Trainer: Dos Santos-Yvel 'Almost Sure' for UFC 108

Junior dos Santos is likely to face Gilbert Yvel at UFC 108 on Jan. 2 in Las Vegas, Sherdog.com has learned through multiple sources.

“The contract is not signed yet, but it’s almost sure he will fight Gilbert Yvel, who is very experienced and loves the striking game,” Dos Santos’ boxing coach Luiz Dórea told Sherdog.com on Thursday.

Dutchman Yvel would replace Gabriel Gonzaga, who withdrew from the bout more than a week ago due to a staph infection in his arm.

Yvel has won eight of his nine contests, mostly on the European circuit. Yvel submitted to third-round punches against former UFC champion Josh Barnett at Affliction “Day of Reckoning” last January in Anaheim, Calif. The 33-year-old kickboxer scored a first-round knockout over Pedro Rizzo at Fight Force International “Ultimate Chaos” last June in Biloxi, Miss. The Dos Santos bout would mark the striker’s UFC debut.

Dos Santos, 25, has three straight wins in the Octagon, including his third-round dismantling of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic at UFC 103 last September.