Since his premiere in UFC 90, where he quickly dispatched of heavily-favored Fabricio Werdum by way of a picturesque right uppercut, Junior dos Santos has been a wrecking ball in the UFC’s Heavyweight division. Last Saturday he again added to his impressive record, pulling to 13-1 in his mixed martial arts career after winning a unanimous decision over Shane Carwin. Few know that Santos had a very successful kickboxing career which essentially led to his current job. From the ages of 18-21, Santos went 18-0 on the Brazilian kickboxing circuit, emboldening himself with confidence and garnering himself worldwide attention and praise along the way.
His most recent victory puts the broad-chested Brazilian in a position to square off with Cain Velasquez for the UFC’s Heavyweight title. Velasquez is not one to hold off on a fight, but his recent rotator cuff surgery will likely require another few months of rest, making a Santos vs. Velasquez matchup likely to be added to the UFC 135 or 136 card, which are both currently in the formation process.
No matter when it happens, the occurrence of the fight seems to be a certainty. A Santos vs. Velasquez encounter would be a landmark event in the sport’s growing history, and certainly a highly-coveted ticket. Over the past decade the UFC’s Heavyweight division has been the primary benchmark for the rise of mixed martial arts. This has coincided with the steady decline of professional boxing’s Heavyweight division, which has not garnered attention in several years.
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