“After my last fight, I told Joe Silva I wanted to fight again soon and I was glad they were able to get me a fight quickly. I think it’s important to fight more frequently so I can stay active. Rothwell is a very hard opponent, who is on a good win streak and has been imposing himself. He showed he can be very effective, especially in his last fight, when he submitted Josh Barnett, which was kind of unexpected… I think a win over him will put me back on the top of the weight class, maybe even close to a title shot. But honestly, I’m not thinking about the belt now. All I want to do is fight as frequently as possible… If everything goes according to my plan, I want to have this fight in April, then another one in August or September and then again in December. Three fights in one year is a good number.”
-Junior dos Santos talks to Portal do Vale Tudo in Brazil about taking the Ben Rothwell fight, and why he wants to be active in 2016 (translated by Lucas Rezende at BloodyElbow.com).
Penick’s Analysis: If fighting frequently brings out a better version of dos Santos than the shell he seemed to be against Alistair Overeem, then by all means he should get in there every three months. However, given the matchup he’s got in April, it’s far from a certainty he’ll have any sort of success in that fight. He needs to be much better than he showed against Stipe Miocic in December 2014 and against Overeem last December if he’s going to inspire any confidence in him getting back on track.
[Junior dos Santos art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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