Junior dos SantosCain VelasquezUFC heavyweight title fight on Saturday night than either of them could have realized. While each was worried about his own lingering knee injury, neither had any way of knowing that the other was going through almost the exact same thing in the opposite locker room.
Dos Santos took the title with a 64-second TKO victory, but less than two weeks ago he could barely walk following an injury during his jiu-jitsu training, he told reporters.
"I got a very serious injury in my knee, my meniscus," said the new champion. "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."
That doctor, Fabio Costa, told MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani that dos Santos has a large lesion on his meniscus that will require surgery to fix, and which nearly forced him out of the bout entirely.
"Ten minutes before the fight he told us, 'My knee, I have something in my knee.' [We] said, 'Calm down. You are a tough guy. You are our warrior. You can go.' Now he's the champion."
Velasquez's story remains a bit murkier, and the former champ seemed uninterested in shedding much light on the situation. Coming into the bout there were rumors that he'd suffered a rather serious knee injury in training and had almost been forced to withdraw from the fight as well. His camp denied those reports and Velasquez himself downplayed the extent of the injury in the post-fight press conference, saying he was suffering from "just little nagging injuries here and there, just the usual."
But UFC president Dana White appeared to realize that it more than just bumps and bruises, saying that he'd have to wait for Velasquez to return to full strength before he could think about his immediate future in the UFC.
"Like he said, his knee's bothering him. Let him get his knee better and we'll go from there," White said.
As for dos Santos, he was saved by physical therapy and "shots and medicines and lots of things," he said. The injury disrupted his training, he said, and made him apprehensive about the possibility of going five full rounds, so the quick finish was an ideal outcome in his first shot at a major title, not to mention the first UFC bout ever broadcast on network TV.
, and especially for me and for Cain Velasquez. But I'm really happy to win this fight. Now I'm the champion and it's amazing."
After the fight, White pointed to both dos Santos and Velasquez's personal stories of struggles against the odds, saying they were the exactly the tales of resilience and perseverance that the UFC wanted to get across to new viewers in the FOX broadcast.
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Mike Pierce defeated Paul Bradley via split decision at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Paul Bradley tries to sway the judges at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mike Pierce punches Paul Bradley at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mike Pierce lands a right hand on Paul Bradley at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Aaron Rosa defeated Matt Lucas via majority decision at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Aaron Rosa kicks Matt Lucas at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres push kicks Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres knees the body of Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres front kicks Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres celebrates Bruce Lee-style after his win over Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres defeated Cole Escovedo via unanimous decision at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cole Escovedo throws a jumping knee on Alex Caceres at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres tries to armbar Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Robert Peralta and Mackens Semerzier collide heads at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Robert Peralta throws a leg kick against Mackens Semerzier at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier lands a kick to the body of Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier jabs Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier looks to ground and pound Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Robert Peralta kicks Mackens Semerzier at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto throws a high kick against Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama throws a kick at Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier falls down and desperately goes for a takedown against Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier goes for a takedown against Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Robert Peralta def. Mackens Semerzier via third-round TKO at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama tries to submit Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at the closing seconds of the first round at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas talks to Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas falls to a knee after beating Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas begins to get emotional after beating Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cub Swanson punches Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas tries to escape a tight guillotine choke by Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas attacks Cub Swanson from top at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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DaMarques Johnson knocks out Clay Harvison at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama exits the cage after his win over Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto walks off in defeat at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama def. Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama def. Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama kicks Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto pushes forward against Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama attempts to choke out Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama attempts to choke out Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Dustin Poirier defeated Pablo Garza via submission at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Dustin Poirier defeated Pablo Garza via submission at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Dustin Poirier submits Pablo Garza with an arm-triangle choke at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Dustin Poirier drops down punches on Pablo Garza at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Pablo Garza throws a kick at Dustin Poirier at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson slugs with Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida goes after Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida and Ben Henderson get ready for battle at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson punches Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson defeated Clay Guida via unanimous decision at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida tries to win over the judges at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Referee Herb Dean warns Ben Henderson for an illegal punch to the back of the head at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida tries to choke out Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson knees Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida wants more of Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson takes a breather between rounds against Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson knees Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida rushes Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson knees Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida charges Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX 1 on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson defends a takedown attempt by Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez is ready to defend his UFC heavyweight belt at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos moments before facing Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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The scene of the main event of UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos lands a big right hand on Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez tries to take Junior dos Santos to the ground at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos drills Cain Velasquez in the head at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez falls to the ground after a hard left at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos attempts to finish Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos attempts to finish Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos attempts to finish Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos celebrates his win at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos celebrates his win at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos celebrates his win at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez fails to defend his UFC heavyweight title at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos is awarded the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez leaves the Octagon without his belt at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Velasquez was the son of Mexican immigrants who went on to be an All-American wrestler at Arizona State, he pointed out, and dos Santos grew up in extreme poverty in Brazil where he could have easily turned to crime but "what does he say? 'I used to sell ice creams and newspapers and then I washed dishes,'" White said. "...These are the stories we have to tell to mainstream America."
Just by gritting their way through injuries and making it into the Octagon, both Velasquez and dos Santos continued to show just how resilient and determined they are. In that sense, each man wrote his own story of triumph on Saturday night, even if only of those stories had a happy ending.
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