Junior Dos Santos talks about upcoming fight with Roy Nelson
Heavyweight title hopeful Junior Dos Santos weighed in with some opinions on his upcoming fight with Roy “Big Country” Nelson at the Ultimate Fighting Championships' UFC 117 on August 7.
"I’ve been studying Roy Nelson and he’s a very dangerous guy, he likes to trade punches, and tries hard not to get stuck on the ground game. But he’s a dangerous guy, is coming from great wins, so we have to be careful, because he might not have the ideal physique, but he’s indeed a dangerous opponent," said the Brazilian mixed martial artist.
The fight should prove to be interesting, with both fighters coming off of winning streaks. Dos Santos has only one loss in his 12 fight career and is currently undefeated in the UFC, as is Nelson, coming out of a win of The Ultimate Fighter season 10, which he followed up with a fast knockout of Stefan Struve. But Dos Santos said he isn't treating this fight differently, but has his sights still firmly fixed on Nelson.
"We kept our usual training plan and I always try to see my forthcoming fight as the most important one. To reach the top, you have to win your fights and take that seriously, so that’s why I’m training hard, so I can surprise him ... Nowadays I have one big difference, which is a larger experience," said Dos Santos. Actually, it is Nelson who has had more experience, with 19 professional MMA fights compared to Dos Santos' 12.
But if it's Nelson going in with the greater experience, there's no question in the Brazilian's mind that he can knock him out.
"I can tell you I’m feeling a lot more confident on my fights and developing my game. When you get confident, you can develop what you know better. I feel it that way and I believe it’s a growing moment in my career, and if it’s God’s wish, I’ll keep growing just the same as I’m doing now: with great knockouts, great fights and great wins."
Dangerous at all times
Both fighters are considered to be dangerous both on the ground and standing. Despite his chubby physique, Nelson holds the rank of first degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Renzo Gracie. He is also known for an unorthodox use of the crucifix position, utilizing the fat around his midsection to gain control, which contributed to wins over notable heavyweights Brendan Schaub and Kimbo Slice during the Ultimate Fighter 10.
Dos Santos currently holds a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he trains at Black House in his native Brazil. Despite his lower rank, Dos Santos has some of the best training available to him. He is currently under the tutelage of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, a seasoned heavyweight considered by many to be one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners in the history of the division. Other Black House members training with Dos Santos include current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and former light-heavyweight title holder Lyoto Machida.
Both fighters have also demonstrated tremendous ability on their feet, coming off of impressive recent knockouts. In his last fight, Nelson was able to knock out the much larger Stefan Struve in a stunning 39 second first round finish. Dos Santos achieved similar results in his last fight, gaining a first round knockout against UFC veteran Gabriel Gonzaga. He also holds an impressive resume against some of mixed martial art’s most proficient strikers, including dangerous muay thai practitioner Gilbert Yvel and former PRIDE heavyweight champion Mirko “Cro Cop” Filopovic.
Fundamental Differences
Nelson enters the fight with a great deal more experience than the younger Dos Santos. At age 34, he has been active in the sport since 2004, and holds 19 fights on his record to Santos’ 12.
However, Dos Santos brings a far more developed physique to the fight. He stands a full four inches taller than Nelson with a 3 inch reach advantage and a much leaner musculature. However, Big Country is known for his surprising agility on the mat despite his size.
The outcome of this fight will determine the next top contender for the UFC’s heavyweight title, after challenger Cain Velasquez takes on Brock Lesnar at UFC 121.
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