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[Cat--Smasher]

Heavyweight Geronimo dos Santos out at UFC 153, Gabriel Gonzaga without opponent

Heavyweight Geronimo dos Santos (31-14 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has been forced out of next week's UFC 153 event in Rio de Janeiro.

UFC officials today announced the scratch but did not reveal the reason for his removal.

That leaves Gabriel Gonzaga (13-6 MMA, 8-5 UFC) without an opponent for the card, but UFC officials did not announce whether a replacement fighter would be sought on such short notice.

Gonzaga could now potentially serve as a replacement opponent for Daniel Cormier at November's Strikeforce event, but Zuffa officials have yet to make an announcement for their intentions with "Napao."

Heavyweight Geronimo dos Santos out at UFC 153, Gabriel Gonzaga without opponent | MMAjunkie.com

* Napo vs Cormier would make sense

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

First thought IMO, is to book Gonzaga as the fill-in for Mir against Cormier, but talk about one helluva hard fight for Cormier's last SF bout. Gonzaga's a damn sleeper and hasn't been on the big stage in a long time, so it isn't like he's a draw like Mir, while I'd hazard he's as dangerous, if not moreso than Mir.

I still think Kongo is the safest choice. Finish off Cormier in SF and give him a massive debut in the UFC.

[Fe1]

That sucks. I was looking forward to seeing GDS make his debut. I do however see Gonzaga being a really good oponent for Cormier. It would make for a competitive fight. It'd be better than giving Cormier an easy oponent just for the sake of giving him an easy win.

[AnchorPunch]

Originally Posted by Fedorlei Gomipierre

First thought IMO, is to book Gonzaga as the fill-in for Mir against Cormier, but talk about one helluva hard fight for Cormier's last SF bout. Gonzaga's a damn sleeper and hasn't been on the big stage in a long time, so it isn't like he's a draw like Mir, while I'd hazard he's as dangerous, if not moreso than Mir.

I still think Kongo is the safest choice. Finish off Cormier in SF and give him a massive debut in the UFC.

I thought Kongo was getting shoulder surgery after his last fight, no? Definitely said it was injured.

And don't agree that Gonzaga is more of a threat than Mir. He's reluctant to use his JJ (not sure one UFC fight makes a trend), also has chin issues, and has been a tentative and unsuccessful striker. I like him, but see him as a guy with the size and skills but not the mental edge to execute.

[Eric T Smith]

Gonzaga is a sleeper and has proven that in big opportunities he has the ability to shine. He may not have the name like Mir, but I think he is easier to sell than Mitrione and they were ready to put him in there. I can picture the commercial now. A non stop reel of the head kick to CroCop with a voice saying, "last time he was supposed to be on someone else's highlight reel... He made his own." Or something along those lines.

And I can't help but root for him because he trains right down the street from me.

[rough-n-tumble]

Gonzaga is a sleeper and has proven that in big opportunities he has the ability to shine.

I'd say the exact opposite. He has one good win in the UFC and I'd say that win over Crop Cop was a "anything can happen in a fight" situations. He did win the fight so he gets that W. Against his toughest opponents he was finished by 4 top fighters and decisioned by Schaub. There's no big opportunity that he's shined in.

I think that would be a good fight for Cormier.

[Supe]

How does he NOT get Cromier now?

[Eric T Smith]

Originally Posted by rough-n-tumble

There's no big opportunity that he's shined in.

I think that would be a good fight for Cormier.

When he KO'd CroCop, people were calling CroCop one of the best fighters in the world and Gonzaga was essentially a nobody. That would be an opportunity that he shined in. As far as a good fight for Cormier, I'm not so sure.
It would be a good fight for us because it would be pretty entertaining. It would be a good fight for Zuffa because, as I said before, it would be pretty easy to sell the fight. It would be a good fight for Gonzaga because if he loses, he lost to one of the top heavyweights and if he wins he is catapulted up the ladder. That brings me to Cormier. If he had fought and lost to Frank Mir, at least he lost to a former champ that had just recently fought for the belt. If he loses to Gonzaga, it would definitely hurt his stock. With that said, I think Cormier wins this fight decisively.

[RonPaulForPeace]

Id take GG if they make this fight, hes had his issues since carwin caught him but remember he had carwin until he got sloppy, i have always like gg and think he can be better then he has been, hes got a sick ground game if he so chooses to use it and hes got brutal power in his hands and feet.

[rough-n-tumble]

Originally Posted by Eric T Smith

When he KO'd CroCop, people were calling CroCop one of the best fighters in the world and Gonzaga was essentially a nobody.

I'll cede the CroCop win. I don't think this would be a gimme' fight for Cormier. Gonzaga is a big HW with skills. Though every fight of Cormier's he impresses me even more. For me, it is just the opposite with Gonzaga.

A win between Cormier vs Gonzaga would definitely have more reward for GG and more risk for Cormier. Different than the Mir fight. I think it would still be a good fight to watch but not as high profile.