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Dos Santos almost forced to pull out before title victory

ESPN staff
November 13, 2011
Junior Dos Santos may now face surgery © Getty Images
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Junior Dos Santos expressed concerns over a serious knee problem just 10 days before he knocked out Cain Velasquez in Saturday's UFC heavyweight title fight.

Dos Santos had developed a large lesion on his meniscus, a problem that almost forced him out of his maiden title bout. The Brazilian did the damage during a jiu-jitsu session, and struggled to walk just two weeks out from the fight.

The injury did not deter him from stopping Velasquez in 64 seconds though, after a huge overhand right dropped the former champion.

"I got a very serious injury in my knee, my meniscus," said Dos Santos in the post-fight press conference. "You know, ten days ago I couldn't walk very well.

"I stayed two days with [crutches], but I asked my doctor to help me because it's the fight of my life and I can't miss that fight."

It is now expected that the injury will keep Dos Santos sidelined whilst he undergoes surgery.

Velasquez is also reported to have taken a knee injury into the fight, but the outgoing champion would not elaborate on the problem other than to see he carried 'nagging injuries' into the bout. Humble in defeat, Velasquez was more concerned with own mistakes in the fight.

"I strayed away from the game plan," moaned Velasquez. "I'm gonna learn never to do that again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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