Coming up in just 10 days, UFC Heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will look to get his second successful title defense at UFC 155. If he's able to beat former champ Cain Velasquez, Dos Santos will tie the record for defenses in the UFC Heavyweight division. The two first met at UFC On Fox 1 where Junior knocked out Cain in just over a minute to win the belt.
Dos Santos picked up his first title defense with a TKO win over Frank Mir at UFC 146. On the same card, Velasquez won his contendership by finishing a battered and bloodied Antonio Silva. Wednesday, the UFC 155 headliners participated in a media conference call to give their thoughts going into the rematch (transcribed by MMA Mania).
Right off the bat, Velaquez talked about the knee injury he had going into their first fight:
Junior was hurt as well. Guys get injured before the fight so it was just me being a fighter and not backing out. I did it and it's in the past.
He assured everyone that he's good to go this time around:
Being 100 percent, just staying in the gym and sparring and preparing myself. That's it, pretty much.
I know how he fights. He's got good boxing. I've just got to fight my style of fight which means a lot of pressure and a lot of offense.
JDS doesn't seem too worried about Cain being in better shape for the rematch:
It doesn't affect me at all. I know Cain's game. I watched his fights a lot and I've studied him. I know his strategy and if he takes me down and really holds me down, I'm ready for my first submission in the UFC.
No, it's not hard for me. At this moment, for sure Cain Velasquez deserves to be fighting for the title. He's considering me number one heavyweight in the UFC and I think he's number two for sure. My motivation comes from my family, the opportunity and things I'm leaving now. That fight was a quick fight and this time for sure will be longer and the MMA fans are gonna like it.
The biggest thing for Dos Santos is facing a "clean" fighter:
I prefer to fight against clean athletes and real professionals so Cain Velasquez is one of those guys. He's a real professional fighter and that's a good challenge for me. I know he's very tough and I know how hard I have to train to face him. The other guys, they just say things but that is nothing behind the words and I think guys like me and Cain Velasquez are made at the gym and the other guys are made at the laboratory.
UFC 155 will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 29. Lightweights Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller will be fighting in the co-main event.
Get the latest gear
