UFC
UFC Champ Junior dos Santos confident in his striking, believes he'll knock out Alistair Overeem at UFC 146
Feb 13, 2012 - 10:30:28 AM UFC Champ Junior dos Santos confident in his striking, believes he'll knock out Alistair Overeem at UFC 146

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos will make his first title defense this May against one of the most dangerous opponents in the division in Alistair Overeem. The 27-year-old Champion had a long road to the belt, winning seven fights in the UFC before getting his first crack at the belt. Now that he's got it around his waist, he's ready for the next phase of his career.

"I don't think it's harder to stay there once you get there, I guess it's two completely different phases in a fighter's career," dos Santos said about defending the belt in an interview with Tatame.com. "Both phases demand a lot from the fighter, but I believe I'm ready for it. I'm learning more and more. I have to develop all my skills in the sport. My next bouts will be like a test for me, because I gotta keep this belt and I'll do my best to do it. Now it's all five-round fights, so the challenge is on a whole new level, but I guess it's just as hard as always been. I gotta be even more dedicated."

Overeem represents a considerable threat in a fight that is likely to stay on the feet. However, dos Santos feels very comfortable with his striking game, and believes the fight will play out in his favor when they meet at UFC 146.

"Overeem is really a tough, dangerous, heavy and really strong guy," dos Santos said. "I see him as a good challenge. Probably he's accepting the stand-up fight. To me, it can go to the floor or on our feet. He's very dangerous, but I gotta use my speed. I really believe in me, I'm always confident about my attitudes. I guess one of the secrets is: believing in yourself is half way. I really believe I can beat him. And as any fight, I'll get there to knock him out. It won't be different this time, I'm going there to knock him out."

"I really believe my stand-up. I believe i can knock anyone out doing the right work. He's as dangerous as me on the stand-up, there's a reason why he became the champion at K-1. It'll be a hard fight, it's gonna come down to who hits the other first. The impact of a heavyweight punch can knock one out in a second."

He'll look to turn that belief in his skills into results in the cage on May 26, and should he defend his belt in that fashion it'll be a great follow-up to his title win last November.

Penick's Analysis: This is such a great heavyweight matchup, and the striking skills of both fighters make it very even. Both are wholly capable of stopping the other, and whichever fighter comes out of UFC 146 the Champion they'll have earned the distinction of the best heavyweight fighter in the world. If dos Santos can follow up his finish of Cain Velasquez by knocking out Overeem for what would be his eighth straight victory, he'll be approaching all-time great status in the heavyweight division already, and he'll only continue from there.

[Junior dos Santos art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]