UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos says he wants to fight Alistair Overeem next instead of Cain Velasquez.
Currently, Velasquez is the No. 1 contender and is expected to meet Dos Santos later this year. But if the current champ gets his wish he will take on Overeem before a rematch with Velasquez -- JDS knocked out Velasquez in November to win the title.
Dos Santos and Velasquez were rumoured to headline UFC 152 in Toronto but it never panned out because Velasquez was healing from a couple minor injuries he sustained in his UFC 146 win over Antonio Silva.
UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta recently confirmed to ESPN that JDS is penciled in for a yet-to-be-announced event on Dec. 29 with his opponent now undetermined.
UFC president Dana White told reporters following Saturday's UFC on FOX 4 card that JDS is annoyed with some of the things Overeem has said about him and wants to take his frustrations out on the former Stikeforce and Dream heavyweight champion.
"I sat down with Junior dos Santos yesterday. He said, 'I have nothing but respect for Cain Velasquez. I like him as a person and as a fighter and he deserves this shot, but I do not want to fight him,'" White said."He said, 'Alistair Overeem is a punk. He's got a big mouth and he's been saying lots of bad things about me. I want to knock him out now.'"
Dos Santos and Overeem were scheduled to meet in the main event of UFC 146 in Las Vegas in May, but Overeem failed a pre-fight drug test when he tested positive for extremely high levels of testosterone. While most people have a testosterone-epitestosterone ratio of 1-1, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) allows for a ratio as high as 6-1 when testing athletes; the World Anti-Doping Agency allows a 4-1 ratio. However, Overeem's failed test showed a 14-1 ratio.
The Dutchman blamed the failed test on an anti-inflammatory medication that was prescribed by a doctor. Overeem was not suspended, but in March his application status with the (NSAC) was put on hold for nine months, which means he will not be eligible to fight until December at the earliest.
"I know (Dos Santos) was very happy that fight didn't happen, and I know he's afraid to fight me," Overeem said in a recent interview with MMAWeekly. "He also knows that I'm the biggest threat out there to him. He knows when he fights me, he's gonna get it. There's no escaping from it ? I'm gonna get my hands on him, and when I do, he's all mine."
The two knockout artists are considered to be the best strikers in the heavyweight division.
Overeem is 15-2 with one no contest as a heavyweight (36-11, 1 NC overall in MMA), a K-1 Kickboxing champion and is unbeaten in his last 12 bouts dating back to 2007.
Dos Santos is 15-1 (9-0 in the UFC) with 12 of his wins coming by way of strikes and defended his belt against Frank Mir at UFC 146.
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