Junior Dos Santos stands as one of the most decorated heavyweight MMA fighter of all time. The former heavyweight champion boasts a record of 20-5; which includes wins over the likes of Cain Velasquez, Stipe Miocic and Fabricio Werdum. This weekend he’ll return to the octagon when he faces former title challenger, Derrick Lewis. He enters the fight heavy momentum by his side as it is for the first time in 6 years that he has managed to string-up back to back wins. An accomplished striker, Santos will be the favorite when he takes the center stage on UFC Kansas. He took some time off to answer a few questions.
The heavyweight division has seen a lot of movement in the past few months. There is a new champion Daniel Cormier, several new contenders have emerged and at the same time stalwarts have managed to stay relevant by picking up important wins. What are your thoughts on the current state of the division?
The heavyweight division was and still is living a good moment, we have a new champion, Daniel Cormier, we still have so many good guys giving the fans a good show, I am one of them. It’s important for me to keep doing what I am doing, keep doing what I am doing, winning my fights and at some point fight for the title again, but I think the heavyweight division is living a great moment, it is the most dangerous division in this sport, actually in any sport – so I think we are doing a very good job.
You will be facing former title challenger Derick Lewis. He is 3-1 in his last 4 fights. If you were to win, would you see yourself in the title picture or as one of the contenders?
Like I said before, I don’t need to qualify myself for the title, I can fight or the title at any point but of course I have to come from some wins which is what I am doing now and then the matchup has to be interesting for the UFC. Whatever happens, at some point, it’s going to happen, even if it’s not right now or later, at some point I am going to fight for the title again because I am going to keep beating these guys and at some point they will have no other option but to give me the title fight.
If you manage to win, whom would you want to face: Stipe or Daniel Cormier? Why?
I really want to fight Stipe, I really want to have that rematch again. The last fight was very weird, he connected a good punch, good for him but he is not better than me, I am better than him and he knows that. I think right now, I want to face Daniel Cormier, not because he is the champion but because he is close to his retirement I think.
Watch UFC Fight Night: Derrick Lewis vs Junior Dos Santos on 10th March 2019 at 6:30 Am live and exclusive in India on SONY SIX and SONY SIX HD Channels.
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