Thiago Santos Says He Was Offered A Non-Top 10 Opponent For Return Fight
A soon to be returning Santos wanted a rematch with Jones, but he realizes that the light heavyweight title scene has changed in recent months.
“That’s what I want, but it’s not up to me,” Santos said to MMA Fighting. “The scenario has changed. It’s not up to me.”
Santos suffered serious injuries to both knees at UFC 239 and is looking to return to action this July.
The fighter says he was offered an opponent outside of the top ten for the return fight, but neglected to mention who that opponent was.
“They want to give me fights I don’t want,” Santos said. “I never turn fights down, no matter who they are. But I’ve earned something, and I won’t accept anything less. I won’t take a step back. They want to give me something that represents a step back, and I won’t take a step back. I can’t say his name because it could get me in trouble, but they offered someone who’s not in the top-10. I don’t think it’s fair to fight someone outside the top five or six, or someone who’s on a rise. I was very upset when they offered someone who’s coming off a loss, you know? I refuse to take a step back. It’s not fair. If that’s how it goes, we’re gonna have problems getting our next fight.”
Santos sits at #2 in the UFC Light Heavyweight Division and Dominick Reyes, who just lost to Jones at UFC 247, is the only fighter ranked ahead of him.
