Although his hand was raised following a 15-minute contest against Francis Marshall at UFC 313 in March, Mairon Santos left the octagon with mixed feelings. After rewatching the fight, he concluded that his opponent had actually done enough to earn the victory.
Now, competing at lightweight this Saturday on relatively short notice, The Ultimate Fighter 32 featherweight champion is scheduled to face Sodiq Yusuff at UFC Vegas 106. Santos is determined to secure a much more convincing win this time around.
“I`ve used that previous fight as a means of growth,” Santos stated. “I reviewed my mistakes and everything I did incorrectly, recognizing areas I could have performed better. It`s important to move past it and view it as a learning experience. Initially, I was quite upset, largely because we are aware of our own capabilities, and it`s more frustrating to fall short of your potential than to simply be defeated by a superior opponent.”
He elaborated, “I felt the underwhelming performance was my fault, stemming from my own errors. I`m not diminishing his effort; he fought well. However, I strongly felt there was much more I could have done. I see that fight as a valuable lesson – a positive one because I still secured the win. I`ve made the necessary adjustments to avoid repeating those mistakes, so I can achieve a clear victory this time.”
Santos identified his biggest issue heading into the Marshall bout as being overly confident in his striking abilities. Having claimed the TUF 32 title just seven months prior with a second-round stoppage of Kaan Ofli, he mistakenly believed a single punch would be sufficient against Marshall.
“It was a lesson I truly learned, and I`m incorporating new approaches for this upcoming fight that I am confident will be beneficial,” Santos commented. “I was pleased when I found out I would be fighting Yusuff. Fighters always seek the toughest challenges, regardless of the weight class. Getting this name made me happy, as it also indicated that the UFC is providing me with a solid opportunity despite my last fight not being my best. I recognize my own potential, and the UFC clearly does as well.”
Yusuff, who is also making his debut in the UFC lightweight division, steps back into the cage for his tenth promotional appearance. His return comes over a year after a quick knockout loss, and he finds himself under pressure following consecutive defeats to Brazilian contenders Diego Lopes and Edson Barboza.
Santos believes this matchup is ideal for him. “We are always aiming for the knockout, so I`ll stick to my promise,” he declared. “I will knock him out in the second round. I didn`t approach my last opponent with the right level of respect, in a way. For this fight, I want to find a balance – respect him as an athlete, but not *too* much, if you understand what I mean. My punches will connect eventually. He tends to pressure forward and often leaves himself open, which I believe works to my advantage. My expectation is a knockout win in this fight – and finally earning a bonus [he added with a laugh].”
