Brazil is at the top when it comes to producing world-class MMA fighters. Over the years, talents such as Anderson Silva, Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, Jose Aldo, the Nogueira brothers, etc., have all been dominant champions at various organizations. Thiago Santos is another one that has been making waves recently.
Moreover, Santos came into the limelight for being the first fighter to win a judge’s scorecard against the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, Jon Jones.
However, there is much more to Thiago’s career than just that one particular fight. Let’s get to know more about this 38-year-old fighter from Rio de Janeiro, known for his knockout power. More on Santos right this minute.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Thiago Santos de Lima |
| Birth Date | January 7, 1984 |
| Birth Place | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Nick Name | Marreta (The Sledgehammer) |
| Religion | Not available |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Ethnicity | Not available |
| Education | Not available |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Father’s Name | Not available |
| Mother’s Name | Not available |
| Siblings | Not available |
| Age | 38 Years Old |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Shoes | Not available |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Measurement | Not available |
| Build | Muscular |
| Married | Yes (Divorced) |
| Current Girlfriend | Yana Kunitskaya |
| Children | Yes (1) |
| Profession | Mixed Martial Artist |
| Division | Light-heavyweight (Current); Middleweight (Former) |
| Record | 21-7-0 |
| Career Earnings | $1.2 million |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Family and Early Life of Thiago Santos
On January 7, 1984, Thiago Santos de Lima was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Unfortunately, there is no information on his parents. Similar to this, his brothers’ whereabouts are likewise unknown.
To put it mildly, Thiago had a difficult upbringing. Santos experienced untreated illness in his early years, which led to stomach cysts that grew. Later, they were surgically removed.
Aside from that, one of the sporadic floods caused the family of the Rio de Janeiro native to lose everything. They were forced to migrate to Cidade de Deus, one of Brazil’s most violent areas.
Career of Thiago Santos
Thiago made a strong start to his professional career, winning eight games while losing just one. Santos was consequently signed by UFC, who recognized his potential, and it was declared that he will compete in The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.
The 6 foot 2 light heavyweights then defeated Pedro Irie in the elimination round before falling to Leonardo Santos, the eventual victor.
However, Thiago shown sufficient skill in those contests to secure a deal with the UFC. Santos then faced Cezar Ferreira on August 3, 2013, in his UFC debut. Sadly, he was submitted in the opening round of the battle.
Before switching to the light-heavyweight division in 2018, Thiago fought 14 times after that in the middleweight division.
The 38-year-old overcame top competitors including Elias Theodorou, Nate Marquardt, and Kevin Holland during those 14 fights.
On the other side, he was defeated by Gegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall, two of the top 10 competitors.
Thiago won three straight fights after switching to the 205-pound class, beating Eryk Anders, Jimi Manuwa, and Jan Blachowicz.
As a result, UFC gave him the opportunity to defend his championship against Jon Jones, the current light heavyweight champion.
Jonathan Jones vs. Thiago Santos
In addition to his rival and champion Jon Jones, Santos shared the UFC 239 PPV’s lead role. Over the course of the five rounds, the action was back and forth. But in the end, Jones’ champions’ mindset prevailed.
Nevertheless, Thiago defeated Jon to become the first combatant in MMA history to receive a judge’s scorecard victory.
Santos’ left LCL, PCL, MCL, and meniscus were all torn as a result of the outstanding performance, which came at a steep price. Thiago hasn’t engaged in any competitive combat since.
Did Thiago Santos resume combat? Next fight for Thiago Santos
Yes is the clear-cut response. The combatant returned to the ring after a brief healing period.
On September 4, 2020, he was slated to face Glover Teixeira. But Glover’s positive Covid-19 test forced the cancellation of the fight.
After Santos tested positive for Covid-19, the fight was later postponed but cancelled. On November 7, 2020, the battle finally took place, and Santos lost by submission in round three.
After that, on March 6, 2021, the MMA fighter faced off against Aleksandar Raki, losing by unanimous decision.
Thiago Santos’s nationality, height, and age
Thiago is currently 38 years old because he was born in the year 1984. Additionally, he belongs to the Capricorn zodiac sign. In a similar vein, Capricorns typically exhibit traits like ambition, perseverance, and realism.
Continuing, Santos is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and 205 lb (93 kg).
Additionally, he competes in the UFC’s Light-Heavyweight class, which has a 205 lb weight limit. On top of that, he works out at the American Top Team facility.
Thiago is a Brazilian, according to his nationality. One of the most well-known tourist sites in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, is where he was born.
How was his knee hurt?
Early on in the five-round bout against Jon Jones for the title, Thiago suffered a knee injury. Santos persevered despite his injury but ultimately came up short in a split decision.
Thiago Santos’s Salary & Fight Fund
Thiago’s estimated net worth as of 2022 is $5 million. He has also been active in the sport for more than ten years.
Santos has also received a fight purse of $1.2 million throughout that time. Conor McGregor, with $15 million in career earnings, is, unsurprisingly, at the top of the list.
When it comes to fight compensation, Thiago earned $350,000 for defeating former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones in a title match.
Jones, though, won $500,000 instead. When Santos fought for the first time in the UFC, he was paid $8,000; this is a striking contrast.
Thiago Santos’s various currency net worth
Let’s examine Thiago Santo’s net worth in several currencies, such as the Bitcoin and the Indian Rupee:
| Currency | Net Worth |
| Euro | €849,150 |
| Pound Sterling | £722,695 |
| Australian Dollar | A$1,359,453 |
| Canadian Dollar | C$1,267,560 |
| Indian Rupee | ₹73,723,050 |
| BitCoin | ฿22 |
Thiago Santos: Wife & Kids
Currently, Thiago is involved in a serious relationship with UFC’s Bantamweight fighter, Yana Kunitskaya.
Although we don’t know the beginning of their love story, we know that they met while on a training camp.
Since then, the two lovebirds have remained loyal to each other with no signs of controversy. As a matter of fact, rumors have been flying around that the duo might tie the knot very soon.
Moving onto his kids, Santos has a son named Hiago from his previous relationship. However, it is not from his relationship with Kunitskaya.
Instead, it was from his failed marriage with a mystery woman. Similarly, Yana has a son from her previous affair.
Social Media Presence
Instagram: 535k followers
Twitter: 73.1k followers
Facebook: 194k followers
Some FAQs
Does Thiago Santos Have Tattoo on his Body?
Yes, the MMA fighter has tattoos on different parts of his body. His chest tattoo represents a sledgehammer. He also has various design back tattoos on his body.
Who is Santos Dating?
He is dating Yana Kunitskaya who is also a MMA from Russsia.
When did Thiago Santos Fought with Glover Teixeira?
They fought in a match on November 8, 2020, where Glover won the fight.
Who won the Fight Between Thiago Santos vs Israel Adesanya Fight?
Israel won the fight which he played against Thiago.
When is Thiago Santos Scheduled Fight Against Johnny Walker?
Santos is scheduled to fight against Johnny on October 2, 2021.
Did Santos Suffer from Leg Injury?
The MMA fighter did not suffer from the leg injury. However, he suffered from a knee injury.
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