Junior dos Santos was in championship form in the main event of UFC Fight Night 146 on Saturday night, as he blew apart fan favorite Derrick Lewis within two rounds for his third consecutive win. Now, his sights are set on eventually regaining the UFC heavyweight crown.
Dos Santos rocked Lewis several times in the contest and eventually clubbed “The Black Beast” with punches until referee Herb Dean intervened at 1:58 of the second. “Cigano” landed heavy right hands, crippling kicks to the body and showed a sturdy chin in the win. There was a moment in the duel when it seemed like Lewis was playing possum and nearly turned the tide, but the Brazilian said he saw it coming.
“We were studying this before,” Dos Santos said on the ESPN-televised post-fight show regarding Lewis apparently pretending to be hurt from a kick to the body. “My coach said if he feels the punch or the strike, don’t go at him right away. I was trying to finish the fight and he threw another right overhand and that was dangerous. I was waiting to re-establish myself so I had to be patient.”
Considering that Lewis most recently challenged Daniel Cormier for his heavyweight throne, the logical assumption is that “JDS” will be next in line. However, Dos Santos said he doesn’t really care who he fights, as long as it’s a top guy in the division.
“I don’t care who I fight next, as long as I stay active,” he said. “I want fights. I’m here to fight again and regain my belt.”
Meanwhile, Cormier still could wait and defend his strap against former UFC heavyweight and current WWE Universal champ Brock Lesnar. When asked about that showdown, “Cigano” scoffed at it.
“For sure not Brock Lesnar,” Dos Santos about Cormier’s possible next opponent. “I like to see Brock Lesnar but not for the title. He’s not even a part of the sport right now so he can’t come back and fight for the title. It doesn’t make sense. He [Cormier] can do whatever he wants, but it doesn’t make sense. The best for him is to fight Stipe [Miocic], [Francis] Ngannou or even me but if he has to fight Brock Lesnar to make money… I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense.”