Junior dos Santos will begin the path back to the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 160 on May 25th, but he's had to suffer through a change of opponent when Alistair Overeem dropped out. Heavy hitter Mark Hunt stepped up, and Dos Santos told MMA Junkie Radio that he's prepared to compete against Hunt on the feet or on the floor:
"You have to get prepared to fight anywhere, and I'm training a lot in my jiu-jitsu skills, and I think I'm getting even more confident in that area. If I feel I have to take him down, I will do that, and I will be looking to submit him."
He said that he learned that lesson from his loss to Cain Velasquez:
"I was trying to fight standing all the time. But it's MMA. You have to use jiu-jitsu and wrestling. So now, it's more clear to me. I have to use all my skills to win the fights, especially when you're fighting against someone like Cain Velasquez."
Speaking of Velasquez, he stated that if Antonio Silva knocks off the champ, JDS will have no problem taking on the fellow Brazilian. He also took a parting shot at Overeem, who he has been scheduled to fight twice now but stuff (positive tests, injuries) keeps getting in the way:
"I think it is a joke. He says a lot of things. He's just one more opponent. I don't care about who's going to be my opponent. Whoever the UFC puts in front of me, I'm going to get prepared to beat that guy. Now, he's not my opponent any more, so I will forget about him. I think Mark Hunt puts on a great show all the time. He's very tough, and I think it's going to be good for the fans."
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