After three years without a major event on Brazilian soil, local fans are eagerly anticipating the UFC 283 card, which is scheduled for Jan. 21 in Rio de Janeiro.
If former light heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos has a say, the show will feature at least one Brazil vs. Brazil confrontation. During an appearance on Fabricio Werdum’s podcast “Nem Me Viu,” Santos criticized Paulo Costa’s attitude regarding weight cutting and challenged “Borrachinha” to a fight at UFC 283.
“There was a situation with ‘Borrachinha’ in which I was cutting weight and he and his team got in and started jumping in the cold bathtub, which was next to the hot one I was in, having a party,” Santos said. “They didn't respect that moment of mine there. He even said later that I'm getting beat up by everyone. Since that's how it is, why doesn't he take advantage of it and come hit me too at UFC Rio de Janeiro?”
Although they currently fight in different divisions — Costa at middleweight and Santos at light heavyweight — both fighters got started on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” in the welterweight division and ended up being eliminated in their first fight by the runners-up of their respective editions. Santos participated on “TUF: Brazil 2” as part of Team Werdum and lost to William Marcario but was signed by the UFC afterward. Costa, who was part of Chael Sonnen’s team on “TUF: Brazil 3,” lost a decision in his first fight to Marcio Alexandre Jr. but was not as fortunate as “Marreta.” Costa had to win four fights and capture the Jungle Fight belt before earning a UFC contract.
Today, Santos is coming off back-to-back losses to Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill at 205 pounds, while Costa snapped a two-bout skid with a unanimous decision triumph over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278.
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