Since entering the UFC, Junior dos Santos (JDS) has annihilated the competition going undefeated with a 6-0 record. He’s knocked out Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga, made Mirko Cro Cop quit and convincingly destroyed Roy Nelson. As a number one contender for the UFC Heavyweight title, Dos Santos will need to wait while Cain Velasquez heals his wounds. Next on the list will be a showdown with Shane Carwin.

MMA SPORTS: How is the expectation for the fight? Already back in training?
JDS: I'm back to Brazil, I am in Salvador. This fight is very important to my life. I will prepare myself to win and prove that I am a contender for the belt. Now I have to focus on my training, and stay healthy to reach 100% in the fight to develop my full potential.

MMA SPORTS: How was the experience of recording The Ultimate Fighter and being one of the coaches?
JDS: It was a very good experience, learned a lot with the staff. It is really a reality show, the whole day filming, it was something different for me. At first I was quite nervous, even through my difficulty with English, have to think everything in English. But I am adapting over time. Thank God everything went well, things were flowing well and then I was feeling good inside the house. It was a great experience and a great challenge.

MMA SPORTS: What did you think of the level of athletes in the house?
JDS: It was pretty interesting. Most athletes had already had MMA fights, were already fighters, and the level was good. The guys were all nice people, everyone got along.

MMA SPORTS: When your friend and training partner, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, was the coach, there was a great atmosphere of unity among the athletes of his team, this is normal among Brazilian teams. Was that the case in your team?
JDS: I had never been a coach, but I tried to do something like what we do in our team, Team Nogueira. I tried to make cool training, the people will see when they watch the show on TV, but I tried to engage with staff, and dedicated myself to doing everything the right way.

MMA SPORTS: And how was it coaching opposite Brock Lesnar?
JDS: Brock is a cool guy, very serious, intelligent. We do not mix much, but the little relation that we had, he showed me that he is a cool guy.

MMA SPORTS: And what do you expect the popularity will do for you as being the coach of The Ultimate Fighter?
JDS: I'm a very quiet guy. I think that will be great, the staff came to me, including the staff of the UFC, and asked if I know what will be the impact, the dimension of this to my life. I think it will be good, we have what we deserve, I hope to be deserving of good things. Fighting is my life and be recognized throughout the world will be great, I will definitely make a lot of fights and hopefully one day, I’ll be a great name, as is Anderson, Minotauro, among others.

MMA SPORTS: And do you still think about Velasquez? Prior to this, he was your focus, but eventually changed to Lesnar.
JDS: Velasquez was in the past, and then will be the future again (laughs). For a while I’m not thinking about him, he left the firing line for me, for now. The focus now is to do a good job and win. I have to get well in the fight, and do the good work that we do in training.

MMA SPORTS: Finally, what can fans expect of this season of The Ultimate Fighter?
JDS: The fans will like it, cannot lose, you have to watch. It's very exciting, very different from other seasons, that's for sure. Shows more of the face of MMA today, that is no longer as in the past, it was just that thing of being a tough guy and such. Today the guys training to be clever in fighting, this season will show that. It will be very interesting, will have plenty of cool stuff going on. If I could advance something, I would do it. I'm even biting myself not to talk. I have to be quiet because the penalty is high (laughs).