Junior dos Santos Defeats Fabricio Werdum in Main Event of Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Junior dos Santos is one step closer to an MMA heavyweight title fight…

In a fight featuring two former UFC heavyweight champions, the 39-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist and professional wrestler opened up bad cuts near both of Fabricio Werdum‘s eyes en route to a split-decision win (28-29, 30-27, 30-27) in the main event of Jorge Masvidal‘s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA on Friday night in Jacksonville, Florida.

The cut on Werdum’s left eyelid was bleeding badly by the third round. Dos Santos rocked Werdum briefly late in the first round. Other than that, he didn’t hit Werdum extremely hard. But without gloves, it was enough to do facial damage.

Dos Santos picked up the first victory of his career in any combat sport since 2019. Dos Santos and Werdum fought in 2008 in UFC, with Dos Santos winning by first-round TKO. The win over Werdum on Friday set up a future matchup between Dos Santos and another UFC veteran, Roy Nelson, for the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA heavyweight title.

“They were the bump in my career that I needed this day,” Dos Santos said of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. “I’m thankful for this whole thing.”

Dos Santos (22-10) had lost five straight coming in. Most recently, in his first bout since being released from UFC, he lost by TKO to Yorgan De Castro in May 2022 because of a shoulder injury.

A Brazilian-born fighter who trains out of American Top Team in Florida, Dos Santos held the UFC heavyweight title in 2011 and 2012 and still owns the record for longest winning streak in division history (9).

Werdum (24-10-1) had not fought since a no-contest against Renan Ferreira in May 2021 under the PFL banner. The Brazilian-born fighter, who lives and trains in California, beat Alexander Gustafsson in his final UFC fight three years ago.

Werdum, 46, held the UFC heavyweight title from 2014 to 2016 and is considered one of the best submission artists in the history of heavyweight MMA.

Junior dos Santos to Fight Fabricio Werdum in Bareknuckle MMA Fight This September

Posted on July 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Junior dos Santos is preparing to go the knuckle…

The 39-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, a former UF heavyweight champion, will face compatriot Fabricio Werdum in bareknuckle mixed martial arts fight on September 8 in Jacksonville, Florida under the banner of Jorge Masvidal‘s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA.

dos Santos and Werdum, two of the top UFC heavyweights of their generation will meet in a highly anticipated rematch.

dos Santos and Werdum first met in the UFC in 2008 with dos Santos winning by first-round knockout.

MMA journalist Ariel Helwani was the first to report the news as official Friday.

dos Santos’ coach Conan Silveira first mentioned the fight in an interview with Sherdog earlier this month.

dos Santos last fought in May 2022 for Eagle FC, losing via TKO due to a shoulder injury. He departed the UFC in 2020. “Cigano” was the UFC heavyweight champion in 2011 and 2012.

Werdum, 45, was UFC heavyweight champion in 2015 and 2016. He ended legend Fedor Emelianenko‘s decade-long unbeaten streak under the Strikeforce banner in 2010 and is considered one of the best heavyweight grapplers ever. “Vai Cavalo” has not fought since a run with PFL in 2021.

Junior dos Santos to Make Wrestling Debut This Week for All Elite Wrestling

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Junior dos Santos is movin’ from the Octagon to the ring…

The 37-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC light heavyweight champion will make his professional wrestling match debut on Friday for All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

The news comes after his release from the UFC earlier this year.

And dos Santos told ESPN on Wednesday that he is also in talks about making his debut in boxing.

“Let’s see,” dos Santos said. “I’ve been having some good conversations, even on boxing. Boxing, I think, would be the perfect way for me to go. I’m a boxing guy, everybody knows that. I’ve never had an official pro boxing fight. Maybe this is the time.”

Dos Santos didn’t go into detail about when he might fight in boxing or who the opponent could be, because he said he’s focusing right now on his work with AEW.

On Friday, “Cigano” will team with wrestlers Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky in a tag-team match against wrestling legend Chris Jericho, Jake Hager (who also fights for Bellator) and Sammy Guevara.

The match is part of an AEW storyline that involves dos Santos’ American Top Team MMA team backing up Page and Sky with American Top Team owner Dan Lambert as their on-screen manager.

Dos Santos and several other ATT fighters — including UFC veteran Paige VanZant, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski and PFL champion Kayla Harrison — made their first AEW appearances as part of this storyline in August and September. Some have gotten physical in segments, but dos Santos will be the first one to actually wrestle in a match.

“I wasn’t really a big fan of it [before],” dos Santos said. “But this thing changed a lot. After Dan Lambert invited me to go there and see how hard it is. It’s not a joke, man. Those guys, they go hard. And they have to be very well-prepared for that. So, then when I saw all of it, I got very interested in it. And then I said, ‘Man, I want to do it.’ Ask Dan Lambert. I was saying, ‘Man, I need to be in that ring.'”

dos Santos said the most “amazing” thing for him was the loud, raucous pro wrestling crowds and how they interacted with the show.

“That type of energy was amazing to feel,” dos Santos said. “A long time, I don’t feel this way. Long time, I don’t feel this excited to go in the ring and perform and give the best of me and my performance. Man, I’m looking forward to Friday night.

“Back in the day, in the UFC and MMA itself, I was feeling kind of pressure all the time. I wasn’t being appreciated to be there. Now, it’s different. People love me to be there, even if they don’t like me. They are showing that.”

dos Santos was released by the UFC in March following four straight losses, though they all came against elite heavyweights.

dos Santos held the UFC heavyweight title in 2011 and 2012. He owns MMA victories over former UFC champions Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum and Frank Mir.

This weekend, dos Santos will be in a pro wrestling ring. But don’t be surprised to see him in a boxing ring at some point in the future, either.

“Let’s see what’s gonna happen next, but the boxing thing would be amazing,” dos Santos said. “As you guys know, I love knocking people out. I love punching people in the face. That would be a good way to go.”

Junior dos Santos Reportedly Agrees to UFC Fight Against Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Junior dos Santos is heading back to the Octagon…

The 36-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist and a former UFC heavyweight championwill return to the cage later this summer.

dos Santos has agreed verbally to a matchup against Jairzinho Rozenstruik for UFC 252 on August 15, according to ESPN and Combate.

dos Santos (21-7) will look to snap a two-fight losing streak. He most recently lost to Curtis Blaydes via TKO in January.

Rozenstruik (10-1) just suffered his first pro loss when he got knocked out last month by Francis Ngannou in just 20 seconds. Prior to that, the Surinamese fighter won his first four UFC fights.

The UFC has yet to finalize where the event will take place.

Cain Velasquez in Talks to Join WWE Full Time

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Cain Velasquezis wrestling with change…

The 37-year-old Mexican American mixed martial artist and wrestler isofficially stepping out of the Octagon and into the pro-wrestling ring for the foreseeable future.

Velasquez, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion, is in advanced talks to sign with WWE.

He made a surprise appearance on Friday on WWE SmackDown‘s Fox premiere at Staples Center, confronting Brock Lesnarin the closing moments of the show. Velasquez said he was not officially retired from the UFC, but pro wrestling is likely to be his focus right now.

Velasquez said no deal has been signed, and he also has been in discussions with other wrestling promotions, including upstart All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

WWE could look to set up a blockbuster match between Velasquez and Lesnar, also a former UFC heavyweight champion.

Velasquez knocked out Lesnar to win the UFC belt in 2010. Coincidentally, Velasquez headlined the UFC’s first show on Fox in 2011, and Friday he was a major part of WWE’s Fox premiere, walking to the ring with Rey Mysterio and hitting Lesnar with a double-leg takedown.

Velasquez debuted in pro wrestling in August with Mexico’s Lucha Libre AAA. Velasquez is a celebrity in Mexico due to his UFC success and how he has marketed himself in the country. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound California native impressed at AAA’s Triplemaniashow in front of 18,000 at Mexico City Arena, pulling off athletic moves that were unexpected for a man his size.

Last month, Velasquez had a second match for AAA at Madison Square Garden‘s Hulu Theatre and his ability once again turned heads. The MMA star has been training full time in pro wrestling only since June, at Pro Wrestling Revolution in San Jose, California.

Velasquez has been doing it all with multiple torn ligaments in his left knee, an injury he suffered in a knockout loss to Francis Ngannouat UFC Phoenix in February.

Velasquez (14-3) is one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history. He won the UFC heavyweight belt in 2010, and then again in 2012. Velasquez owns victories over the likes of Junior Dos Santos(twice), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueiraand Lesnar. Injuries to his knees, back and shoulders marred his run atop the division. Velasquez has fought just three times since 2013. He dropped the heavyweight title to Fabricio Werdumin 2015 and rebounded to beat Travis Browneat UFC 200 in 2016.

In 2018, Velasquez trained at WWE’s Performance Centerto see if he could physically work a match in the ring. He drew rave reviews from coaches there, but things didn’t work out at that time with WWE as far as a contract, and he ended up signing a short-term deal with AAA.

After his two appearances for AAA in August and September, Velasquez saw the interest in him increase. WWE came back to the table.

“We’ve talked a little bit back and forth and nothing happened,” Velasquez said. “They wanted to see my development. I think they’re pleased with what I’m doing now.”

Velasquez’s interest in pro wrestling comes at a particularly busy moment in pro wrestling history. The emergence of AEW, owned by the Khan family, which also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham FC, is the first major effort to enter a space dominated by WWE for 20 years. Additionally, WWE signed TV contracts valued at over $1 billion to bring SmackDown to Fox and extend Monday Night Raw on the USA Network.

Velasquez would join the likes of Lesnar and Ronda Rouseyas former UFC champions in WWE. WWE also has UFC veterans Matt Riddleand Shayna Baszlerunder contract.

“This is definitely my focus,” Velasquez said of pro wrestling. “My family is into it, they love it. They’re super excited. I haven’t seen them excited over something like this in a while. It’s cool.”

Junior Dos Santos to Fight Francis Ngannou at UFC 239

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Junior Dos Santos is ready to rumble…

The 35-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist and a former UFCHeavyweight Champion.has reportedly agreed to fight Francis Ngannou at UFC 239on July 6 in Las Vegas, according to ESPN.

The fight isn’t signed just yet, sources say, but is expected to be in the coming days.

This marks the second time the promotion has attempted to book this matchup. It was originally scheduled for UFC 215in September 2017, but it was ultimately canceled after the United States Anti-Doping Agencyprovisionally suspended Dos Santos for a possible performance-enhancing drug violation.

Dos Santos was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing when it was determined he unknowingly ingested a contaminated supplement that contained a banned substance.

Dos Santos (21-5) has won his past three fights. He most recently defeated Derrick Lewis via second-round TKOearlier this month.

Ngannou (13-3) is on a two-fight winning streak. The 32-year-old is coming off a 26-second knockout of Cain Velasquez in February.

The event, which will be headlined by Jon Jones vs. Thiago Santos for the UFC light heavyweight title, will take place at T-Mobile Arenain Las Vegas. It will also feature Amanda Nunes vs. Holly Holm for the UFC bantamweight title.

Velasquez Reclaims His UFC Heavyweight Title…

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Cain Velasquez has exacted revenge on the man who gave him his only career loss…

The 30-year-old Mexican American mixed martial arts fighter reclaimed his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title Saturday night, after thoroughly battering Junior dos Santos in a lopsided unanimous decision.

Velasquez (11-1) took control of the rematch right away, flooring the Brazilian champion with a big right hand midway through the first round. Velasquez spent most of the match stalking and pounding on dos Santos (15-2), who never fully recovered from the first-round shot that left him swollen and woozy.

“I was so tired, but I had to endure,” said Velasquez. “My coaches and everybody helped me so much. He’s tough, too. … It feels so good to get this. This is my wife’s Christmas present. I promised her I would do this.”

Velasquez won every round on every judge’s scorecard in the UFC’s traditional year-end event. The three judges scored the bout for Velasquez 50-45, 50-44 and 50-43. The Associated Press also favored Velasquez 50-44, giving a 10-8 advantage to Velasquez in the first round.

dos Santos took the UFC belt away from Velasquez in November 2011 in just 64 seconds, earning a first-round stoppage victory with one vicious overhand right in Anaheim, Californua. Velasquez refused to blame a knee injury for his only defeat – but in the rematch, he demonstrated exactly what he can do at full strength.

“I knew that Junior was a tough striker and he was able to end our last fight that way, so I was prepared for him this time,” said Velasquez. “I was able to effectively use my striking and my grappling to control him throughout the fight and get the title back.”

A record12,423 fans bought $3.2 million in tickets at the MGM Grand Garden to see the second meeting between the two.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Junior dos Santos