Will Gilbert Yvel Spoil Junior Dos Santos Contention Hopes?
In heavyweight action, Brazilian standout Junior Dos Santos (9-1, 3-0 UFC) will battle PRIDE veteran and UFC newcomer Gilbert “The Hurricane” Yvel (36-13-1) in what could have potential upset written all over it. Yvel is one of the more infamous characters in mixed martial arts history with a rash of in-ring incidents that have given him a “bad boy” image. He bit Karimula Barkalaev in 1998 during a fight, eye gouged Don Frye repeatedly in a 2001 PRIDE showdown, and he knocked out a referee in a 2004 match-up with Atte Backman after refusing to have the fight restarted in the clinch. He was refused licensing in Nevada in 2007 due to the history of his conduct, and this will be his second fight back on American soil after being allowed licensing on a one-fight only basis in January. Dos Santos enters this contest following his TKO victory over Mirko “CroCop” Filipovic at UFC 103 while Yvel is coming off a brutal first round TKO victory over Pedro Rizzo at Ultimate Chaos: Lashley vs. Sapp
