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[stevequalude]

by Gleidson Venga (gvenga@sherdog.com)




Junior dos Santos continued to climb the UFC heavyweight ranks in early January by stopping Gilbert Yvel. The 25-year-old Brazilian had no qualms standing with the Dutch striker despite Yvel’s reputation for violence on the feet.

“The strategy was to feel out the standup because he is very good in striking but (striking) is also the basis I trust most,” dos Santos told Sherdog.com. “So I could not rule out where I'm strongest, but if things became harder, I would have taken him down to develop the ground fighting. Thank God my punch landed. My hands are very heavy.”

It was the second bout in a row where dos Santos took on a touted striker and beat him at his own game. Last September, he outstruck Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

“These guys were strikers, so no one struck with them,” dos Santos said. “Everybody tried to take them down, and that's what I changed. I tried to surprise them, and it worked.”

Following the Yvel win, dos Santos said the UFC told him to get ready for a busy year. He has already signed to fight former heavyweight title contender Gabriel Gonzaga at the March 21 “UFC on Versus 1” event.

“I'm ready for anyone,” he said. “Gonzaga is a great fighter, very tough. I will prepare again for this fight with a lot of focus and get there 100 percent.”

Dos Santos will also have his eye on the UFC heavyweight title picture, which includes some pivotal matchups in the coming months. On Feb. 20 in Australia, dos Santos’ training partner Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira takes on Cain Velasquez.

“I think that Velasquez has proved to be a very tough guy and has a lot of cardio,” dos Santos said. “He also has great wrestling, but people know that Rodrigo is different, a guy above average. Everyone could see that he was back against Couture, which for me was the best fight of all time. I'm sure this fight will be tough. I see Cain trading some blows with him, but I think Rodrigo is better at striking. I think Cain is going to try takedowns -- he’s the better wrestler -- but I believe in Rodrigo winning by submission.”

On March 27, Frank Mir will fight Shane Carwin for the interim title at UFC 111 -- another bout dos Santos will be watching closely.

“It will be a good fight, even though Rodrigo should be fighting for the interim belt,” he said. “Mir just battled it out with Brock Lesnar, and Couture also has much more of a name then Cheick Kongo (who Mir beat last), so the dispute should be Rodrigo versus Velasquez for the interim belt. But the UFC decides, and I think it will be a good fight, tough for both, and will not last until the end. Carwin has proved quite capable and is a good striker, but Mir is very complete and I bet on his victory.”

Dos Santos Picks Nogueira, Mir in Upcoming Bouts

[rivethead]

He's right, actually...but Mir is a better posterboy for casual fans, and marketing drives the business.


rh

[MrCruise]

I would like to see Nog get a title shot one way or another. If he wins, give him the winner of Mir-Carwin. Lesnar is on ESPN tomorrow so we will know what his fate is then.

If he is out for a long time, then strip him and let the Mir-Carwin winner meet the Nog-Velasquez for the vacant title. If Lesnar is back before 2010 is out, let the Nog-Velasquez winner battle the Mir-Carwin winner for the interim title. That winner can face Lesnar in late 2010 or early 2011.

I guess it's a good problem to have too many title contenders!

[GL Jeff]

Mir is at the top of the UFC HW division atm, other then Brock. And he just recently beat Big Nog, so they left the rematch for another time, no big surprise. Nog should of pulled out of the fight with Mir,its doing nothing but hurting him now. Even after beating Randy, he still needs to climb the ladder abit.

[stevequalude]

Originally Posted by GL Jeff

Mir is at the top of the UFC HW division atm, other then Brock. And he just recently beat Big Nog, so they left the rematch for another time, no big surprise. Nog should of pulled out of the fight with Mir,its doing nothing but hurting him now. Even after beating Randy, he still needs to climb the ladder abit.

No doubt ... The Cain Big Nog fight is gonna be bad ass though .. i also agree he should have pulled out that fight he was in no condition to fight

[willpunisher]

i see the nog vs cain fight 2x better than the nog vs randy fight.
should be a war.. can't wait!

[notBJpenn]

After Nog beats Cain, and Mir beats Carwin, we can have Mir/Nog II. During this time if Brock comes back give him a chump of a contender as a warm up fight. Then when Mir beats Nog again, we get Mir/Lesnar III.

Thats my prediction of how the heavyweight title shots will play out over the next year.

[GSPvsSILVA2012]

2010 Heavy weight contender match predictions:

Round 1 Heavy weights

Carwin Ko's Mir 1st round
Valasquez grinds Nog via decision
Dos Santos Ko's Gonzaga 2nd round

Round 2 Heavy weights

Lesnar G&P's Carwin later rounds (Carwin hasn't gone out of the 1st)
Valasquez grinds Dos Santos via decision
Nog wins decision over Mir

Round 3 Heavy Weights

Lesnar vs Valasquez (No prediction)
Mir vs Nog (3rd Rubber Match, no prediction)
Carwin vs Dos Santos (No prediction)

Ranking at the end of the year

1. Lesnar - tie
2. Valsquez - tie
3. Carwin
4. Dos Santos
5. Nog
6. Mir

[Trojan Fight Club]

I always found cain to be slightly overrated. I think Nog should be able to submit him or even beat him on the feet. I see Carwin knocking Mir out. then carwin vs. nog for title

[lwbrewer]

No need to have a interim title fight no matter what Brocks going to do. After the next two fights we will have the #1 & 2 contenders if Brocks out then they fight for the title if not it will be for sole possession of the #1 spot. The winner of the Dos fight get's his shot next. No phoney belt needed.