Report: Junior dos Santos close to landing blue chip Nike sponsorship deal

Move over Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, you may soon have another Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion seated at the mixed martial arts (MMA) table at Nike cocktail parties.

According to Five Knuckles, UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos is currently in negotiations with the sports apparel giant for sponsorship in his upcoming rematch against Cain Velasquez, which is set to go down at UFC 155 on Dec. 29, 2012, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The report reveals that the sponsorship deal "Cigano" had with his main sponsor, Pretorian, has expired and will not be renewed, paving the way for Nike to land the UFC's leading heavyweight.

If all goes well, we could see the Brazilian bomber decked out in Nike apparel in "Sin City" on his way to the Octagon as he attempts to defend his title against the man he took it from just one year ago at UFC on Fox 1. One of the true gentlemen in all of MMA, should the deal be competed for Junior, it will be rightfully deserved as he has proven to be a great ambassador for the sport and for the UFC.

DOS SANTOS KNOWS!

Somewhere in Canada, Georges St. Pierre is patiently awaiting a phone call from the swoosh brand.