[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXmrRla8jqs&w=560&h=315]
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Top-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship light
heavyweight Thiago
Santos knows his back is up against the wall in a few
months. Placed at number four at 205 pounds on the UFC rankings and #10 on
Sherdog’s
official rankings, Santos (21-9) is passing through the most
difficult moment of his UFC career. With a record of 13-8 in eight
years with the UFC, the man known as “Marreta” is reeling from
three consecutive losses to Jon Jones,
Glover
Teixeira and Aleksandar
Rakic. Santos spoke to Sherdog about his upcoming October
matchup and his future with the company, and despite his losing
streak, he does not appear to be tense or unhappy.
“Anyone who passed through the surgeries I did, after five rounds
with Jon
Jones, and returned doing good fights with top contenders
wouldn’t have any reason to be sad,” Santos explained.
Scheduled to face Johnny
Walker on Oct. 2, “Marreta” already started his camp aware that
the result of that fight will be extremely important for his
career.
“I have no doubt that it’s going to be an entertaining fight,”
Santos gushed about his prospective battle with Walker. “Both me
and Walker fight to knock out and this time will be no different.
Actually, I love when my opponents are aggressive and come to knock
me out.”
Even knowing that a loss may mean his UFC career is in jeopardy,
Santos guarantees that this position will not change his game
plan.
“I don’t hold [back when fighting], my focus is always to give pain
to my opponents,” Santos freely admitted. “If you see all my three
losses to Jones, Glover and Rakic, I always moved forward. I lost
to Jones via split decision and I really don’t think I loss to
Rakic.”
The burly Brazilian also noted that five months before his close
battle with Jones, he knocked out the current champion Jan
Blachowicz. That, he feels, should be taken into consideration
by the organization should he get his hand raised.
“If I win more one or two fights, maybe [it] would be interesting
[for the] UFC to make the [rematch with Blachowicz], even
Blachowicz asked [for] that once,” the American Top Team product
stated. “I’m the only TKO loss on his 16 UFC fights. But, of course
I know how this game is played. But even in the case I lose my next
fight and UFC [doesn’t] want me anymore, I’m sure I will not be
unemployed.”
Having faced both Teixeira – Santos was submitted in the third
round – and Blachowicz, he considers Blachowicz the rightful
favorite for the UFC 267 championship headliner.
“Glover is really tough,” Santos mentioned, “[so] of course he [has
a] great chance to win in case he takes Jan down, and as [a]
Brazilian of course I’m cheering [for] him. But if you ask me to
analyze in an impartial way, I think Blachowicz will be able to
keep the fight standing, where he has more tools to win.”
Asked about the chances that rising star and possible next
contender Jiri
Prochazka would have against Teixeira or Blachowicz, “Marreta”
noted that “Denisa” would need to evolve his defense before facing
either man.
“No doubt he is a dangerous fighter, but he fights like his chin is
made by titanium and that’s really dangerous at the top of the
light heavyweight division,” Santos said. “If he gives his chin to
a heavy puncher like Glover, Blachowicz or myself, he will [take a]
seat. No doubt about that.”
Fighting was not the only thing on the former title challenger’s
mind, as he is looking for ways to give back to his community. With
fame and fortune coming as a top-ranked UFC light heavyweight,
Santos started a social project in the “Cidade de Deus” slum in Rio
De Janeiro. There, he provides opportunities to poor children to
find their way through sport. Both and his girlfriend, UFC
bantamweight Yana
Kunitskaya, work together along with his son, Hiago Santos, on
this project. His son plays soccer on one of the larger teams in
Brazil for those under the age of 17.
Santos finds giving back extremely rewarding, so much so that he
believes he is living the best years of his life. Even though he
spoke of family life and the community, fighting still drifted back
into his mind here and there.
“When I was young, I always dreamed to be a soccer player,” Santos
told Sherdog. “I realized my dream in another sport, then my son
came and made my dream come through him. Sometimes I think I don’t
deserve so many blessings. I’ve never been so happy in my life, and
when I’m accomplished that way, I train better and fight even
better. My plan is knock out Walker in the second round, but if I’m
not able to, I’m sure the fans will see the best ‘Marreta’ in
action on Oct. 2. That I can promise.”
