Morning Report: Junior dos Santos says Fabricio Werdum 'didn't fight the same Cain Velasquez' he fought
If anyone knows former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, it's fellow former champ Junior dos Santos.
The pair have a bit of a history. In 2011, Dos Santos shocked the world when he KO'd Velasquez in 60 seconds to claim the heavyweight title during the UFC's debut event on FOX.
Velasquez reclaimed the title in 2012 at UFC 155, scoring a unanimous decision. In the 2013 rubber match at UFC 166, Velasquez battered Dos Santos in brutal fashion before scoring a TKO late in round five.
So imagine Dos Santos' surprise at seeing Fabricio Werdum, a man he knocked out in his promotional debut at UFC 90, pick Velasquez apart before submitting him at UFC 188 in June.
"Who is going to win between Werdum and Velasquez?" Dos Santos was asked during a recent Q&A session with fans. "Man, I think Werdum did well in their last fight but in my opinion he didn't fight the same guy I fought, the same Velasquez I fought."
Facing Velasquez in Mexico City, Werdum held his six-week training camp south of the border to properly acclimate to the venue's high elevation. Velasquez opted to camp at his home base in San Jose, California and arrive in Mexico only two weeks ahead of fight night.
"Velasquez got exhausted in the first round," Dos Santos said. "That was completely a big surprise for me. He was exhausted in the first round! That's unbelievable for somebody like him who fought 10 rounds with me, very hard. In the fifth round, the last round he was jumping like a kid so yea, that was strange."
Dos Santos believes Velasquez wasn't himself against Werdum, but that a rematch likely headed for Las Vegas in March will look quite a bit different.
"If Velasquez comes in in his normal conditioning, the normal way, I think he will win against Werdum."
Booked to face Alistair Overeem Dec. 19 at UFC on Fox 17, Dos Santos could see himself tangling with Werdum if he can sweep Velasquez.
"Maybe Werdum is next," Dos Santos replied. "I don't know. If he keeps the belt and I win my fight, it can happen."
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MEDIA STEW
Retrospective: The Weidman-Silva Saga.
Highlights from the UFC 194 media call. (full call here)
Conor McGregor talks Jose Aldo and wanting to buy a damn ape.
Highlights from Marcin Wrzosek vs. David Teymur and Julian Erosa vs. Abner Lloveras on TUF.
What To Watch at Bellator 147: Josh Thomson vs Pablo Villaseca.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
If I Did It: Dana White vs Jon Jones, GSP & Conor McGregor?
...
Countdown to GLORY 26 Amsterdam
...
TWEETS
Mr. Universe.
What's up Jimmy Kimmel!! #Shining pic.twitter.com/9vw2tV8icN
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 3, 2015
Returns.
workout to relax my body, Countdown to the return at @ufc. Goodnight guys!! pic.twitter.com/1A26mMJyex
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) December 3, 2015
Thanks to all my boys at the Renzo Gracie Academy - the last few days of training have been awesome! pic.twitter.com/BjPNUyesjc
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) December 2, 2015
Get well soon.
My hand right now getting stitches out and new splint today https://t.co/40uv7AQ20V
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) December 2, 2015
Did he move or not?
Moving gyms when you haven't recently lost ....someone's got doubt already #ItsAShame
— Mike Wilkinson (@M_WilkinsonMMA) December 2, 2015
drama is over!
Posted by Makwan Amirkhani on Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Dang.
To all who support me, just because I am not posting videos doesn't mean I'm not working. I stay grinding. Thx 4 the love.My time! DC
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 2, 2015
@dc_mma unfortunately, not matter how much work you do DC, you're going to sleep! #Unbroken #BonesKnows
— Darren (@DarrenMorgan21) December 2, 2015
Any logical human being knows that will not happen.Can jones bring bats into cage now? Bcuz his hands can't do that https://t.co/EEbi0qp0oL
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 2, 2015
Getting back out there.
Help with your Christmas shopping from @RondaRousey & @7gengames https://t.co/I5F3Fvhj5O
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) December 3, 2015
The more you know.
@JohnMcCarthyMMA @Deftry How did he get in the cage with a toothpick in the first place. THAT is the question!
— Robert Hinds (@hindsmmareferee) December 2, 2015
Simple, he hides it in his mouthpiece or under his tongue. If u r not use 2 working with him it will get by #AskBJM https://t.co/wXOUoeKzru
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) December 2, 2015
Impressive.
Gibbon swings #findyourgibbon https://sqor.com/posts/b0ddefea-6786-4509-9541-e41da384187a/uid/29676
Posted by Gunnar Nelson on Wednesday, December 2, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Dec. 2 2015)
Tony Sims vs. Abel Trujillo at UFC 195
Russell Doane out, Michinori Tanaka vs. Joe Soto at UFC 195
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