:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28172739/125686182.0.jpg)
Junior dos Santos made some waves last week when the news broke that he was going to be training at Nova União. Dos Santos has been a very long time member of Team Nogueira, so the switch in camp seemed like a very unexpected and major move in the former UFC champion's career.
In recent days dos Santos has made it clear that he is "still Team Nogueira," and he explained the situation to Combate. Here are the quotes as transcribed by Bloody Elbow translator Fernando Arbex:
"Things were too slow, I wasn't feeling good in my way of evolving as a professional. Then I decided moving to Rio. Observing the world of MMA, it's clear to all that professor Dedé Pederneiras is one of the best coaches, there is no question of why he every year competes for the prize of the best in the world. He is a guy who I think can aggregate a lot to my game, not just with gameplan, but also for being a intelligent guy. I see the instructions that he pass to Aldo, Barão and his others fighters and I like very much. I spoke with my professor Luiz Dórea and said that was the time to test me in Rio. I came, spoke with Dedé and he treated me very well, as all of the team. Today I can train and evolve beside them".
"I have all the respect for both of the Nogueiras and for all Team Nogueira. I'm Team Nogueira. The professor Dede Pederneiras konws that, everybody knows that. As I am Team Nogueira, I'm Champion, the team from professor Luiz Dórea, I'm Jiu-Jitsu Northeast, the team from the professor Yuri Carlton. Today I'm training in Nova União, I think this is evolution. I learned from Minotauro himself to always persuit evolution, to learn more from the others and that is what I'm doing. I think that for my game is necessary a different kind of training, a different kind of learning and I came here to find that. Of course I'm stilll Team Nogueira and i'm still going to train there regardless of who is part of the team and feel good also training with me".
"I need three months to be prepared. If the UFC give me this time, I fight against anyone. I have never chose an opponent. I don't know. There is Miocic, who recently fought with Gonzaga. There is Overeem, who recently fought with Mir. Anyone of them or anyone else. The UFC has a lot of options to choose someone to fight me soon".
Get the latest gear
