Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos will defend his title for the first time against heavy-hitting Alistair Overeem later this year.
Overeem earned the right to face the Brazilian bomber by defeating Brock Lesnar at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, which also marked his long-awaited debut with the promotion. "The Reem" calmly took his time and stalked the former WWE star until he saw openings and capitalized with vicious knees and kicks to the body, ending their colossal clash halfway through the opening round.
After the bout, Lesnar surprisingly announced his retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA), calling it a day after a four-year stint with the promotion that saw him win the heavyweight strap in only his third fight against Randy Couture at UFC 91: "Lesnar vs. Couture" in 2008.
With fans and media having mixed feelings about his decision to call it quits, "Cigano," for one, agrees with his decision.
Speaking to Tatame.com, the UFC heavyweight champ says he had a quick conversation with Lesnar and talked about what went wrong in the fight, as well received a "good luck" wish for his upcoming bout with the striking Dutchman.
See for yourself:
"I thought Brock would move forwards, I hoped more of him. But he told me on the octagon he felt the knees and kicks of Overeem and that he thought he broke his rib. I saw it and it was really red. He told me the last couple destabilized him, and then he wished me good luck on this title defense and that was it. He's completely right to retire since he doesn't feel fine when fighting anymore. He said he promised it to his wife and kids... I guess everybody knows when it's time to stop."
The Brazilian heavyweight also chimed in on his upcoming bout against the mountain of a man that is Overeem:
"Each fight is different and you gotta be prepared for your next opponent the best way you can. I got to the title with much effort and I'll do my best to remain as the champion. Overeem is a very strong fighter, but there's no easy fight when you're fighting a title fight. He's big, but he ain't two."
The two heavyweights will collide at a yet to be determined UFC event later this year, a fight that could prove to be filled with fireworks. That's because both are known for their powerful striking and preference to keep the fight on the feet.
What's your take Maniacs, was it the perfect time for Lesnar to hang up his UFC gloves? And who's your early pick in the battle of stand-up specialists?
Opinions, please.