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16-1 ‘legend’ who returns at UFC 323 joins Fighting Nerds amid the team’s sudden losing skid

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Oct 31, 2025 7:30 PM ET

One of the most prominent MMA teams will need another pair of glasses.

September was a difficult month for the Fighting Nerds, a Brazilian group that rose to prominence with unbeaten starts in the UFC for middleweight Caio Borralho, welterweight Carlos Prates, lightweight Mauricio Ruffy, and featherweight Jean Silva.

The team, known for their patented glasses frames that have been worn at events by the likes of Joe Rogan and Jon Jones, are in the midst of a losing skid after three recent defeats.

Before Nassourdine Imavov beat Borralho at UFC Paris, Ruffy had also fallen short in the French capital against Benoit Saint Denis. One week later, Diego Lopes knocked out Silva at Noche UFC.

A Fighting Nerds revival is needed, and one newcomer could help with that before 2025 is out.

16-1 prospect Mairon Santos becomes a Fighting Nerd ahead of UFC 323

The Fighting Nerds recently grew with the addition of Mairon Santos to the team.

Santos, a winner on season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter who is nicknamed ‘The Legend’, is 16-1 in pro MMA and has won both of his UFC fights since victory on the promotion’s reality series.

Last time out, Santos picked up a controversial UFC 313 win that was widely disputed. He will look for a more decisive win over Muhammad Naimov at UFC 323 this December, and he’ll do so off the back of his first camp with the Fighting Nerds.

“You don’t know? I’m a nerd now,” Santos told MMA Junkie Radio, revealing he no longer trains under Eric Nicksick in Las Vegas.

“I first visited here in July, and then I got to spend one month. I was just going to stay two weeks, and then I had to stay a little bit more, and then it was necessary to make me fall in love with the team.

“I went back to Vegas just to get my stuff, take my clothes, things like that, then I came back,” he continued. “I think I’m here for a total of three months, and yeah, I’m living here now.”

Fighting Nerd Carlos Prates will fight on the UFC 322 main card

It is set to be a busy few months for the Brazilian team, with a key assignment also awaiting them at Madison Square Garden.

A few weeks before Santos has his first fight since joining the group, Prates will make the walk on the UFC 323 main card in New York City.

Before Valentina Shevchenko’s super fight against Zhang Weili and Islam Makhachev’s welterweight title challenge opposite Jack Della Maddalena close out the night, ‘The Nightmare’ will face a former 170-pound champion in Leon Edwards.

Both men are looking to bounce back from setbacks this year. While Prates fell short against Ian Garry in April, Edwards had his first fight since losing the title end in a submission loss versus Sean Brady in March.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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