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Dos Santos v Overeem targeted for the summer

ESPN staff
January 4, 2012
Alistar Overeem is heading for a UFC title shot © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has predicted that Junior Dos Santos' first heavyweight title defence will likely take place in the summer of 2012.

Dos Santos knows his rival will be Alistair Overeem after Brock Lesnar was stopped by the Reem at UFC 141 on Friday. However, both men require substantial time to prepare for the bout.

Overeem is keen to take a significant period away from the Octagon after a testing year that saw him suffer a split from his management, prior to a hearing over a late drug sample.

The year ended in spectacular fashion for both Overeem and Dos Santos, with the latter claiming the belt following a knockout of Cain Velasquez in the UFC's debut on Fox. Dos Santos now needs to regain 100 per cent fitness following knee surgery.

"Hopefully this summer," White is quoted as saying by MMAJunkie. "This summer is probably when it's going to go down.

"Alistair wants to take some time off. Dos Santos is ready but needs to get some training in. So hopefully, this summer."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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