Trainer: Velasquez Made a Mistake Asking for a Rematch With Dos Santos So Soon

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Luiz Dorea will be making his fourth appearance on “The Ultimate Fighter” -- and second on “TUF: Brazil” -- when the Brazilian version of the popular reality show debuts its second season in March.

Known as the primary trainer for UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, Dorea will help coach Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s team against Fabricio Werdum's team on the program. In a meeting with Sherdog.com last week at Corinthians Training Center in São Paulo, Dorea talked about his excitement to participate in his fourth “TUF” as a trainer.

"It's a privilege. I attended the first “Ultimate Fighter” in Brazil, with Vitor (Beltort’s) team. I've been on Minotauro’s team when he faced Frank Mir, and I was also on the season where ‘Cigano’ coached against (Brock) Lesnar. We did a good job and helped several athletes,” Dorea said. “Now I will help ‘Minotauro’ again. All the seasons were good, but I was delighted with Brazil's first season. The fighters were good in all areas. It was very good relationship. I know Fabricio Werdum and Rafael Cordeiro -- we have a peaceful relationship. We will do the best job possible on ‘TUF,’ and then (we will prepare) Nogueira for victory (against Werdum).

Dorea is also responsible for preparing dos Santos for his UFC 155 showdown with former heavyweight ruler Cain Velasquez on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas. It will be the second meeting between dos Santos and Velasquez, who lost the belt to the Brazilian at UFC on Fox 1 after missing more than a year due to a shoulder injury.

Dorea believes Velasquez rushed to order a rematch so soon, especially considering he has had only one fight since that defeat, a first-round TKO of Antonio Silva at UFC 146.

"We are quiet, with a good team. It will be a great fight. Cain is a great athlete, no doubt, but he made a mistake by asking for this rematch so soon,” Dorea said. “Even though he is coming off a victory (against Silva), he was knocked out (by dos Santos). He'll have to risk closing the distance against ‘Cigano,’ who is even better trained than that first fight. I think he made a huge mistake."

Another athlete coached by Dorea is Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who faces Rashad Evans on Feb. 2. The coach is confident a win can move the Brazilian closer to a title shot.