Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos is not a man that will back down from any challenge. He has proven so time and time again since his debut in the world's preeminent mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in 2008 when he knocked out established veteran Fabricio Werdum in the very first round.
The competition didn't get easier from there for the Brazilian bomber. He proceeded to defeat his next seven opponents with ease, including some of the best heavyweights in the world such as Roy Nelson, Mirko Filipovic, Shane Carwin and the man he took the title from, Cain Velasquez.
His next challenge is scheduled to come against Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 on May 26, 2012, the most accomplished striker "Cigano' will have faced to date. Of course, April 24, 2012 can't come fast enough, as that is the day the MMA world will know whether or not "The Reem" will get licensed to fight due to his positive drug test that showed the former K-1 champion had elevated testosterone levels.
Still, regardless of all the drama surrounding Overeem and his scheduled Memorial Day weekend showdown, Junior is not ready to back down one bit, even if he now considers it to be an unfair fight.
Speaking to Brazilian news outlet Globo, "Cigano" says he would gladly take the fight with Overeem if the Nevada's State Athletic Commission (NSAC) approves it, but he feels it will be an unfair due to his opponent's elevated testosterone levels.
"If the fight happens I will fight with pleasure, but I can tell if it is proved that the use of illegal substances is disrespect to the sport and something unfair to me. The ratio of testosterone in his body that there may be increased by 30% his strength and aggressiveness of it, I was told people who know the subject. Will really be unfair fight, but as a fighter will be ready to face anyone. If the athletic commission and the UFC want I'll fight him. I am a fighter and will be there to fight, but it is sure to be disrespect to MMA and how serious is this sport. This will also be unfair, it will be unfair to me. I've never used these devices to gain strength. I think the right would do blood tests on wrestlers as is done in the Olympics, not the urine, since the blood is easier to detect these illegal substances. We want to know who the best really. No use to be the best liar. Being a world champion making false use of a lot of drugs, that's not being champion. I can clearly say that I am the champion without ever having the use of any illegal artifice in order to get there. I favor more rigorous tests to assess whether someone is doped. It has to be a clean sport and these tests should occur more surprises. If Overeem is more aggressive and stronger the more he will resist blows and it will be difficult for me. If I lose will be unfair. He will not have fought better than I have fought doped."
Junior went on to say that even though Overeem would prove a great challenge for him, Cain Velasquez, who he knocked out in just over a minute at UFC on Fox 1 to claim his title, would be an even bigger one:
"I find it curious he won three belts without ever having been caught doping in right away and ends up being caught in the UFC. It would be a good challenge for me, but my biggest challenge I went for the title against Cain. He is the most outstanding and would be a great challenge for me. The Overeem would be a good challenge, but it would be my biggest challenge. He fails the fitness and speed. He frightens the uninitiated, but who knows what being a fighter knows he would not be my most difficult opponent. We always say that the next challenge will be more difficult to prepare even more, but do not think Overeem would be my biggest challenge."
Though many fans would love to see a rematch between Cain and dos Santos, considering the first one wasn't much of a fight, Velasquez is currently scheduled to face Frank Mir as the co-main event for UFC 146, a bout UFC President Dana White says will still go on as planned.
So what's your say on the matter Maniacs, does the reigning Heavyweight champion have some beef to call the fight unfair if it indeed goes down? Or is it even playing field if the NSAC does indeed approve "The Reem" to compete for the title?
Opinions, please.