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Growing up in a troubled household in the southern city of Caçador, Santa Catarina, in Brazil was tough for Junior Dos Santos. He left home and began working menial jobs at the age of ten. He became interested in in capoeira throughout his teenage years, but met with Yuri Carlton in 2004 when he was 21. Junior had the nickname "Cigano" which meant, gypsy meant for the people who travel, since Dos Santos always seem to aim without end. This time he cemented his home under Carlton and trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. However "Cigano" and everyone who trained with him, saw he also had very heavy hands.
Carlton saw the value of having a Jiu Jitsu practitioner and a striker, he introduced Dos Santos to boxing coach Luiz Carlos Dórea. Dos Santos turned professional in 2006, at the age of 22 and fought in his first sanctioned match against Jailson Silva Santos at Demo Fight 1 on July 16th 2006 where he won by soccer kick to the head in late first round. In his first seven matches Cigano had an impressive 6-1 record with all his stoppages in the first round. The UFC signed him and began his career with a very notable opponent, the future UFC heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum who was 11-3-1 at the time, at UFC 90. Dos Santos valued being the underdog and won big, beating Werdum by TKO within one minute of the first round. A shocking upset. Carlton however knew that the UFC wasn't ready for a big man with a relatively good Jiu Jitsu background and very fast hands.
Dos Santos would go on to win his next five fights, against top competition such as Gilbert Yvel, Gabriel Gonzaga, Shane Carwin and Stefan Struve, before being awarded a title shot against the fast rising star, Cain Velasquez. Like most of his fights, Cigano was the underdog against the unbeaten champ (9-0). Dos Santos once again proved the doubters wrong and beat Velasquez in shockingly quick fashion with a flurry of punches that was stopped by referee, (Big) John McCarthy at 1:04 of the very first round. The UFC heavyweight belt wa wrapped around Dos Santos waist, and the goal was now complete. The only feat left, was a long lasting legacy of dominance.
After eating Mark Hunt at UFC 160, he defended his belt against the former champ, Cain Velasquez at UFC 155 on October 19th 2013. This time Velasquez made sure the revenge was long and punishing which saw Dos Santos beaten from bell to bell. With the title gone, Dos Santos sought to regain the glory. But after losing the trilogy match to Cain Velasquez at UFC 166 which saw an even worse beating and stoppage, Dos Santos had an up and down career from then on. He ended his UFC career on a 5 fight losing streak where he was then released on March 3rd 2021. He official ended his career with a 22-10 record with a UFC heavyweight championship and 15 finishes to his credit.
Ciagno, who once travelled aimlessly looking for bigger goals of a future that was uncertain, attained it, albeit rather short lived. He will always be remembered as one of the best heavyweights in UFC history.
Junior Dos Santos vs Shane Carwin UFC 131
Junior Dos Santos vs Mark Hunt UFC 160
Carlton saw the value of having a Jiu Jitsu practitioner and a striker, he introduced Dos Santos to boxing coach Luiz Carlos Dórea. Dos Santos turned professional in 2006, at the age of 22 and fought in his first sanctioned match against Jailson Silva Santos at Demo Fight 1 on July 16th 2006 where he won by soccer kick to the head in late first round. In his first seven matches Cigano had an impressive 6-1 record with all his stoppages in the first round. The UFC signed him and began his career with a very notable opponent, the future UFC heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum who was 11-3-1 at the time, at UFC 90. Dos Santos valued being the underdog and won big, beating Werdum by TKO within one minute of the first round. A shocking upset. Carlton however knew that the UFC wasn't ready for a big man with a relatively good Jiu Jitsu background and very fast hands.
Dos Santos would go on to win his next five fights, against top competition such as Gilbert Yvel, Gabriel Gonzaga, Shane Carwin and Stefan Struve, before being awarded a title shot against the fast rising star, Cain Velasquez. Like most of his fights, Cigano was the underdog against the unbeaten champ (9-0). Dos Santos once again proved the doubters wrong and beat Velasquez in shockingly quick fashion with a flurry of punches that was stopped by referee, (Big) John McCarthy at 1:04 of the very first round. The UFC heavyweight belt wa wrapped around Dos Santos waist, and the goal was now complete. The only feat left, was a long lasting legacy of dominance.
After eating Mark Hunt at UFC 160, he defended his belt against the former champ, Cain Velasquez at UFC 155 on October 19th 2013. This time Velasquez made sure the revenge was long and punishing which saw Dos Santos beaten from bell to bell. With the title gone, Dos Santos sought to regain the glory. But after losing the trilogy match to Cain Velasquez at UFC 166 which saw an even worse beating and stoppage, Dos Santos had an up and down career from then on. He ended his UFC career on a 5 fight losing streak where he was then released on March 3rd 2021. He official ended his career with a 22-10 record with a UFC heavyweight championship and 15 finishes to his credit.
Ciagno, who once travelled aimlessly looking for bigger goals of a future that was uncertain, attained it, albeit rather short lived. He will always be remembered as one of the best heavyweights in UFC history.
Junior Dos Santos vs Shane Carwin UFC 131
Junior Dos Santos vs Mark Hunt UFC 160
