Santos ‘Upset’ At UFC For Pairing Him Against Scrubs

Photo by Luiz Pires Dias/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Power-punching light heavyweight bruiser, Thiago Santos, nearly upset Jon Jones and captured the 205-pound title long before Dominick Reyes made it the cool thing to do. And even though “Marreta” was benched for several months to repair multiple injuries suffered against “Bones,” he was expecting to remain “in the mix” upon his return.

Yeah, about that…

Seems like UFC matchmakers have other ideas, which is to be expected when the light heavyweight assembly line is moving this quickly. Following the Brazilian’s medical timeout, Jones competed against Reyes and appears to have his next title defense already lined up for this summer.

Leaving Santos as the odd man out.

“They want to give me something that represents a step back, and I won’t take a step back,” Santos told MMA Fighting. “I can’t say his name because it could get me in trouble, but they offered someone who’s not in the Top 10. I don’t think it’s fair to fight someone outside the top five or six, or someone who’s on a rise. I was very upset when they offered someone who’s coming off a loss, you know? I refuse to take a step back. It’s not fair. If that’s how it goes, we’re gonna have problems getting our next fight.”

Sadly, the promotion has abandoned the word “fair” a long time ago and now that UFC is owned by Endeavor, fights that make the most money take precedent over fights that make the most sense. Just ask this undeserving title contender.

Prior to coming up short against Jones, the 36 year-old Santos (21-7) won four in a row, including a technical knockout win over Jan Blachowicz, who is expected to get the next crack at the 205-pound crown after planishing Corey Anderson.

Maybe it’s time for Santos to work “Overtime?”