That's one of the big questions heading into the re-worked main event for UFC 131 on June 11 in Vancouver following yesterday's surprise announcement that Brock Lesnar was forced to withdraw from the upcoming pay-per-view event due to a relapse of diverticulitis.
Lesnar, who was first sidelined by the debilitating disease back in late 2009, told reporters during last night's media conference call that he was no longer fit to compete, leading UFC President Dana White to name Shane Carwin as his successor.
"The Engineer" was already booked for the Vancouver card opposite Jon Olav Einemo and wasted little time signing on for the number one contender's bout opposite Dos Santos.
And while the Brazilian wasn't exactly breaking out the party hats after learning of the change, he tells Sherdog (via ESPN) he's happy to still be on the card and fighting for a crack at division champion Cain Velasquez later this year:
"I got a little upset about this change, but I'm happy that the UFC got another opponent for me. Carwin is an excellent fighter and deserves all my respect. His boxing skills are great. It's gonna be a great fight with tough blows from both sides. I would say that it will end by knockout.""Cigano" cemented his place among the heavyweight big guns after a string of impressive performances against the likes of former Pride FC star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at UFC 103, Gilbert Yvel at UFC 108 and most recently against Roy "Big Country" Nelson at UFC 117 last August.
In fact, the Brazilian has enjoyed something of a UFC Cinderella story, being brought in for what was thought to be a squash match against Fabricio Werdum in his 2008 debut. Dos Santos had other plans, knocking out "Vai Cavalo" and forcing the UFC to give him the best the division has to offer, mostly because he's destroyed everyone else worth mentioning in the 265-pound weight class, going undefeated (6-0) with five stoppages.
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