[autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] didn’t make an appearance at the UFC on ESPN+ 40 post-fight news conference.
Moments earlier, Santos (21-8 MMA, 13-7 UFC) tapped to a third-round rear-naked choke against fellow Brazilian Glover Teixeira (32-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) in the main event. It was Santos’ long-awaited return after surgeries on both knees.
A win would have kept him in the light heavyweight title picture less than two years after he suffered a close decision loss to former champion Jon Jones in a fight many thought he had done enough to win to become champion. Instead, the upset loss gave Santos two straight setbacks and put him back in the pack for title contention.
Sunday, Santos posted his first public comments on the loss on his Instagram account and said, essentially, the game plan never came together.
“I’m so disappointed by myself,” Santos posted. “I didn’t anything what I have trained, I wasn’t there. I just wanna say sorry to my coaches, my family and everyone who support me. thank you God for everything in my life, I am so blessed, nothing can change my faith.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHWB0WhpVvR
Santos was more than a 2-1 favorite against Teixeira, who almost inexplicably is on one of the best runs of his UFC career despite being north of 40. Teixeira has five straight wins and is very much in the discussion to get the first crack at new light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz for the title.