Former UFC champ Junior Dos Santos’ hand is healthy and he is facing a tough battle Saturday.

PHOENIX — Junior Dos Santos is facing more than a daunting challenge from Stipe Miocic when he returns to the octagon.

The former UFC heavyweight champ must revive his career after two losses to Cain Velasquez, who took his belt in 2012 and defended it in 2013.

To have any chance for another shot at the title, Dos Santos (16-3) must put together another string of victories, starting in the main event of Saturday’s show.

“Every athlete in the UFC, they want to fight for the title,” Dos Santos said. “I’m not different. No matter what happen, with Velasquez, I won the first one (fight with Velasquez) then lost the next ones. I really believe I can be the champion again. I really believe if I put my mind in the right place, if I train hard and if I have a good support by my side, I can be the champion again and I can stay there for a long time.”

Dos Santos hasn’t been in the octagon since his second loss to Velasquez 14 months ago – mostly because of a hand injury.

Dos Santos said his hands, which have earned him 12 career stoppage victories, are “more than 100 percent.”

Dos Santos and Miocic (12-1) are headlining a heavyweight-stacked card for the UFC’s first live show in Arizona.

The winner of Saturday’s main event will be in the mix for a title shot in 2015.


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