MIAMI – No matter how the fight ended, Yorgan De Castro can say he holds a win over former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos.
In the third round of their heavyweight bout at Eagle FC 47, Dos Santos’ right shoulder became dislocated after landing a punch, leading to an immediate stop to the contest. De Castro was awarded the TKO victory in a fight that was competitive up to that point.
Considering the nature in which the fight ended against Dos Santos, which was not the manner in which he hoped to win the fight, De Castro was asked by reporters afterward if he would be open to a rematch. Without hesitation, he replied, “Absolutely.”
“I respect Junior,” De Castro said. “Not just like a fighter, as a human being. If he wants to run it back, right back, I run it right back. I can do it again. I’m a fighter, I want to test myself. Actually, I’m gonna come even better. Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Let’s do it again.”
If that is the next fight for him, De Castro would enter the rematch with a different approach. Not just in how he plans to fight differently, De Castro would make changes to his physique as well.
“I’m gonna drop some weight, get a nutritionist right now soon as I go home,” De Castro said. “I’m gonna come lightning fast. I’m gonna drop 15, 20 pounds, kinda want to counter. He was pretty fast. I did not feel the power much, but he was super fast. … I need to be fast, press forward, and definitely check those kicks.”
De Castro apologized for his loud celebration after the fight was called, but he assured he meant no disrespect to Dos Santos and the injury he suffered. The emotion was a release of frustration from being counted out all week long, with many assuming he would lose the fight.
“I felt everybody counted me out, everybody,” De Castro said. “So, don’t underestimate the power of someone who’s underestimated. I had a lot of emotions in me, a lot of feelings, a lot of anger.”
De Castro already felt overlooked, but the feelings reached a new height at the pre-fight press conference when Khabib Nurmagomedov announced he wished to work with Bellator to match up Dos Santos against Fedor Emelianenko after Friday’s event. While De Castro understands his opponent has a bigger name as a former UFC champion, he felt slighted by being overlooked as a viable opponent.
“The thing is, you count me out already before the fight start,” De Castro said. “So, I feel like that if someone have to get that chance, then give it to me. I will take it too. I will sign the fight. I want to fight a legend like Fedor and I want to share the cage with him. And guess what? I will come for fight too. I can fight.”
