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06/09/09 - Dos Santos: "I will find CroCop's chin and knock him out"
Junior ‘Cigano’ dos Santos (8-1) has been planning his strategy for Mirko ‘CroCop’ Filipovic, a fight which takes place at the main event of UFC 103. The rising heavyweight sensation says he is looking for CroCop’s chin.
“He is going to move to the left and I will go the opposite way. When he sets the kick I will land a straight big right hand on his face to knock him out,” he says.
It would be Cigano’s third victory in a row and KO’ing CroCop would be his biggest triumph so far. And the Brazilian is assured of the importance of this fight since the heavyweight division does not have many contenders in a position to dispute the title.
“I still don’t know what plan to follow against him but I believe in my boxing. I train it so much. I know I’m able to catch Mirko. Luiz Dorea (boxing coach) says if I land a punch on the precise place, it’s over. I’ll look for another the KO but a fight is fight and nobody knows what’ll happen,” he commented.
Junior respects the Croatian (25-6-2) and has been preparing himself for any situations, standing and on the mat. Rodrigo Nogueira, Ramon Lemos and Amaury Bitetti are giving him the tools to face Mirko.
“If it is necessary, I will put him down. I’ll be all over him all the time and let’s see if CroCop will be so good as Randy Couture was against Nogueira,” he says.
But Dos Santos does not want his confidence to be mistaken as arrogance.
“Cro Cop has to be respected. People may say he is not the same but, for me, he continues being one of the most dangerous MMA fighters. He can finish a fight with only one hit. He left kick is very good and I need to take care with his left hand too,” he analyses.
“This is such a fight that marks your life, you understand? That’s how I see it . Mirko is a world sensation and it’s crucial for me to fighting well against him. I’m training hard, focused and full of confidence”.
Dos Santos has a much potential for improvement. He is still only 25 years old and has a long career in front of him. He says his desire to learning is growing every day.
“I’m working and learning how to move inside the Octagon and I also working my conditioning, fighting many rounds. It’s tough, but be sure I won’t get tired battling standing,” he says.
“I’ll search for his chin in there. I want the knockout. I will catch CroCop’s chin. I only have to take care in the fight and do my job to get out from the cage with the victory.”
The fight takes place on the main card of UFC 103, which will be staged in Dallas, Texas on Saturday September 19th.
The Brazilian Ninja
FO Staff Brasil
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