‘TUF 32’ winner Mairon Santos hopes to draw a striker in next UFC bout

“The Ultimate Fighter 32” winner Mairon Santos wants to test his standup against a high-level UFC striker next.

[autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag] wants to test his standup against a high-level striker next.

Santos (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) knocked out Kaan Ofli in the second round to win Season 32 of “The Ultimate Fighter” August at UFC on ESPN 62 from the UFC Apex.

Santos was able to fend off the grappling of Edwin Cooper Jr., Guillermo Torres, and Ofli to win “TUF 32.” But now, Santos seeks a different challenge.

“I would like to fight a striker,” Santos told MMA Junkie Radio. “I already faced three wrestlers in a row – Edwin Cooper, All-American; ‘Memo’ (Torres) is an Olympic wrestler; and this guy (Ofli), Brazilian blackbelt in jiu-jitsu, a lot of submissions. So I want to fight with a striker next. I think it will be fun, and that’s what I want next.”

Santos’ exciting style has helped him build plenty of momentum coming off “TUF 32,” but the 24-year-old Brazilian featherweight is in no hurry to be fast tracked.

“I would like to go step by step, because I believe that I still have a lot to learn, a lot to grow,” Santos said. “I don’t want to rush things because I know a lot of fighters that want to rush things, and they end up not getting the wins and things don’t go their way.

“I want to go slow, enjoy the process, learn. I have a lot to learn. I don’t have black belt in muay Thai or kickboxing or jiu-jitsu, so I want to learn a lot before I go to the top, to the rankings. I just want things to happen naturally.”

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MMA Junkie Radio #3493: Mairon Santos interview, DWCS recap, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”

Thursday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,493, the guys welcome in UFC newcomer [autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag] after winning Season 32 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The fellas also recap DWCS 68 and discuss the latest news in the MMA world. Tune in!

Why ‘TUF 32’ featherweight winner Mairon Santos couldn’t believe his knockout was real

Mairon Santos surprised himself with his powerful highlight knockout to become the featherweight winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 32.”

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag] needed to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

Santos (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) cracked Kaan Ofli with a counter left hand in the second round of their featherweight Season 32 finale of “The Ultimate Fighter,” took place on the main card of UFC on ESPN 62 at the UFC Apex.

The punch connected, and Ofli (11-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) crashed face-forward into the canvas. But Santos didn’t stop punching.

“I was like, this can’t be real,” Santos said at a post-fight news conference. “The way that it was, like him going face-first, I was like, this can’t be real. That’s why I kept punching him because I didn’t believe it. Right now, I’m still thinking that’s a dream, but at the same time, I’m trying to think, OK, this is it. You are The Ultimate Fighter and one day you can be a champion. … It’s a dream come true.”

There was no dream. Santos is now a UFC fighter and became one with a highlight-reel finish in an unfamiliar fashion. Sure, Santos has finished opponents with strikes on the regional scene, but this one was different.

“I’m not used to knocking people out like that,” Santos said. “I didn’t know that I had this power. That’s why I kept punching him, because it was unreal to me.”

Now that he’s accomplished the first step in his goal of becoming a UFC champion, Santos can’t wait to enjoy some good food before preparing for his next fight, which he hopes occurs before the end of the year since he and his wife have a baby on the way.

Aside from getting in his next fight soon, he doesn’t want to rush his progression in the UFC.

“When I have to be in the top 15, it will happen naturally,” Santos said. “I don’t want to force it. I know I have a long way to go. So, I just want to fight before the end of the year and then fight again, fight again. Top 15, top 5, but without rushing anything.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.

UFC on ESPN 62 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $28 million

The UFC has now paid athletes more than $28 million in Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay after UFC on ESPN 62.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 62 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $166,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 62 took place at the UFC Apex. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 62 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Caio Borralho[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Ryan Loder[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Robert Valentin[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kaan Ofli[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Edmen Shahbazyan[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Francis Marshall[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Zach Reese[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jose Medina[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Viacheslav Borshchev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]James Llontop[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jacqueline Cavalcanti[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josiane Nunes[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Wang Cong[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Victoria Leonardo[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,620; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $32,000 while title challengers get $42,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-62 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,324,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $28,061,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.

UFC on ESPN 62 results: Mairon Santos folds Kaan Ofli with violent knockout to win ‘TUF 32’

THAT’S how you announce your arrival to the UFC and assert yourself as “The Ultimate Fighter.”

“The Ultimate Fighter 32” bracket officially wrapped up Saturday with its final fights live as part of the UFC on ESPN 62 fight card.

The series concluded Tuesday, just in time for the reveal of the competitors who would compete Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The first final was at featherweight and it ended in devastating fashion as [autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag] crushed [autotag]Kaan Ofli[/autotag] with an ultra-violent knockout at : of Round 2.

Santos (15-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) defeated Edwin Cooper Jr. and Guillermo Torres by unanimous decision in exhibition bouts on the series to punch his ticket to the finale. Prior to being casted on the reality show, Santos competed on the Brazilian regional scene before a couple fights under the LFA banner.

Ofli (11-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) earned wins over Nathan Fletcher and Roedie Roets on the series prior to Saturday’s final. He entered the UFC as the Hex Fight Series featherweight champion and hadn’t lost since June 2016. An eight-fight winning streak was snapped.

The up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 62 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.

Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ESPN 62

Will Kaan Ofli or Mairon Santos become the next featherweight Ultimate Fighter season winner?

[autotag]Kaan Ofli[/autotag] and [autotag]Mairon Santos[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 62 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas for “The Ultimate Fighter 32” featherweight finale. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 1-4
UFC main cards, 2024: 70-61-3

Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos UFC on ESPN 62 preview

Ofli (11-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) started off his TUF season with a decision win over Nathan Fletcher. In the semifinals, he stopped Roedie Roets by first-round submission. … Santos (13-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) picked up a pair of decision wins in the TUF house. In his first fight, he beat Edwin Cooper Jr., followed by a semifinal win over Guillermo Torres.

Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos UFC on ESPN 62 expert pick, prediction

This Saturday’s card features two finales from this season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and Ofli will take on Santos for the featherweight portion of the show.

Both of these fighters are incredibly tough and deceptively well-rounded, so I’m curious to see how they’ll show out on the big stage now that they’re off the reality show and back with their original camps and corners.

I’ll be a bit biased toward Santos since he’s been training in my backyard of Xtreme Couture here in Las Vegas since departing the show, working with noted MMA coach Eric Nicksick. That said, Ofli can be a difficult fighter to look good against and the smaller cage should assist his grinding style.

I’m not sure if Santos can produce a stoppage in this spot, but I believe that his camp will have him well-prepared for the grind that’s coming his way.

I’ll pick Santos to win a competitive decision by landing the more meaningful blows in space and in closed quarters.

Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos UFC on ESPN 62 odds

The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Brazilian fighter, listing Santos -192 and Ofli +154 via FanDuel.

Kaan Ofli vs. Mairon Santos UFC on ESPN 62 start time, how to watch

As the third fight on the main card, Ofli and Santos are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 11:05 p.m. ET. The fight will air on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.

Fresh Ink: Meet the 9 fighters the UFC signed in July 2023

Find out who joined the UFC in July and learn more about them here.

The UFC roster is bigger than ever – and it continues to expand.

Fresh faces appear on nearly every card, whether onboarded as short-notice opening fillers, “Dana White’s Contender Series” signees, or the increasingly rare straight-up additions. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of the hustle and bustle of the mixed martial arts news beat, but here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.

“Fresh Ink” is your list of fighters added to the UFC roster the previous month and provides background on who they are and where they came from.

Check out the July 2023 list below.

LFA 123 results: Dan Argueta dominates Mairon Santos on the mat, secures third-round TKO finish

Check out the full results of LFA 123, which featured a main event clash of unbeaten bantamweight prospects.

Legacy Fighting Alliance returned to action on Friday evening with its first event in February.

LFA 123 took place at the Horseshoe Hammond Casino in Hammond, Ind., featuring a six-fight main card of fights, headlined by a clash of bantamweights putting their undefeated records on the line. “The Ultimate Fighter 29” competitor Daniel Argueta faced Mairon Santos in what promised to be an exciting scrap.

Argueta (7-0) secured a takedown quickly to begin the fight and began imposing his will with strong grappling. While changing positions to maintain top position, the TUF veteran found opportunities to land hard punches on Santos (12-1), who did his best to limit damage throughout the round. The opening frame was dominated by Argueta from beginning to end.

After landing a couple of crisp strikes early in the second round, Argueta quickly went back to his grappling game and put his opponent on his back again. Moments later, Argueta got to full mount and began raining down hard strikes. Santos survived, but was largely dominated on the mat for the second straight round.

The final round was more one-way traffic. Argueta quickly secured another takedown and began raining down strikes from top position. The referee would finally stop the action at 2:40, notching the TKO win for Argueta, who maintains his undefeated record.

The co-main event of the evening would see Askar Askar follow up his main event win at LFA 118 with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Ryskulbek Ibraimov. Askar, who was once signed with the UFC but never competed due to medical issues, made another case for a shot on the big stage.

The main card results of LFA 123 include:

  • Daniel Argueta def. Mairon Santos via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:40
  • Askar Askar def. Ryskulbek Ibraimov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Josh Streaker def. Miguel Jacob via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Cody Davis def. Payton Breznski via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Logan Nail def. Halston Williams via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:11
  • Beau Samaniego def. Alberto Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)

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