The other key figure in the fallout from Brock Lesnar's absence from the UFC 131 card is Junior dos Santos. The rising UFC heavyweight has to be feeling frustration over the opponent change. It isn't that Carwin isn't a tough challenge that can move him up the ranks should he emerge victorious from their fight. We already know the winner of this bout will still receive a title shot against Cain Velasquez. In fact, the short-notice change for dos Santos, if anything, raises the stakes. But beating a known figure like Lesnar is the sort of accomplishment that would allow him to turn a corner in his career, particularly coming off of this season of Spike TV's 'The Ultimate Fighter'. In some sense, this entire thing has been about dos Santos' coming out party. The stakes are still just as high, but in terms of UFC fan and sporting media visibility, the payoff is diminished.
UFC 131: Junior Dos Santos Discusses Shane Carwin As New Opponent
"I got a little upset about this change, but I’m happy that the UFC got another opponent for me," Dos Santos told Sherdog.com Thursday evening. "Carwin is an excellent fighter and deserves all my respect."
The opponent swap is not the first curveball the 26-year-old Brazilian has been thrown in recent months. After notching a unanimous decision over Roy Nelson at UFC 117 in August, Dos Santos became the top contender to reigning heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. When Velasquez opted to surgery on a torn rotator cuff, however, the deck was reshuffled. Lesnar and Dos Santos were announced as coaches for "TUF 13," with the winner to be named the new No. 1 contender.
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"His boxing skills are great," said Dos Santos of Carwin, who has secured all four of his UFC wins by first-round stoppage. "It’s gonna be a great fight with tough blows from both sides. I would say that it will end by knockout."
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"I want to fight," Dos Santos said. "I’m in the best moment of my career and I want to make my dream of being a UFC champion come true."
Ultimately, dos Santos wants to strike while the iron is hot. He’ll get the tough challenges and the respect from insiders if he wins. And overtime, if he continues to succeed, he’ll get that from outsiders as well. But defeating Lesnar on a grand stage would’ve rocketed the process forward. He may still get there, but it’ll be a slower, more circuitous route now.
