Dos Santos Picks Nogueira, Mir in Upcoming Bouts

Junior dos Santos continued to climb the UFC heavyweight ranks in early January by stopping Gilbert Yvel. The 25-year-old Brazilian had no qualms standing with the Dutch striker despite Yvel’s reputation for violence on the feet.

“The strategy was to feel out the standup because he is very good in striking but (striking) is also the basis I trust most,” dos Santos told Sherdog.com. “So I could not rule out where I'm strongest, but if things became harder, I would have taken him down to develop the ground fighting. Thank God my punch landed. My hands are very heavy.”

It was the second bout in a row where dos Santos took on a touted striker and beat him at his own game. Last September, he outstruck Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

“These guys were strikers, so no one struck with them,” dos Santos said. “Everybody tried to take them down, and that's what I changed. I tried to surprise them, and it worked.”

Following the Yvel win, dos Santos said the UFC told him to get ready for a busy year. He has already signed to fight former heavyweight title contender Gabriel Gonzaga at the March 21 “UFC on Versus 1” event.

“I'm ready for anyone,” he said. “Gonzaga is a great fighter, very tough. I will prepare again for this fight with a lot of focus and get there 100 percent.”

Dos Santos will also have his eye on the UFC heavyweight title picture, which includes some pivotal matchups in the coming months. On Feb. 20 in Australia, dos Santos’ training partner Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira takes on Cain Velasquez.

“I think that Velasquez has proved to be a very tough guy and has a lot of cardio,” dos Santos said. “He also has great wrestling, but people know that Rodrigo is different, a guy above average. Everyone could see that he was back against Couture, which for me was the best fight of all time. I'm sure this fight will be tough. I see Cain trading some blows with him, but I think Rodrigo is better at striking. I think Cain is going to try takedowns -- he’s the better wrestler -- but I believe in Rodrigo winning by submission.”

On March 27, Frank Mir will fight Shane Carwin for the interim title at UFC 111 -- another bout dos Santos will be watching closely.

“It will be a good fight, even though Rodrigo should be fighting for the interim belt,” he said. “Mir just battled it out with Brock Lesnar, and Couture also has much more of a name then Cheick Kongo (who Mir beat last), so the dispute should be Rodrigo versus Velasquez for the interim belt. But the UFC decides, and I think it will be a good fight, tough for both, and will not last until the end. Carwin has proved quite capable and is a good striker, but Mir is very complete and I bet on his victory.”