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Posted at 12:00 PM EST.

UFC on ESPN 3 

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN 

Junior dos Santos +193 over Francis Ngannou 

11:45 PM EST. The UFC has been pushing Francis Ngannou to the top of the heavyweight division since his debut in December of 2015 and it's easy to understand why after he finished his first six opponents in the Octagon including legends like Andrei Arlovski and Alistair Overeem. It was that highlight reel knockout of "The Reem" in December of 2017 that propelled "The Predator" to his first UFC title shot against then-champion Stipe Miocic. It was in that fight that the reality of Ngannou's limitations set it and his reputation as a knockout or bust fighter was cemented. His heavily anticipated fight with fellow banger, Derrick Lewis, was a major disappointment, as neither fighter seemed very interested in getting into a punching match with the other and both rode out the three rounds with little action and Lewis taking home a lackluster decision victory. To "The Beast's" credit, he did parlay that into a big payday and a championship fight against Daniel Cormier at Madison Square Garden. Since his loss to Lewis, Ngannou has ripped off two straight wins over Curtis Blaydes and former champion, Cain Velasquez, both inside of a minute, but while his win over Cain was quick, Velasquez appeared to injure his knee prior to his lights getting knocked out. This contest is likely to be considered a title eliminator, as Cormier and Moicic will square off in August. Less than two minutes of cage time isn't enough to know if "The Predator" has expanded his game, but a five round fight with Junior dos Santos will be a stiff test.

It might appear at this point in his career that "Cigano" is simply playing the role of gatekeeper, but that casting didn't work for his last three opponents. After losing to then-champ Miocic in May of 2017, "JDS" has gone on a three-fight winning streak. He was supposed to be a stepping stone for Blagoy Ivanov, Tai Tuivasa, and the aforementioned Derrick Lewis, but rather than allow those fighters to make their name off his back, dos Santos finished both Lewis and Tuivasa with knockout blows in the second round and won a tough five-round decision over Ivanov. The miles that "Cigano" has racked up over the years are well noted, as his wars with Velasquez, Miocic, Overeem, Mark Hunt, Frank Mir, Shane Carwin, Mirko Cro Cop, Fabrício Werdum and just about every other notable heavyweight have been contested on the sport's largest stage for over a decade. In their primes, based purely on skill set, this would be "JDS's"fight to lose, as he is a professional mixed martial artist through and through. Father Time is undefeated, but at 35, it doesn't appear that dos Santos is ready to be put out to pasture quite yet. Sure, he could get tagged by "The Predator," as so many have before him, but "Cigano" should be too smart for that. Miocic laid the blueprint on how to take down the one-dimensional Ngannou and if you can drag him into the deep waters, there's a good chance he's going to drown. If "JDS" can withstand "The Predator's" first assault, Ngannou should be easy pickings for his much more talented opponent.

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