Home

UFC

“Romero Won That Fight”- Thiago Santos Blasts Israel Adesanya

Published 04/06/2020, 1:27 PM EDT

Follow Us

Israel Adesanya successfully managed to prolong his undefeated stint in the UFC against Yoel Romero in March 2020. However, many fighters including the likes of Paulo Costa and now Thiago Santos. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Santos reveals how Adesanya failed to impress him.

A close unanimous decision of 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 handed the Nigerian born fighter the win over Romero. However, if you ask the Brazilian, he feels Romero should have walked out of that octagon with the belt. Santos feels that the “you have to beat the champion to become the champion” mentality that exists in the UFC is what enabled the champion to continue his reign.

“Yes, Romero won that fight. Horrible fight. There’s not much to say. Especially his part. Romero did his part. Romero moved forward, tried to bring more of a fight, but the champion was very conservative, so it was a boring fight to watch.”- Thiago Santos to MMA Fighting

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Marreta feels that the effort the challenger has to put in to walk away with the title is two times more than that which the champion has to put in.

“It bothers me. That’s totally wrong, man. Does the champion enter the Octagon with the belt around his waist? So tell him to enter the Octagon with the belt. They both enter without the belt and whoever wins will have the belt. People have to stop seeing the champion as he already has the belt. ‘Oh, if it’s a split [decision] it’s for him, the challenger has to do twice more to win.’ Why does the challenger have to do twice more? So make it a rule. It that’s not a rule, it shouldn’t happen.”- Thiago Santos

He feels the existing norm compels people to believe that the champion enters the octagon with a lead of 1-0. However, that is not the case. Both fighters enter the octagon as 0-0 and the winner is the one who takes the belt home at the end of the night.

“I’m completely against that (culture) that the challenger must do twice more. It’s a fight like any other. Whoever won, won. There’s no, ‘Oh, but he’s the champion.”- Thiago Santos

However, when asked if he feels the same about his loss to the Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Santos says otherwise. The former middleweight division fighter moved up to 205 pounds and challenged Jones for the title.

He claims their fight was a very close and that he wasn’t robbed of the win, whereas Romero was the clear victor against Adesanya.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Thiago Santos Open to Taking on Israel Adesanya

Marreta has been quite vocal about his intentions to take on Adesanya in the past. Before facing Jones in the title bout, Santos had big plans of becoming the two-division champion.

“It can definitely happen, yes. To save an event or for a super fight. I don’t have any problem moving down or up. But the division where I’ll stay, which I feel better and healthier, is light heavyweight.”- Thiago Santos

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest UFC stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

He confirms that he would fight Adesanya at middleweight or light heavyweight. Considering how Adesanya had plans of moving up weight divisions.

Who do you think would come out on top between the Last Stylebender and Santos?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Vinayak

389Articles

One take at a time