JDS Vows to Finish Miocic at UFC 211

Junior Dos Santos has held the heavyweight title years ago, and next weekend he’ll have the opportunity to wear gold yet again. He faces the champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 211, a heavyweight he defeated two years ago — but times have changed significantly since that first fight.

In an interview with Fox Sports, Dos Santos spoke about how it felt to be the champion of the UFC’s most dangerous division, and it’s clear why he’s so motivated to get back to the top.

“That’s amazing to have the belt, to be the baddest man on the planet," Dos Santos said. "It’s not for everybody. Everybody wants to be, but not many of these guys will reach this point in their career? To get there and become the champion, it means a lot. My motivation, of course, it’s my family, it’s everything what I’m leaving that is amazing, but to be the baddest man on the planet. That’s unbelievable.

“In the whole world, Brazil, America, China, Japan, everywhere, in a fair fight, you are the guy. Can you imagine that? Oh my gosh, there is no better feeling than that. You are the baddest man on the planet. So I’m fighting for that. I’m fighting to beat this guy again and I’m sure I’m going to beat him.”

Dos Santos defeated Miocic in 2014, winning a five-round unanimous decision that was an instant heavyweight classic. This time, however, Dos Santos does not want a 25-minute war. In fact, he’s confident that he can knock Miocic out in the first ten minutes of the fight.

“My prediction is this time I’m going to finish Stipe Miocic before the end of the second round,” dos Santos stated. “I have much respect for him, but I’m coming to win.”