Rumor: Junior dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga In The Works

by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 11, 2009 4:11 PM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

UFC HW Junior Dos Santos

That's the word according to Fighters.com:

A matchup between Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked heavyweight "Cigano" Junior dos Santos (9-1) and former UFC title challenger "Napão" Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4) is in the works, Fighters.com has confirmed with a source close to one of the fighters.

Fighters.com hasn’t confirmed the date of the fight and no contracts are signed. If the matchup is in December, it’s likely to occur at UFC 107 at the FedExForum in Memphis December 12. However, according to unconfirmed reports, that card is already stacked with pay-per-view quality matchups. UFC 108 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas January 2 and is also a likely event for the matchup.

Originally there were rumors of a Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira matchup, but then there were reports that Nogueira will face the winner of Lesnar/Carwin. So the latter will more than likely happen if this Gonzaga/dos Santos fight comes to fruition. This fight will tell us all we need to know about Junior dos Santos. We know he has big power, we know he can take a solid punch, and we know he can go 3 solid rounds. However, we've yet to see how he can compete against a power grappler like Gonzaga. Dos Santos destroyed a great grappler in Fabricio Werdum in his UFC debut, but the fight was over in less than two minutes. If dos Santos wins this match up, you have to begin to think about giving this guy a title shot. Gonzaga is a former #1 contender that was giving the current #1 contender in Shane Carwin all he could handle before getting hit with a big right hand. Give me your thoughts on this potential matchup.

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Comments

I really like Gonzaga, but it remains to be seen if he has what it takes mentally (and if he’s in the cardio shape MMA requires) — I have a feeling JDS would break him in a war of attrition.

Bloody hell.

by 3PA on Oct 11, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea

But we need to see how dos Santos responds against a big power grappler IMO…we haven’t seen him on the ground yet..although I know he’s a purple belt in BJJ I think.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 11, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i like santos b/c gonzaga has a weak chin

randy couture had some good strikes to his face and busted up his face and carwin just needed one punch to knock him out. santos might not have carwin’s power but he is faster with his strikes and could deliver multiple strikes for a tko win. i’ll ask mr hunt this question. reno has been putting on a show about every 5 weeks in the last few months and there is another one on november 14th. it’s called ultimate combat. we think the promoter is someone named rick collup. have any info on this and if you do what do you think of it? tickets just cost 25-50 dollars and they show at least 12 fights and my friend said last night he counted 15 fights. all weight classes from 135 pds to heavyweights. i’m going with him to the next one. only one cameraman on the cage and one small camera from above. ramble on!

by wolfmanshowlforever on Oct 11, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This match up makes no sense for Dos Santos who should be fighting the winner of Cain/Rothwell for the number 1 contendership. I think that Nog wanted no part of Napo and is trying to pass him off to his student which is weak, Nog should in no way be in line for a title shot after 1 win.

by Raker on Oct 11, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

IMO.

I don’t see why Nog isn’t deserving of a title shot…when he was the interim champ, and then beat the original champ(Couture) handily….he doesn’t have much time left…no sense in matching him up in pointless fights….a fight with Gonzaga really makes no sense for Nogueira considering who Gonzaga has beaten lately(a bunch of nobodies)…

Gonzaga/Dos Santos=If Dos Santos loses….then he wasn’t ready for the next step…and he’ll have time to rebuild…if Gonzaga loses…then he’s pretty much done being considered the middle/upper tier HW everyone thinks he is…a win over Gonzaga counts more IMO..than a win over Cain or Rothwell at this point.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 11, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs