With Shane Carwin set to battle heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar, at UFC 116, MMA fans have wondered what perennial contenders Cain Velasquez and Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos will do next. Many figured the two would square off in a number one contender match. In fact, Dos Santos even requested a bout with Velasquez, but was quickly turned down by the UFC. There have been rumors that Roy Nelson could be the next opponent for the Black House fighter; however, Nelson has also been linked to several upcoming bouts. Meanwhile, Velasquez has opted to bide his time and wait for his title shot.

As of now, Dos Santos does not have an official MMA fight on the horizon. While he waits, the 25-year-old rising star will test his skills in the boxing ring. Originally planning to crossover earlier in 2010, Dos Santos had to put that project on the back burner in order to prepare for his bouts with Gabriel Gonzaga and Gilbert Yvel.

Carlos Dorea, Dos Santos’s boxing coach, has high hopes for “Cigano”:

“The first step would [have been] the Brazilian championship after he beat Cro Cop. He was the super heavy holder of the Bahia’s team, but UFC scheduled his fight with Gilbert Yvel, so I had to take him off the team. His evolving is fantastic, he has one of the best boxing techniques of international MMA. If everything goes right, he will compete on this area and, who knows, in the future he can bring a few medals to Brazil… He is a phenomenon.”

The UFC has not released an official statement. Perhaps the fact that Dos Santos would be competing at an amateur level has kept the Zuffa brass at bay. Previous attempts by other fighters to try professional boxing have been swiftly denied by the organization.

A date for Dos Santos’s boxing debut has not be set.

(Source: Cage Potato)