Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 251 live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title
challenger Thiago
Santos feels a bit underwhelmed by his next opponent. Shortly before moving to Florida, Santos spoke with PVT reporter
Leonardo Fabri in his academy located in the Cidade de Deus (City
of God) slum last Wednesday, where “Marreta” confirmed his fight
with Glover
Teixeira. The two light heavyweights will headline the
Sept. 12 UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex.
“Actually, Glover was not the name we wanted,” Santos admitted. “My
desire was a revenge against [UFC light heavyweight champion Jon]
Jones or [to] go straight for the interim belt against Dominick
Reyes. But once UFC was passing through that indefinite
situation about Jones, I had to understand their point. I’m more
than one year out of the Octagon and pretty hungry to return. After
the fight against Anthony
Smith, Glover mentioned my name and said he would fight against
me, so the UFC offered me that fight and I immediately said
yes.”
Surprisingly, Teixeira trained at
American Top Team and also in Pedro Rizzo’s
gym in Rio de Janeiro, just like “Marreta,” but they never crossed
paths.
“When I arrived at ATT he had just left. The same [with] Rizzo.
When I trained there, he was already living in the USA. But even if
we trained in both places we would fight. That’s our job. I have a
lot of respect for Glover, not only as a fighter but also as a
person. But we think the same way. We are professionals and we have
the same dream.”
Concerning his strategy against Teixeira, Santos believes he will
have to develop a solid game plan as he considers his adversary to
be one of the most well-rounded in the division.
“Glover is a complete fighter,” he explained. “I’ve heard some
people saying he was a great ‘recovery’ matchup for me. I really
don’t see that way. The results of Glover’s last fight [speaks] for
itself. He is coming from four impressive wins, by knockout or
submission, against top contenders. He is such a resilient guy,
able to absorb impressive punishment and turn the fight with
amazing submissions or knockouts. Definitely he is an opponent that
motivates me a lot to train hard and face him being 100 percent,
because I’m sure it’s going to be a war.”
Ever looking to the future, the 36-year-old has no doubt that a
good win over Teixeira will put him in the title picture again.
“Doesn’t matter if it’s interim or not. I’m planning to be
[fighting for the] UFC belt again by the end of the year,” Santos
concluded.