Junior dos Santos will face Ben Rothwell in the headline slot at UFC Fight Night 86 in Croatia, in what may be the worst possible match-up for the former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Junior came through the ranks on a mission; knockout after knockout, dispatching opponents at a rarely seen rate.
The last three years have brought Dos Santos his darkest times. With the terrifying beatings he suffered from Cain Velasquez and the war he was put through with Stipe Miocic, he is no longer the imposing threat at the top of the division.
In December he fell victim to a brutal second-round knockout from Alistair Overeem. Dos Santos looked to have aged about ten years in that fight, he was a lot smaller than in previous contests.
In the fight with Overeem he looked awkward, gun-shy and scared. Overeem is known to have a weak chin, and Dos Santos made no attempt to test it. He gave far too much respect.
Dos Santos is not quite at the point where he should retire. He’s only 32, which is young for a heavyweight. He still has a great contract, making good money, so an exit strategy isn’t likely on his radar.
But to choose Rothwell in his first fight back after that devastating knockout is a horrible move.
Rothwell is finishing all comers of late, and has one of the best chins in the sport.
This spells disaster for Dos Santos. It would’ve been smarter to take on Todd Duffee, who will stand with him, but still presents a worthwhile match-up.
You don’t always have to fight at the top of the sport. With the amount of damage Dos Santos has taken, it would do him good to take some easier match-ups. He still makes the same money, and in the heavyweight division, you’re never more than three fights away from being in title talks.
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