Junior Dos Santos And Fabricio Werdum Promise Fireworks | FightBook MMA
“Followers can anticipate one other knockout on September 8,” mentioned Dos Santos, who gained their 2008 conflict by way of emphatic first-round knockout. “I’m going to knock him out once more and that’s 100%.”
“I don’t take into consideration the previous,” mentioned Werdum. “I take into consideration at the moment and the long run. I’m a unique fighter now. My focus is completely on my coaching. In my thoughts, I’m 28 and I really feel nice. Followers ought to anticipate us to make historical past on September 8.”
For Dos Santos, he remembers his first conflict with Werdum as a seminal second in his profession that launched him on a path towards stardom, and described the motivation he gained from Werdum’s trash discuss on the time.
“My combat in opposition to Werdum was in all probability an important combat of my UFC profession,” mentioned Dos Santos. “He was imagined to combat for the title after which I ruined their plans. Coming from Brazil, I used to be a giant dreamer, and all of the sudden I used to be on the most important present and combating a man that I used to be a fan of. I virtually felt like I used to be flying it was so particular. Every thing was so new and I used to be so nervous. Werdum was speaking lots of trash, however when folks attempt to put my again in opposition to the wall, I combat again.”
Werdum was in a position to rebound from the defeat and finally turn out to be a world champion, and whereas he’s 100% centered on having his hand raised September 8, he’s adamant that revenge isn’t his most important motivator.
“Settling the rating or not, I need to win,” mentioned Werdum. “Whether or not it’s by knockout, submission or no matter means crucial. This can be a large second for me. We’ve had an excellent coaching camp and I need to present that on this combat. My aim is to return house to my household and pals, have a giant barbecue, have a good time and benefit from the second.”
With this upcoming rematch, the fighters will shed the gloves and have interaction in a bareknuckle conflict that guarantees much more violence. Each fighters have embraced that side of this rematch, though they don’t imagine it’s going to change their methods.
“After they requested me about this combat, I mentioned I like the thought of bareknuckle,” mentioned Werdum. “That is old skool, like Vale Tudo. I like the thought of minimal guidelines and I advised Jorge that.”
“We’re very totally different fighters now, however our most important methods don’t change that a lot,” mentioned Dos Santos. “He’s a grappler and I’m a striker. I’ll be seeking to knock him out. He’s gotten higher together with his putting, however I see him attempting to grapple me. As soon as once more, it’s not going to work.”
Though the showdown will as soon as once more pit a striker in opposition to a grappler, each fighters downplayed their opponent’s technique when discussing the combat. As an alternative, each fighters spoke to their self-belief and confidence that they’re at some extent of their profession the place they’re able to seize this second that’s introduced itself.
“I’ve watched lots of Dos Santos’ fights and I don’t anticipate him to be a lot totally different than ordinary,” mentioned Werdum. “However I’m solely serious about my coaching. I respect him, however in my thoughts I simply concentrate on my camp and my preparation. I used to be born a fighter and that’s it. We’re going to placed on an excellent combat for everyone.”
“The place I’m at in my life, I’ve a greater understanding of what I’m liable for,” concluded Dos Santos. “This is perhaps the primary time in my entire life that I’ll solely be combating my opponent, not myself too. He’s top-of-the-line jiu jitsu fighters in MMA heavyweight historical past. However it doesn’t actually matter as a result of it’s not about him. It’s about me and what I’m able to doing.”
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Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and likewise a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.