VANCOUVER, B.C. — Junior Dos Santos bloodied Greeley’s Shane Carwin to win a dominant decision at UFC 131 on Saturday night, earning a shot at heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.
Twenty-two of their 26 combined fights had ended in the first round, so no one was expecting a marathon. And Dos Santos (13-1) almost finished Carwin in the first with a barrage of unanswered blows.
But Carwin (12-2) stayed up, and the Brazilian made him pay, using his superior striking to batter Carwin’s face. The judges scored it 30-27, 30-27, 30-26 for Dos Santos, who already is looking forward to his next fight.
“Cain, I’m coming for you,” he said.
“I’m excited,” said Velasquez, who entered the cage after the fight.
Kenny Florian won his debut at featherweight with a 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 decision over highly touted Brazilian Diego Nunes in the co-main event at Rogers Arena. Florian fought a smart fight, using his size and versatility to frustrate the flashy Nunes.
Carwin was the 1999 national wrestling champion at 285 pounds for Western State. The Greeley West High School graduate was also a two-time all-American football player for the Mountaineers.
Carwin, who currently works as an engineer for the North Weld County Water District, had not fought since last July, sidelined by neck surgery. Dos Santos’ last bout was in August.
