Alistair Overeem stands in the Octagon before his bout against Brock Lesnar during the UFC 141 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 30, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos took a shot at fellow heavyweight Alistair Overeem on Wednesday, implying that the Dutch fighter’s skills are artificially enhanced.
When asked if he prefers fighting someone respectful like Cain Velasquez or someone who has talked a lot of trash about him like Alistair Overeem, dos Santos told members of the press that he would rather face a professional than someone made by science.
“Guys like me and Cain Velasquez, we are made at the gym. Guys like the other guy, they are made at the laboratory,” dos Santos said on a media call. “I prefer to fight against … clean athletes and real professionals. Cain Velasquez is one of these — he’s a real professional fighter and that’s a good challenge for me. I know he’s very tough and how hard I have to train to face him. Other guys, they just say things, but there is nothing behind the words.”
“Cigano” will defend his heavyweight title against Velasquez at UFC 155 on Dec. 29. The two met before at the inaugural UFC on FOX event in November 2011 — the event that dos Santos originally won the title from Velasquez.
Following the UFC on FOX match-up, much of the talk regarding dos Santos’ next opponent centered around Overeem, and the fight was scheduled for UFC 146. Plans to make the bout happen came to halt, however, when “The Reem” was suspended for elevated levels of testosterone from a surprise test administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Overeem has been unable to compete as a result since then.
UFC 156 will mark Overeem’s return to the octagon when he faces off with Brazil’s Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. The match-up will be part of the UFC’s traditional Super Bowl card, which features several other former title holders, and is headlined by Jose Aldo defending his featherweight belt against former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar.
When asked who he feels would win between Overeem and Silva, dos Santos was quick to pick his fellow Brazilian as the winner because he feels Bigfoot has more technique. Although no official announcement has been made, the winner of the Overeem-Silva bout is expected to face the winner between dos Santos and Velasquez.
UFC 155 will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
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