Getting in UFC’s octagon for the fourth time last Saturday (2), Junior “Cigano” dos Santos finished the fight with only 2 minutes and 7 seconds. Dropping Gilbert Yvel, the heavyweight shone once again, putting his name between the best nowadays. In exclusive interview to TATAME.com, Cigano talked about the knockout, the complements made by Dana White and guaranteed that he doesn’t consider himself as the best striker nowadays.

What did you think about the fight? Did you expected to win that fast?

Thanks God it ended the best way as possible to us. I’m very happy with the good result. I didn’t expected to win that fast, we never do. I trained to fight three rounds with him, but I knew that, if the hand fit, he would feel, even being experient on exchanging. I knew I could put good blows and that he’d feel, because I believe a lot in my hands, I think they’re pretty heavy.

Do you think that he felt the debut?

I don’t know, he’s very experient, He has a lot of fights on his career. Maybe a new event to him, but I think I was well prepared and I could do a good work, debuting on UFC or not. I had conditions to have this result.

Dana White said that he was very excited for this fight, and when you got off the octagon he said he loves you. How do you feel about this complements?

I’m glad, he got really happy. He said he was feeling something weird because of this fight and he congratulated me, said that I did a great job. You can’t not to be happy with a complement like this from the boss. I’m glad that everything is working.

Do you consider yourself the best striker in the heavyweights division nowadays?

I think that maybe not the best… I’m not the best in anything, but I train hard and can keep a good level to be good in front of big fighters, as UFC’s tops.

Who do you think it’s gonna be your next opponent?

It’s hard to say who they will put against me. I think they’ll wait for some results, but to me is that thing: I don’t choose opponent. Whoever it is, I’ll be prepared to make a good fight and, if it’s God’s willing, to give a show.

You have won your fourth victory on the event, beating one more Pride’s veteran and is growing a lot on category. Do you think that you’re close to fight for the belt?

I don’t know, but I think that I’m between the tops. I don’t know if I’m close or far, but with these good results are the way to get there and fight for this dreamy belt of UFC.

If Minotauro beats Cain Velasquez, do you intend to slow down to don’t keep winning and force UFC to match a fight between you two?

I think my managers made that point clear to UFC. Even that they want it, it’s clear. It’s not because we train together, Rodrigo is my master, he taught me everything since the beginning, I owe my career to him. He put me there, made me believe in myself. It’s a different situation, he’s my master, besides being a big friend. Fight between me and him won’t happen. I don’t think I need to slow down, it’s his turn to fight for the belt because he will have this positive result against Velasquez. He will fight for the belt and I’m glad to be between the tops, making good fights and facing big names of UFC.