Dos Santos gets much deserved title shot after destroying Carwin

Junior Dos Santos (l) prepares to unload another big overhand right to the face of Shane Carwin (r).

Did you get to see Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos’ destruction of Shane Carwin (12-2-0) on Saturday night from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia? It was an impressive, dominating performance by Dos Santos, another exceptional Mixed Martial Artist from Brazil, another member of the Brazilian fighting group, Black House Team Nogueira headquartered here in San Diego which includes standouts like: Anderson Silva, Antonio Rodrigo and Antonio Rogerio Nogeira, and the Pitbulls, Patricio and Patricky Freire.

UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velazquez of Salinas, CA.

Immediately after Dos Santos’ bout, the current UFC heavyweight champ, Cain Velazquez of Salinas, CA entered the Octagon and offered the young Brazilian a shot at his title.

“That’s awesome. Thank God for that,” said Dos Santos (13-1). “Much respect for Cain Velasquez, but Cain, I’m coming for you.”

You got to wonder if that invite isn’t a bit premature as the unbeaten 28 year-old Velasquez (9-0) is still recovering from surgery on his rotator cuff. “I feel great,” said the soft-spoken Velasquez. “He (Dos Santos) showed awesome standup in this fight like always and he’s always improving.”

According to MMA experts and the promoter, the 36 year-old Carwin from Greely, Colorado, was supposed to represent the stiffest test to date for the 27 year-old Dos Santos from Santa Catarina, Brazil. Early in Round #1, I’ll bet those pundits were wishing they hadn’t made such an outlandish claim as it appeared Carwin wouldn’t even make out of the first round.

After landing a wicked combination that landed Carwin on the canvas, Dos Santos pounced on him and began to wail away. Somehow, the former NCAA Division II wrestling champ, who trimmed down for this bout, managed to hang in there for the full three rounds.

Judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 for Dos Santos.