UFC on FOX: What a Loss Would Mean to Junior Dos Santos

After winning every fight he has competed in under the UFC banner, Junior dos Santos has done more than enough to earn a title shot against UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. At this point, dos Santos probably has nothing on his mind but becoming UFC champion at UFC on Fox 1, but there is an equal possibility that the Brazilian heavyweight comes up short against Velasquez.

If dos Santos were to lose this fight, he would remain in a much better position than a contender who lost in any other division. Although it is getting stronger, the heavyweight division remains rather shallow in terms of true contenders, so dos Santos would remain within a big win or two from another title shot.

By defeating Shane Carwin in the fashion that he did at UFC 131, dos Santos showed that he is trouble for a fighter in the division. A loss to Velasquez could set up a fight with the loser of a bout between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, which would afford dos Santos the opportunity to get right back on track with a win over a big name.

A loss would be far from the end of the 27-year-old's title hopes, but that doesn't mean dos Santos will be leaving anything inside the Octagon at UFC on Fox 1. Velasquez has his hands full with dos Santos, and it should make for a fight of epic proportions.

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Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @SeanSmithMMA.