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
over 2 years ago
Nick Thomas
32 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
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.
Battle of the CroCop Killers
I’m picking The Colossus of Rhodes (JDS) if this happens.
Yep, I have Twitter too. Follow me @deowade
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.
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.
Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.
'09 is the year of the FW's.
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.
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."
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
Gonzaga would take him down and have his way with him.
Keep firing Assholes!
Myself, I have simple tastes. I like to kill my enemies, and take their gold and women.
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
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
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
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.
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.
:( 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.
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
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
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
