Junior dos Santos climbing the UFC ranks again against Ailstair Overeem

ORLANDO, Fla. — Even though Junior dos Santos has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship for more than seven years and reached the organization's pinnacle when he captured the heavyweight title in 2011, he finds himself feeling like a rookie again.

"I have those butterflies like in my first fight," he said after open workouts on Thursday. "I haven't competed in awhile. I'm happy to be back."

Dos Santos will return to the cage for a matchup of heavyweight contenders when he fights Alistair Overeem tonight on the UFC on Fox 17 card at Amway Center.

The former champion earned a unanimous decision victory over Stipe Miocic last December, but had been out of action more than a year before that bout following a title bout loss to Cain Velasquez in October 2013.

Dos Santos said fighting just once in two years as he has dealt with injuries to both himself and potential opponents has been frustrating.

When he would watch fights, he would find himself standing and shadow boxing in front of the television, chomping at the bit to get back in the cage.

"That was difficult. It's the only thing we do to live so it was hard. RIght now, I'm just happy to be back," he said. "I want remind people who Junior dos Santos is inside the octagon."

There's little debate he is one of the best heavyweights of the era. Dos Santos is 11-2 since signing with the UFC, with both losses coming to Velasquez in title fights.

He has knocked out seven opponents during that run including former champs Velasquez and Frank Mir, as well as current champion Fabricio Werdum.

Still, Dos Santos feels like a bit of a forgotten commodity in the heavyweight division. Velasquez lost the belt to Werdum in June and they will rematch in February.

Dos Santos wants to make sure his name isn't too far out of the discussion.

He also hopes to get fans back to the feeling that every time he steps in the cage, something exciting is going to happen.

"I don't think people completely forgot about me, but they aren't as motivated to watch as they used to be when I have a fight coming up," he said. "I want to bring that sensation again for them that I'm a knockout guy and I'll be looking for that all the time."

Overeem should make for an ideal opponent if dos Santos hopes to put on an exciting show. He's an aggressive kickboxer who will gladly oblige if dos Santos, whose background is more in traditional boxing, wants a striking battle.

Dos Santos feels that will play to his advantage.

"He's powerful, but he has a pretty weak chin," he said of Overeem. "Walking forward, he's very dangerous. But I want to make him walk backwards and find chances to hit that weak chin and maybe knock him out early."

The matchup is several years in the making.

They were due to fight in May 2012, but Overeem failed a pre-fight drug test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission due to elevated testosterone.

Overeem then pulled out of the fight when it was rescheduled for May 2013.

Still, it was Overeem who last week made the case that dos Santos has been trying to avoid this matchup.

Dos Santos laughed off the insinuation.

"I think he's a great opponent, a tough fighter. He likes to talk a lot, but I don't care too much about those things. I'm focused now on the fight," Dos Santos said. "The first time the fight didn't happen because he failed a drug test. That was kind of strange. Now he's asking for the fight. It doesn't make much sense to me. He's saying I didn't want to fight him. But I've never picked an opponent. It doesn't make sense because I was there to fight. He was the guy who failed. It's kind of weird."

Overeem showed more tact on Thursday.

"I feel good. I'm very excited about Saturday," he said. "It's been a long time in the making, but we're finally here. I'm very excited. I'm very happy."

Overeem feels a win tonight would put him in position to challenge for the heavyweight belt.

"Junior is very tough. He's got experience as the former UFC heavyweight champion. He throws bombs and he's a very big hurdle," Overeem said. "For me personally, it's a test. If I beat him, I think I'm ready for a crack at the title."

Dos Santos feels the same way. A win would put him in line to face either Werdum, who he knocked out in 2008, or set up a fourth meeting with Velasquez.

Either option is fine.

"I don't care about who's got the belt, my goal is just the belt," he said.

The bout is part of a card, headlined by a lightweight title fight between Donald Cerrone and champion Rafael dos Anjos, that will air live on Fox at 5 p.m. The preliminary card will air live on Fox Sports 1 at 2 p.m.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj