“I’m very happy to be the main event again,” said Santos, who headlined his first event back in September when he took on Anders in his light heavyweight debut. “I’m glad the UFC has given me this opportunity. I’m a little bit closer to my dream of being champion now.”
After beginning his UFC tenure with just two wins in six starts, the 35-year-old Blachowicz has used the last 16 months to bounce back and establish himself as a legitimate contender in the light heavyweight division. He closed out 2017 with two wins in three months, then followed it up by avenging his previous defeat to Manuwa in March and choking out the returning Nikita Krylov in September to push his winning streak to four.
Well-rounded and well-seasoned, the Polish veteran is a stern test for Santos as he continues on his quest to challenge for championship gold. Accepting that, “Marreta” opted to keep his thoughts on the matchup pretty cut and dry, rather than offer niceties about his impending opponent and provide some pre-packaged line about how he’s going to breeze through Blachowicz on Saturday without much trouble.
“It doesn’t matter how I win,” he stated. “All I know is I will win.”
And after competing five times in 2018 after starting his campaign with a win in February, will the surging Brazilian striker look to do the same following a win over Blachowicz this weekend?
“I don’t choose my opponents; I will fight whoever the UFC puts in front of me,” said Santos. “But I want to get the belt. I want the winner of Jon Jones and Anthony Smith.”
For the record, he thinks Jones will retain his title, but added that he wouldn’t be surprised if Smith beats him.
Either way, “Marreta” wants next.
