Junior dos Santos thinks Stipe Miocic is going to knock out Alistair Overeem at UFC 203

Former UFC heavyweight champion and current contender Junior dos Santos has his picks set for the co-main and main event of Saturday's UFC 203 that takes place in Cleveland.

Headlining the card, newly crowned champion and Cleveland native Stipe Miocic will be attempting to defend his heavyweight belt for the first time against Alistair Overeem. "Cigano" knows both fighters very well, as he's fought both of them in the recent past.

Dos Santos believes Miocic is in a good moment in his career, and picks him to knockout the Dutch fighter Overeem.

"I think Miocic is in a great moment right now and he's a great athlete, and Overeem too, he's a good guy and a great athlete, but right now, I think the moment is for Miocic," dos Santos told Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "So, I think [Miocic is] going to win this fight by knockout second round."

When asked if dos Santos was picking Miocic to beat Overeem because he's had a rivalry with "The Reem," dos Santos made it clear that his past with Overeem wasn't influencing his pick.

"Actually, I can't say I have a good relationship with him [Overeem], but it's normal, you know," dos Santos explained. "He's OK and I'm OK with him too, so it's part of the thing, you know, but I'm talking with my mind. I know Alistair Overeem is a good athlete and will put on a good show for everybody, but I think that Miocic is in the better moment right now."

In the co-main event of the card, Fabricio Werdum was scheduled to take on Ben Rothwell, another match-up in which dos Santos has fought the two fighters. However, due to injury, Rothwell had to withdraw from the bout and Travis Browne stepped in to face Werdum. The two heavyweights fought once back in April 2014 at UFC on FOX 11. That night Werdum dominated Browne in an exciting bout that had the Brazilian taking home a unanimous decision victory.

Dos Santos doesn't see the fight going any different this second time, as he picks Werdum to defeat Brown.

"That first fight was good, you know." Dos Santos said. "It was good to watch and I hope they can give us a good show like they did that time, but yeah, I think Werdum will win again."