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UFC 308 takes place Saturday, so it's time to break down the top fights, plus make DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
UFC Vegas 96 takes place Saturday, so it's time to break down the top fights, plus make DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
A monumental UFC 300 takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
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Struggles continue in Vegas
Santos lost to Jamahal Hill via TKO (punches) at 2:31 of Round 4 at UFC on ESPN 40 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It's a defeat which essentially ends any chance Santos has of making another run at 205 pounds. The most crushing part of all for the Brazilian is that Hill didn't really do anything to beat him, Santos simply gassed out in what was a grueling bout. This was a tale of two fights for Santos. When he fought smart and worked his wrestling game, he was successful. He landed six takedowns in the fight, three more than in any other UFC bout to date. Santos is not a grappler by trade and didn't do much with his positional advantages, and all the takedown attempts served to tire him out. On the flip side, when he engaged Hill in a reckless brawl, he paid for it. This was a winnable fight for Santos, and he didn't get it. Thiago turned 38 years of age this past January. He falls to 1-5 in his past six fights since nearly stealing the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from Jon Jones back in July 2019. On the bright side, he'll take home $50,000 after this matchup was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
It's a defeat which essentially ends any chance Santos has of making another run at 205 pounds. The most crushing part of all for the Brazilian is that Hill didn't really do anything to beat him, Santos simply gassed out in what was a grueling bout. This was a tale of two fights for Santos. When he fought smart and worked his wrestling game, he was successful. He landed six takedowns in the fight, three more than in any other UFC bout to date. Santos is not a grappler by trade and didn't do much with his positional advantages, and all the takedown attempts served to tire him out. On the flip side, when he engaged Hill in a reckless brawl, he paid for it. This was a winnable fight for Santos, and he didn't get it. Thiago turned 38 years of age this past January. He falls to 1-5 in his past six fights since nearly stealing the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from Jon Jones back in July 2019. On the bright side, he'll take home $50,000 after this matchup was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
Hill next up
Santos will fight Jamahal Hill in a light heavyweight UFC fight on August 6, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nlreports.
ANALYSIS
Santos is 14-9 in his UFC career, though the 6-foot-2 fighter enters the fight coming off a loss to Magomed Ankalaev. Santos has only won one of his last four fights. Santos stands two inches shorter than Hill while also facing a three inch disadvantage. Santos will have to take Hill to the canvas, due to the fighter winning three of his four UFC fights by KO/TKO while also averaging 0.0 takedowns per 15 minutes. Santos averages 0.54 takedowns landed per 15 minutes and sports a 36% takedown accuracy, his best weapon against Hill.
Santos is 14-9 in his UFC career, though the 6-foot-2 fighter enters the fight coming off a loss to Magomed Ankalaev. Santos has only won one of his last four fights. Santos stands two inches shorter than Hill while also facing a three inch disadvantage. Santos will have to take Hill to the canvas, due to the fighter winning three of his four UFC fights by KO/TKO while also averaging 0.0 takedowns per 15 minutes. Santos averages 0.54 takedowns landed per 15 minutes and sports a 36% takedown accuracy, his best weapon against Hill.
Inconsistent ways continue
Santos lost to Magomed Ankalaev via unanimous decision (46-49, 46-49, 47-48) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Although he entered off a unanimous decision win over Johnny Walker this past October, this was a fight that Santos had to have in order to remain relevant in a thin light heavyweight division and it didn't go well. Santos had arguably the biggest moment of the fight with a knockdown at the end of Round 2, but for the remainder of the bout, it was Ankalaev pushing the pace and dictating the terms. Simply put, Thiago hasn't looked the same since nearly taking the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from Jon Jones on one leg back in July 2019. He explosiveness has all but evaporated and he appears to be second guessing everything he does inside the octagon. Looking back on it, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. Santos turned 38 years of age this past January, and although he has plenty of impressive victories on his resume, he has typically struggled against true high-end competition. There's room for immediate advancement at 205 pounds, but Santos' advanced age combined with the fact he's lost four of five dating back to July 2019 seems to take him out of the running.
Although he entered off a unanimous decision win over Johnny Walker this past October, this was a fight that Santos had to have in order to remain relevant in a thin light heavyweight division and it didn't go well. Santos had arguably the biggest moment of the fight with a knockdown at the end of Round 2, but for the remainder of the bout, it was Ankalaev pushing the pace and dictating the terms. Simply put, Thiago hasn't looked the same since nearly taking the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship from Jon Jones on one leg back in July 2019. He explosiveness has all but evaporated and he appears to be second guessing everything he does inside the octagon. Looking back on it, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. Santos turned 38 years of age this past January, and although he has plenty of impressive victories on his resume, he has typically struggled against true high-end competition. There's room for immediate advancement at 205 pounds, but Santos' advanced age combined with the fact he's lost four of five dating back to July 2019 seems to take him out of the running.
Matched with Magomed Ankalaev
Santos (knee) is expected to take on Magomed Ankalaev to headline a March 12 card in Las Vegas, Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Santos ended a three-fight winning streak with a five-round unanimous decision win against Johnny Walker in October. He took a beating in that match and faced a six-month medical suspension due to multiple injuries, but he's evidently been cleared to return slightly before that window is up. He's in for a potentially tough task against Ankalaev, who dropped his UFC debut back in March of 2018 but has since rattled off seven straight victories.
Santos ended a three-fight winning streak with a five-round unanimous decision win against Johnny Walker in October. He took a beating in that match and faced a six-month medical suspension due to multiple injuries, but he's evidently been cleared to return slightly before that window is up. He's in for a potentially tough task against Ankalaev, who dropped his UFC debut back in March of 2018 but has since rattled off seven straight victories.
Multiple injuries in Walker fight
Santos is facing a possible six-month suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission pending X-rays on his left finger, left foot, left knee and left ribs, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Santos may have only absorbed 48 significant strikes in what was a low-volume fight considering it lasted five rounds, but he took his fair share of damage. The left knee is likely the most concerning of the bunch, as Walker suffered a torn ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus in that same knee following a 2019 loss to Jon Jones. Hopefully this isn't nearly as serious, but the barrage of injuries could very well end up holding him out until next spring.
Santos may have only absorbed 48 significant strikes in what was a low-volume fight considering it lasted five rounds, but he took his fair share of damage. The left knee is likely the most concerning of the bunch, as Walker suffered a torn ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus in that same knee following a 2019 loss to Jon Jones. Hopefully this isn't nearly as serious, but the barrage of injuries could very well end up holding him out until next spring.