standout. He believes that Dos Santos’ upcoming bout against Velasquez has motivated him to become champion.

“Cigano is ready to become the UFC champion,” Dorea said.

And although his bout with Velasquez has been a long and tedious one to wait for, his opponent will be a tough test. Velasquez, like Dos Santos, has slowly made a name for himself among the heavyweight rankings beating such competitors as Cheick Kongo, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Brock Lesnar

Dorea said the long road for Dos Santos has matured him as a fighter and benefited his career to receive this opportunity. 

“The bouts against Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin added a lot to his career. Now he’s much more mature as an athlete and has all the skills to become the next UFC champion,” he said. 

“He has never had an easy bout, fought the best and now he deserves a chance at the belt. That’s his dream, that’s my dream, and we’re going for it.”

The fact that neither competitor has endured an easy fight throughout their respective careers in the UFC, makes this bout even more intriguing and it will ultimately determine the best heavyweight in mixed martial arts. 

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UFC News: BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch Rematch Possible for UFC 138

ESPN.co.uk reports that UFC welterweights BJ Penn and Jon Fitch are scheduled to meet in the co-main event at UFC 138. While the event has not been officially announced, it is expected for UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez to headline the ca…

ESPN.co.uk reports that UFC welterweights BJ Penn and Jon Fitch are scheduled to meet in the co-main event at UFC 138

While the event has not been officially announced, it is expected for UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez to headline the card in a heavyweight title bout against Junior dos Santos. 

The website also reports that Fitch was cleared by his doctors to begin his training camp by September after he underwent shoulder surgery earlier this year that forced him out of action for six months. 

This will be the second encounter between the two competitors, as their first bout was ruled a draw at UFC 127. The decision was met with controversy, and Fitch has demanded a rematch with the Hawaiian ever since. 

UFC 138 is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19, live from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. 

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Report: UFC 138 Planned for San Jose, Cain Velasquez to Headline vs. Junior dos Santos

For the first time in its history, it looks like the UFC will touch down in San Jose, Calif., for UFC 138 in November. The main event is expected to be a heavyweight title fight between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

UFC CEO Lorenzo Fe…

For the first time in its history, it looks like the UFC will touch down in San Jose, Calif., for UFC 138 in November. The main event is expected to be a heavyweight title fight between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed the event plans to the Los Angeles Times. The pay-per-view is likely to take place Nov. 19 at the HP Pavilion.

It will be the UFC’s fourth foray into the northern part of California. The UFC has twice visited the state capital of Sacramento, and UFC 117 was in Oakland last August.

San Jose, about 40 miles south of the San Francisco Bay area, hasn’t been a previous UFC destination likely because it was the home base for one-time competitor Strikeforce.

But with Zuffa’s purchase of that promotion earlier this year, the playing field changed. Strikeforce, which didn’t pursue Las Vegas as a destination before the Zuffa purchase because that was the UFC’s home, now will hold all of its Challengers Series shows in Vegas.

Velasquez (9-0, 7-0 UFC) has not fought since UFC 121 in October, when he stopped Brock Lesnar in the first round to win the UFC heavyweight title. Shoulder surgery following that victory in Anaheim, Calif., has kept him on the shelf. Last month, Velasquez told MMA Fighting that his rehab was moving along and that he would welcome an opportunity to defend his title in October in Houston at what is expected to be UFC 136.

But word came last week that the Mexican-American champion might not be ready for an Oct. 8 date with dos Santos, who became the top contender with his win last week over Shane Carwin. And it looks like the stars will align perfectly for Velasquez, whose training home is in San Jose at the American Kickboxing Academy, giving him a distinct home-cage advantage.

The HP Pavilion, known as the Shark Tank as the home arena for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, has hosted many MMA events, primarily Strikeforce. Last June, it was the arena that saw Fabricio Werdum end Fedor Emelianenko’s nearly 10-year winning streak halted in one of the greatest upsets in the sport’s history.

The arena also hosted the first regulated MMA event in California history in March 2006, Strikeforce’s first MMA show, featuring a main event between Frank Shamrock and Cesar Gracie. Shamrock won with a 20-second knockout.

 

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More Girls of BSN Videos Bring You the Fix Friday Link Dump

Dana White calls Anderson Silva “the greatest ever…period”: here. UFC 138 in November may be headlined by Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos: here. Finalized Bellator 46 in Hollywood, CA: here. MMA fighter/burglar, John Reedy.

Dana White calls Anderson Silva “the greatest ever…period”: here.

UFC 138 in November may be headlined by Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos: here.

Finalized Bellator 46 in Hollywood, CA: here.

MMA fighter/burglar, John Reedy arrested for string of burglaries: here.

Brittney Spears kicked off here new tour last night. Photos: here.

Strikeforce: Overeem Vs. Werdum weigh-in results: here.

Don’t forget to place your Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum bets by clicking the icons to your favorite online sportsbook at the top right of our page!

Hope you enjoyed BSN model, Samantha Seubert above, now check out Vanessa Campbell and Heather Morris videos below:

Report: UFC Heading to San Jose for ‘Velasquez vs. Dos Santos’ in November

Cain Velasquez UFC MMA photos Junior Dos Santos
(The phrase “f*cked with the wrong Mexican” comes to mind. Photo courtesy of MMAWeekly)

Lorenzo Fertitta has revealed that Cain Velasquez‘s first heavyweight title defense against Junior Dos Santos is slated for UFC 138 (November 19th; HP Pavilion; San Jose, CA), according to a new LA Times report. It would be the UFC’s first event at the “Shark Tank,” which has been the longtime home-base for Strikeforce events. It’s a natural fit, considering Velasquez’s affiliation with San Jose’s American Kickboxing Academy.

Cain Velasquez UFC MMA photos Junior Dos Santos
(The phrase “f*cked with the wrong Mexican” comes to mind. Photo courtesy of MMAWeekly)

Lorenzo Fertitta has revealed that Cain Velasquez‘s first heavyweight title defense against Junior Dos Santos is slated for UFC 138 (November 19th; HP Pavilion; San Jose, CA), according to a new LA Times report. It would be the UFC’s first event at the “Shark Tank,” which has been the longtime home-base for Strikeforce events. It’s a natural fit, considering Velasquez’s affiliation with San Jose’s American Kickboxing Academy.

Velasquez vs. Dos Santos was previously rumored for UFC 136, October 8th in Houston, but Velasquez’s recovery from shoulder surgery has taken slightly longer than expected. UFC 136 still doesn’t have any major fights officially booked — which could be a problem, considering that the next UFC Fan Expo is pegged to the event.

Velasquez and Dos Santos have both compiled outstanding 7-0 runs in the Octagon. Velasquez has been inactive since beating the crap out of former champ Brock Lesnar last October, while Dos Santos just finished demonstrating to the world how much heart Shane Carwin has.

Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos Likely for November 19 Card in San Jose

It appears UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will defend his title for the first time against Junior dos Santos on Nov. 19 at San Jose’s HP Pavilion.The Los Angeles Times is reporting they were given news of the bout by UFC chairman Lorenzo Ferti…

It appears UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will defend his title for the first time against Junior dos Santos on Nov. 19 at San Jose’s HP Pavilion.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting they were given news of the bout by UFC chairman Lorenzo Fertitta on Thursday.

Velasquez has not fought since he won the title from Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 on Oct. 23, 2010. The 28-year-old Velasquez dominated Lesnar, winning by TKO at the 4:12 mark of Round 1. The win took Velasquez’s record to 9-0 with eight of those decisions coming via KO or TKO.

Velasquez injured his shoulder at some point during his fight with Lesnar. The newly-crowned champion was forced to undergo surgery for the injury—a torn rotator cuff—in January.

His opponent on the Nov. 19 card, according to the Times, will be Junior dos Santos. Dos Santos defeated Shane Carwin June 11 at UFC 131, giving the former UFC interim heavyweight champion a brutal beating and forcing Carwin to take a trip to the emergency room following the fight.

The victory moved dos Santos’ record to 13-1 with only three of those fights, including his last two, going the distance.

Dos Santos originally opened as a slight favorite when the fight odds were announced; since that time, most websites are now listing Velasquez as the favorite.

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