What's Next For Thiago Santos:
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| Thiago Santos has exploded onto the Light Heavyweight scene. |
There's still a great deal to be discussed in terms of weight cutting in professional mixed martial arts and it's true impact on a fighters performance come fight night, and if ever there were a bigger example to warrant it's review, it's the case of UFC Prague big winner Thiago 'Marreta' Santos. The Brazilian bruiser has forced three straight stoppages at Light Heavyweight after his climb from a draining 185lbs. Just one look at the 35 year-old should be enough for one to question how he ever competed at Middleweight, where he had a huge deal of success albeit at a sacrifice of health.
Holding a hugely impressive 13-5 Ultimate Fighting Championship record with eleven finishes, Santos is almost in touching distance of his premier title tilt after a third round bludgeoning of Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC Prague yesterday evening. The Rio de Janeiro Muay Thai practitioner is one of the hardest hitters in the game today and after yet another knockout scored over fellow contender Blachowicz, there's only two possible fights awaiting Thiago Santos for his next Octagon walk.
Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith Winner: With a Middleweight win already scored over next weekend's challenger Anthony 'Lionheart' Smith, Thiago would more than likely enter a possible rematch with his fellow seasoned striker as a favourite. Asking Smith to overcome somebody of Jon Jones' caliber is no doubt an insanely tall order. In a possible and more likely clash with Jones, I'd also have Santos as a stiff underdog but in my opinion the Brazilian serves a more dangerous siege of the Light Heavyweight crown due to his more diverse striking game, particularly his Muay Thai background. 'Marreta' also holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, something we've rarely seen utilized from him due to his tendency to finish impressively with his striking. The American Top Team product is the main contender at 205lbs with Daniel Cormier concentrating on his career at Heavyweight and two time title chaser Alexander Gustafsson coming off a stoppage loss to Jones in December.
Alexander Gustafsson Title Eliminator: If for some apparent reason Santos is overlooked, a title eliminator with Swede Alexander 'The Mauler' Gustafsson is the only other fight contract he should sign. Now 3-0 at Light Heavyweight with stoppages over Eryk Anders, the hard hitting Jimi Manuwa and yesterday's victim Jan Blachowicz, Alex Gustafsson may be the final hurdle to clear before reaching a title opportunity. It seems likely the UFC brass may head this direction with Santos to legitimize his stature at the top of the division further. Gustafsson has been stopped by the likes of fellow heavy hitter Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson and was swarmed on the ground by Jon Jones in his most recent walk and may find himself on the opposite side of the power equation when and if paired with 'Marreta' Santos.
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