Rumor of the Day: It looks like it might be Dos Santos vs. Gonzaga instead of Gonazga vs. Nogueira at UFC 107:
A matchup between "Cigano" Junior dos Santos (8-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and former UFC title challenger "Napão" Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is in the works, Fighters.com has confirmed with a source close to one of the fighters.
HT: Fighters.com
4 months ago
Nick Thomas
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Dos Santos beating Werdum put him in a weird spot, ranking wise. His next three fights (assuming this rumor is true) have all been against fighters that are lower-ranked than Werdum was at the time that he beat him.
If you think about it, Struve-Cro Cop-Gonzaga would have been a totally sensible trajectory for JDS if he’d lost to Werdum as expected.
by JRN on Oct 11, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
rec
That’s right. In fact, Dos Santos is worthier of a title shot than currently designated contender, Carwin, But he’s been put on a slow and steady track (as opposed to Lesnar-style meteoric rise), and when you see it that way, it’s a logical progression of opponents.
This approach assumes the Werdum victory was a fluke. If it wasn’t a fluke (and I don’t believe it was) then Dos Santos can prove his detractores wrong and should have no trouble dispatching the inconsistent Gonzaga. If Gonzaga pulls it off, it throws the rankings into some confusion, with Gonzaga now standing above Werdum, who has TKOd him definitively on two occasions.
Dos Santos is the highest ranked UFC HW after Lesnar, Mir and Nogueira. If he defeats Gonzaga, he deserves a title shot, or at minimum the opportunity to improve his ranking by fighting Mir (he is unlikely to fight his teammate Nogueira). Come to think of it, it makes sense to match the winner of Mir-Kongo against the winner of Dos Santos-Gonzaga for the next title shot after Nogueira’s.
by klown on Oct 11, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Come to think of it, it makes sense to match the winner of Mir-Kongo against the winner of Dos Santos-Gonzaga for the next title shot after Nogueira’s.
Agreed.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 11, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So are they going to hold Big Nog out for a title shot?
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 11, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Battle of the CroCop Killers
I’m picking The Colossus of Rhodes (JDS) if this happens.
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by Deo Wade on Oct 11, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good test for Dos Santos if this fight happens. I really wanted the UFC to match Cigano with someone that can/will take him to the ground. However, Gonzaga is pretty well-rounded except for his cardio. It is a good test for Cigano, but a really tough test as well.
by chrisbboy82 on Oct 11, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't think it's his cardio
I think it’s his mental toughness. With the exception of the Carwin fight, he’s really only lost when the other guy kept pressure on him, and made him quit. And I think that even Carwin was a result of mental lapse on GG’s part.
Randy took Gabe’s best and gave it right back, and made him wilt. Werdum was getting BATTERED with thudding leg kicks by Gonzaga, but toughed it out and then melted him in the clinch. In their first fight, same scenario- Werdum stayed strong and eventually stopped him in the 3’rd.
Good test for JDS, but if he can stay strong and keep pressure on Gonzaga like he was able to do to Crocop, then he’ll win. I wouldn’t rule out Gabe’s chances of winning, because he has flashes of brilliance, but I just don’t think that his head is all the way there.
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by ElliotMatheny on Oct 11, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agree with your assessment
Gonzaga is an elite fighter who’s capable of beating anyone, not unlike Overeem. Unfortunately, like Overeem, he can dish it out, but he just can’t take it.
by cyph on Oct 11, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This fight would be lots of fun.
I have a question, and it’s pretty fairly out of nowhere and meaningless, but who would you pick in a Gonzaga vs. Arlovski matchup?
"He hit like a bitch."
by SMC on Oct 11, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gee,
Heavy hitter vs. Paper chin? Im going with the obvious, unless Gonzonga got picked apart.
"I will knock your hair black!"- Ken Shamrock to Tito Ortiz
by FutureChamp on Oct 11, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know why that matchup intrigues me, but it does. You don’t think Arlovski could put Gabe down with strikes, like Werdum did? I think both guys are maybe seen as flaky (flakey?) at times.
"He hit like a bitch."
by SMC on Oct 11, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If they fought 10 times, I’d give Gonzaga 6 wins.
"He hit like a bitch."
by SMC on Oct 11, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gonzaga would take him down and have his way with him.
Keep firing Assholes!
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by Ubernoober on Oct 11, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Completely agreed.
Arvloski can’t beat Brett Rogers, the tire guy, he ain’t getting past Gonzaga, the hairy Brazilian with skillz.
"I will knock your hair black!"- Ken Shamrock to Tito Ortiz
by FutureChamp on Oct 11, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yet he be beat Werdum, who has 2 wins over Gonzaga? Arlovksi would beat Napao, his striking is too accurate and I think people make more of his chin than there really is
by StevenGiles on Oct 11, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea, sure.
Your looking wayy too much at the old Arvloski. The new one has been KO’d twice, and the last one was in under a minute by a mid-tier fighter. And he’ll beat Gabe? No. Cause I garuntee he has the power to make that Brett Rogers KO look like a love tap and the jits skills to sub him if he pleased.
"I will knock your hair black!"- Ken Shamrock to Tito Ortiz
by FutureChamp on Oct 11, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In reality
It would be a fairly even matchup and they would probably split if they fought ten times or one guy might win 6.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Oct 11, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In a technical battle, Arlovski is tough to beat. But the secret is out. Gonzaga would just bull rush Arlovski, throw him off his rhythm as all it take is one good punch. Gonzaga may wilt but Arlovski would lose consciousness. Werdum doesn’t have the kind of power that Gonzaga has. I don’t think Arlovski would do well with any of the UFC heavy hitters. He’s a great fighter, but a real shame about the chin.
by cyph on Oct 11, 2009 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good fight.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Oct 11, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good
Cigano is going to cave Gonzaga’s face in.
by GoldenOldie on Oct 11, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m really liking this match-up!
by bigislandboi808 on Oct 11, 2009 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
:( and :)
I like Napow but apart from a wicked kick to the balls has not shown all that much of late; i think Cigano is going to work the body and take his head home in a jar. Napow might use leg kicks to keep JDS at bay but i think it won’t be able to stop him and im not sure Napow has the take downs to keep it on the floor long enough…
JDS 2nd round tko.
by Beren on Oct 11, 2009 7:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of JDS and big Nog, do they have some pact where they won’t fight each other? Chances are good they’ll meet somewhere down the road.
by MikeD32 on Oct 11, 2009 9:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Same team. They’d never fight.
I specializes in grammar fail.
by a tommy point on Oct 11, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
big Nog has taken JDS under his wing. Watch the pre fight hype videos from before the CC fight. It looks like a father explaining to his son what it means to be a man.
by ryanwk628 on Oct 12, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gabe’s big comeback starts with JDS. Should be a good one.
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by a tommy point on Oct 11, 2009 10:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Liking this match up much better than the one with Big Nog. Still wondering if Napão will show up when he is facing a top opponent, sure hope he will.
"Did you feel you did well against Lindland?" "
Hell no.. I wanted to break the law"
---Rampage
by TearsofaClown on Oct 11, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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