Although it appeared Junior Dos Santos gave everything he had to Stipe Miocic three years ago, the former UFC heavyweight champion said there’s still more to show.
“The thing is, he doesn’t know 50 percent of the real Junior Dos Santos,” the 33-year-old Brazilian today told MMAjunkie Radio. “And on Saturday night, I’m ready to show him 100 percent of me.”
That’s when Dos Santos (18-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC) faces off with Miocic (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) for the second time as Miocic attempts his second title defense in the pay-per-view headliner of UFC 211 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Miocic is the reigning champ trying to bring stability to the famously turbulent heavyweight division. But back when he first fought Dos Santos at UFC on FOX 13, he was a promising contender sporting a 6-1 record in the octagon.
Dos Santos looked at the fight through the lens of someone who’d been to the top of the heavyweight mountain; he looked down at approaching challengers. When Miocic turned out to be stronger than he expected, he was surprised.
The fight was a five-round slugfest that left Dos Santos’ face just about as swollen and bloody as his previous fight. It would be another year before he stepped back into the octagon.
“The first fight was a really tough fight for us, but the biggest lesson is that you can’t underestimate anybody, especially in this division,” he said. “All the guys, they are tough opponents, and one punch can change the whole thing.”
Dos Santos knows exactly what Miocic can bring to the table heading into the rematch. He knows a little bit more of the person behind the fighter, too. A promotional tour gave the heavyweights a chance to get more acquainted, and they came away from the experience liking each other.
Contrary to previous opponents, Dos Santos has no desire to disparage what Miocic has done since that first meeting.
“I think he’s a better fighter now,” Dos Santos said. “He’s actually doing great, and I’m happy for him. I think he deserves that. He’s a nice guy, and he’s doing a great job as a heavyweight champion.”
That doesn’t change Dos Santos’ desire to win back the title, and in the process show the world that the first fight was an anomaly. He has been to the top of the mountain and met some serious roadblocks on the way back. No longer does he take that for granted.
When Dos Santos first held the title, he didn’t think so much about the potential pitfalls involved in facing the world’s toughest fighters. He’s no longer under the illusion that he’s unbeatable, but he’s convinced the work he’s done has given him the best chance of performing at the level of a champion.
“I think I’m hungrier,” Dos Santos said. “That first time, everything was amazing. I was living in an excellent moment, and I became champion. But now, after a lot of things were going on in my career and my life, one of the things I still have on my mind is I am the No. 1 (guy) in this division. I can be the champion, and I will show you and everybody what I’m talking about on Saturday. Because sometimes things don’t work well, but now, I’m making sure everything is working well for me. And I’m going to put on a great show and win this fight.”
For more on UFC 211, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.
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