Daniel Santos
"Willycat"Career Averages
Win Methods (4)
Loss Methods (2)
Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dooho Choi | 1 | 72 of 138 | 52% | 79 of 145 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 72 of 182 | 39% | 74 of 186 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:54 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dooho Choi | 0 | 28 of 59 | 47% | 29 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 47 of 106 | 44% | 48 of 109 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 | |
| 2 | Dooho Choi | 1 | 44 of 79 | 55% | 50 of 85 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 25 of 76 | 32% | 26 of 77 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dooho Choi | 72 of 138 | 52% | 56 of 122 | 13 of 13 | 3 of 3 | 67 of 133 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 |
| Daniel Santos | 72 of 182 | 39% | 54 of 156 | 15 of 22 | 3 of 4 | 64 of 172 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dooho Choi | 28 of 59 | 47% | 20 of 51 | 6 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 26 of 57 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Daniel Santos | 47 of 106 | 44% | 35 of 89 | 12 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 40 of 97 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Dooho Choi | 44 of 79 | 55% | 36 of 71 | 7 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 41 of 76 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Daniel Santos | 25 of 76 | 32% | 19 of 67 | 3 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 24 of 75 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Daniel Santos, calling it the toughest pick on the card. He notes Choi looked great in his last fight but attributes that to an old opponent. He trusts Santos to stay dangerous late and create scrambles. He expects a close fight with Santos winning.
Big Brady leans toward Daniel Santos, citing his durability and youth. He expects a war and favors the younger, more durable fighter. He predicts a decision win, though he is not thrilled with the price.
Cody picks Daniel Santos, citing his physical strength, pressure, and ability to mix takedowns with striking. He notes that Santos has been active and improving, while Dooho Choi has been inactive and has shown vulnerability to wrestlers like Kyle Nelson. He believes Santos can pressure Choi, land heavy blows, and use takedowns to neutralize him, especially as Choi is not physically strong and has been rocked before.
Both are aggressive with poor defense. Santos is more durable and throws higher volume, while Choi has more power. Lean Santos due to durability, but odds are fair. Under 2.5 rounds is interesting.
Lucrative James picks Daniel Santos, favoring his relentless pace, takedown volume, and durability over Dooho Choi. He notes Santos's improvement at featherweight and Choi's defensive vulnerabilities. He predicts a decision win for Santos, though acknowledges a knockout is possible.
The host picks Doo Ho Choi over Daniel Santos, expecting Choi to use his grappling defensively and outstrike Santos. He notes that Santos will likely look to grapple, but if Choi's durability holds up, he will put together a better body of work to win on the scorecards.
The host is surprised the line has moved in Santos' favor, as he believes Choi is the better striker with improved grappling and a size advantage. He expects Choi to outpoint Santos over three rounds, winning by decision. He may look to bet Choi at the current plus money.
Paul is confident in Daniel Santos, having parlayed him earlier in the week at -143. He likes Santos's activity and wrestling, and believes he can lean on that to get out of tight situations. He notes that Dooho Choi is too inactive and that Santos has been his guy since entering the UFC.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Santos | 1 | 27 of 62 | 43% | 28 of 63 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
| JooSang Yoo | 0 | 31 of 55 | 56% | 51 of 75 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Santos | 0 | 17 of 47 | 36% | 18 of 48 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 |
| JooSang Yoo | 0 | 28 of 49 | 57% | 48 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Daniel Santos | 1 | 10 of 15 | 66% | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| JooSang Yoo | 0 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Santos | 27 of 62 | 43% | 16 of 41 | 2 of 8 | 9 of 13 | 18 of 50 | 0 of 1 | 9 of 11 |
| JooSang Yoo | 31 of 55 | 56% | 15 of 38 | 5 of 5 | 11 of 12 | 30 of 54 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Santos | 17 of 47 | 36% | 6 of 26 | 2 of 8 | 9 of 13 | 17 of 46 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| JooSang Yoo | 28 of 49 | 57% | 14 of 34 | 4 of 4 | 10 of 11 | 27 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Daniel Santos | 10 of 15 | 66% | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 11 |
| JooSang Yoo | 3 of 6 | 50% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-142), Yoo (+120)
Round 1
Whether because one or both were going to miss weight badly, this featherweight contested shifted to a catchweight at 153 pounds. Santos (13-2, 3-1 UFC), who has come in heavy before, will benefit from this relocated weight category as he comes in likely the larger of the two. Yoo (9-0, 1-0 UFC) is fine with the switch, because he just wants to put hands on faces. He will just as soon as referee Herb Dean clocks them in, and the two bump fists. Now it’s time for some face-punching.
Yoo sneaks out a low kick, and he jumps away to dodge a counter kick and plants one more on the same spot. Santos just misses with a spinning wheel kick, and Yoo springs to the side and flicks out a jab. Yoo leaves a right hand out too long, and Santos just misses on the counter. A quick high kick comes from the Brazilian, and he attempts to time a jab with a chopping calf kick. Santos aims and comes up short on a body kick, and he spins with more kicks that keep missing. Yoo busts him in the chops with a knee up the middle, and his right hand and low kick further do damage. Santos comes out swinging back, and “Zombie Jr.” beats him to the punch with his piston-like jab. Santos leaps after him and catches him with a punch or two, and Yoo claps at him to celebrate.
Santos spins and misses, and Yoo showboats and does his own little twirl. Santos punches his way into a double-leg takedown, scoops the South Korean off his feet and taking the excitement out of the crowd. Santos headbutts Yoo in the chest a couple times, and Dean tells him he has to stop doing that. Yoo puts his hand by his face to mime that he is resting, and Santos keeps trying to control him. Santos looks to grind Yoo down like a mortar and pestle, grating and draining him all while Yoo motions that he is bored. Yoo fights to his feet, and the fans respond in kind. Yoo jams his man in the torso several times with kicks, and his hands are wide as he snaps out jabs. Santos dips down and wings a right hand, and Yoo laughs it off. Yoo lands, and Santos fires back harder. The impact of Santos’ blows is much more measurable, while Yoo would prefer to just touch and get away. Yoo slaps Santos in the face, and Santos pays him back with hard hooks. The South Korean peppers the front leg with kicks and dodges a wheel kick as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Yoo
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Yoo
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Yoo
Round 2
Yoo starts the round elusive as can be, zipping from side to side and tagging Santos with long punches. Santos is angered by this bull-matador approach, and he blitzes the South Korean. Yoo parries two punches,
and the third, a sweeping left hook from the Brazilian, smashes square into Yoo’s jaw. Yoo collapses to the ground on his knees, and Santos batters him with an onslaught of right hands to finish the job. Yoo appears frustrated that he got caught until his expression changes from the standing-to-ground blows he is absorbing, and it does not take much more than that for Dean to intervene
. Just like that, “Zombie Jr.” has been drummed out of the ranks of the unbeaten, and Santos notches a huge win with style points and runs to greet Mark Zuckerberg sitting cageside.
The Official Result
Daniel Santos def. Joo Sang Yoo R2 0:21 via TKO (Punches)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Daniel Santos despite the public heavily favoring Yoo Joo-sang (77% on Tapology). He believes Santos has quality wins and has proven himself in the octagon, while Yoo's only notable win is against a weak opponent. He is surprised by the public confidence in Yoo and trusts Santos as the slight favorite.
Big Brady acknowledges that this is the closest line fight on the card and that there is missing information on Yoo Joo-sang. However, he notes that Santos has been mixing in wrestling effectively in his recent fights, completing over 10 takedowns in his last three. He believes Yoo Joo-sang is too hittable and gets taken down too easily. He predicts Santos wins by decision, using his wrestling to dictate the fight.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Santos because he sees Yoo as a raw talent who has not been forced into a brawl and may struggle when Santos puts together multiple attacking ideas. Connor notes that Santos is a dark horse who is more difficult to face than he looks, and he expects Yoo to have initial success but then get caught by Santos's persistent pressure.
Santos missed weight and asked for a catchweight, indicating his body wasn't responding. The host believes Yoo Joo-sang can take advantage by counter-striking a reckless Santos or chipping away for a decision win.
The MMA Guru picks Yoo Joo-sang, believing his counter-striking and power will be too much for Daniel Santos. He notes Santos's tendency to get hit while closing distance and his inactivity. He predicts a first-round KO.
Zane picks Daniel Santos because he believes Santos is a volume brawler who mixes in takedowns and holds his ground in the pocket, while JooSang Yoo, despite his raw talent and speed, has not faced real resistance and tends to drop his hands and lean back out of the pocket, leaving him vulnerable to Santos's combinations. Zane notes that Santos has never been KO'd and is durable, and he expects Santos to catch Yoo off guard with sustained offense.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 90 of 184 | 48% | 119 of 213 | 6 of 18 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 6:06 |
| Lee Jeong-yeong | 0 | 68 of 150 | 45% | 107 of 190 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Santos | 0 | 33 of 78 | 42% | 40 of 85 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:07 |
| Lee Jeong-yeong | 0 | 35 of 61 | 57% | 35 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Daniel Santos | 0 | 39 of 67 | 58% | 51 of 79 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 2:28 |
| Lee Jeong-yeong | 0 | 20 of 52 | 38% | 48 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Daniel Santos | 0 | 18 of 39 | 46% | 28 of 49 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 | 0 | 2:31 |
| Lee Jeong-yeong | 0 | 13 of 37 | 35% | 24 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Santos | 90 of 184 | 48% | 59 of 136 | 18 of 30 | 13 of 18 | 82 of 174 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 8 |
| Lee Jeong-yeong | 68 of 150 | 45% | 40 of 112 | 16 of 24 | 12 of 14 | 65 of 145 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Santos | 33 of 78 | 42% | 20 of 53 | 6 of 13 | 7 of 12 | 33 of 78 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Lee Jeong-yeong | 35 of 61 | 57% | 16 of 39 | 10 of 11 | 9 of 11 | 34 of 59 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | |
| 2 | Daniel Santos | 39 of 67 | 58% | 25 of 51 | 9 of 11 | 5 of 5 | 33 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 7 |
| Lee Jeong-yeong | 20 of 52 | 38% | 13 of 39 | 4 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 20 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Daniel Santos | 18 of 39 | 46% | 14 of 32 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 36 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Lee Jeong-yeong | 13 of 37 | 35% | 11 of 34 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 34 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lee (-115), Santos (-105)
Round 1
Moving right along, “Willycat” Santos (12-2, 2-1 UFC) gets a chance to go on a three-fight win streak if he can get past Lee (11-2, 2-1 UFC) in one of the few preliminary matches not featuring a Canuck. Both of these featherweights sport similar finish rates in the 65% range, which means referee Marc Goddard might be needed before all is said and done. There is a sporting glove touch to get going, and they get right to smacking one another in the lead leg. When Lee comes in to strike, Santos goes for a spinning back kick that whizzes past his foe. They let go with low kicks, and then trade punches. Santos lifts his foot up and around the shoulder, and he just blocks a returning high kick in the nick of time. Lee whiffs on an overhand right, and Santos counters with several body shots. Lee presses forward, and he eats a few more right hands to the midsection. Lee knocks Santos off his feet with a blistering right hand, and Santos leaps back up and grabs hold of Lee’s leg. Rather than get the takedown, he keeps moving and takes Lee’s back standing up. The Brazilian pushes his foe against the fence from behind, and Lee is warned for grabbing the fence to stay upright when Santos tries to wrench him down. Santos does get his man down for a second, and Lee springs back up and lets his hands go. Santos checks a leg kick and looses a right hand, and Lee responds with a jab to split the guard. Lee lands another hard jab, and this time Santos gives him something back to think about in the form of a right hand, a spinning wheel kick and several more body shots. Santos chains punches to the body and head, and Lee stands firm and knocks him back a step with a one-two. They throw body kicks at the same time, and Lee attacks the liver with his left hand. Santos has a wheel kick bounce off the raised guard, and he pushes forward and chains several punches together. Lee is not about to let him off the hook, and he cracks the Brazilian with a left hook that staggers Santos. “Willycat” gathers his thoughts, and chants for Lee rain down. Santos unloads a right hand that sends Lee flying, and Lee spins around and recovers while throwing back with bad intentions. These two let one another have it with violent body shots, and Santos pushes forward to pursue a single-leg takedown. Santos bails on it for a wheel kick try, and this intense round comes to a close. Judges will have their hands full with their tallies here.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Round 2
The fighters hug it out to start off the second round, and Santos immediately gets going with a chain of punches to the body. Lee strikes back with a vengeance, and fists fly every which way as both men nail one another. Santos picks his man up and throws him down, and he jams his knee in the chest before Lee can stand. Lee fights out of a rear-naked choke setup and surges back to his feet, where Santos is ready and waiting for him so they can throw hands. Santos gets off a few punches to set up a takedown, where he drags the Korean fighter to his seat. Santos laces his legs around Lee’s to keep him grounded, and the action-spoiled fans start booing almost immediately. Lee uses elbows to frame off and score a little to open up a wall-walk escape. Santos opens up with punches as soon as he gets upright, and when Lee responds, Santos leaps in the air with a flying knee. Santos starts slapping Lee’s lead leg with kick after kick until Lee sets up checks, and this only allows the Brazilian to take him down again. Lee maintains butterfly hooks as soon as he hits his back on the open cage, and Santos does not mind as he postures up and hammers Lee with ground-and-pound. Lee attempts to strike back, but Santos’ blows are far more effective. Lee kicks off Santos’ chest to get some space, where he is able to stand back up despite Santos charging at him. The Brazilian pushes his foe to the wall, and he nails him with a left hand on the break to open a cut on the corner of Lee’s right eye. Lee swings back just as hard as ever, although he appears to be all power while Santos is more interested in combinations. In a phone booth, the two featherweights let another have it with power punches. Santos ducks one to set up a clinch, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Round 3
After 10 blood-and-guts minutes, the two share a longer embrace before trying to smash the other in the face. Unsurprisingly, smash the other in the face is exactly what they do. Santos leads off, Lee fires back, and Santos level changes. Lee throws his legs up on the way down to set up a triangle choke, only for Santos to shift to the side and position himself in side control as he establishes himself on top. The action slows down as Santos takes several breaths, and he slashes with an elbow or two until Lee scrambles. Lee turns to his knees and stands up, and Santos lifts him up from behind and deposits him right back to the floor. Lee once more jumps upright, shimmies to get Santos off his back, and they reset in striking range. Lee flashes out his jab, and Santos lets go with a front kick that pushes past the chin. Lee doubles up on his jab, putting a two behind it and driving Santos back. Santos kicks low, and Lee jabs again and again. Santos’ winging punches are more telegraphed than before, and his spin is equally inaccurate when Lee watches it go by. Santos shoots for a double-leg takedown as he pushes Lee to the wall, but Lee breaks off and eats a clean right hand on the jaw. Lee throws back, but Santos is the more accurate and harder puncher at the moment. Santos goes to the body with a kick, dodges a body shot and shoots from a distance on Lee’s left leg. Santos lifts his foe’s limb up and trips the other out, throwing Lee down in an interesting high-amplitude maneuver. Lee flinches when hitting the ground, appearing a bit frustrated at getting grounded. On a lull, Lee pushes off and stands up, and he motions for Santos to bring it on. Lee stalks his foe down and jabs him, and he measures an uppercut when Santos shoots for a single. When Santos abandons the takedown, he fires off a head kick that pounds into the guard. “Willycat” escapes the remainder of the confrontation, disappointing the fans in the building for not going for broke with seconds to go. The fight ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos (29-28 Santos)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Santos (29-28 Santos)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos (29-28 Santos)
The Official Result
Daniel Santos def. Jeong Yeong Lee via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Expert Picks (4)
Angelo picks Jung Young Lee because Daniel Santos is stepping up on short notice and has holes in his game, particularly takedown defense. He believes Lee can weather Santos' early storm, get takedowns, and avoid submissions off his back. Angelo notes the odds have moved from -170 to -135 for Santos, indicating the public is realizing Santos isn't a world beater. He thinks Lee's full camp and ability to grapple give him the edge.
Big Brady is skeptical Daniel Santos will even show up due to his history of pulling out. He notes Santos is moving up a weight class, has been inactive for two years, and is inaccurate on the feet. He favors Lee Jeong-yeong's size, reach, power, and takedown defense. He predicts a decision win for Lee, but acknowledges either could land a big shot.
The host notes significant line movement on Lee from +160 to -115, which he finds justifiable. He views Lee as the slicker and better striker who has learned from his last fight to be more reserved. He expects Lee to counter-strike effectively, shut down Santos's grappling, and win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Lee, trusting his initial instinct that Lee's size and power will be too much for Santos, who is moving up from bantamweight. He notes Lee's reach advantage and Santos' inactivity and history of being hurt. He predicts a TKO, as Santos may struggle with the size discrepancy.
Expert Picks (4)
Angelo describes Davey Grant as an awkward fighter who wins fights despite looking like he's losing, with good fight IQ and the ability to survive early storms. He notes Daniel Santos is a typical Chute Boxe fighter with explosive power but no striking defense and poor takedown defense. Angelo predicts Grant will survive an early onslaught, then grind Santos against the cage and win rounds two and three. He considers waiting for prop bets but is confident Grant pulls it off.
Big Brady picks the underdog Davey Grant, noting Santos's long layoff and hittability. He believes Grant has improved with age, has better accuracy, and an awkward style. He expects a close fight but sees Grant winning a decision, possibly a split.
Despite being 39, Grant has recently showcased he can still compete against young prospects. He is expected to engage in a pocket exchange and uncork a big shot to knock Santos out.
The Guru is very confident in Davey Grant, calling him a phenom who defies aging logic. He praises Grant's speed, power, long limbs, and snappy kicks, and believes he will TKO Daniel Santos. He notes Grant's win over Jonathan Martinez as a fraud check and thinks Grant's high-volume, Muay Thai style will overwhelm Santos, leading to a finish or dominant decision.
Jun 03, 2023
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 50 of 91 | 54% | 134 of 198 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 1 | 10:47 |
| Johnny Muñoz Jr. | 0 | 18 of 39 | 46% | 64 of 101 | 1 of 8 | 12% | 1 | 0 | 1:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Santos | 0 | 7 of 28 | 25% | 21 of 46 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:54 |
| Johnny Muñoz Jr. | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 25 of 38 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:21 | |
| 2 | Daniel Santos | 0 | 29 of 41 | 70% | 65 of 92 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:01 |
| Johnny Muñoz Jr. | 0 | 6 of 15 | 40% | 19 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 | |
| 3 | Daniel Santos | 0 | 14 of 22 | 63% | 48 of 60 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 3:52 |
| Johnny Muñoz Jr. | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 20 of 34 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:33 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Santos | 50 of 91 | 54% | 30 of 62 | 15 of 19 | 5 of 10 | 10 of 38 | 6 of 7 | 34 of 46 |
| Johnny Muñoz Jr. | 18 of 39 | 46% | 8 of 26 | 8 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 15 of 30 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Santos | 7 of 28 | 25% | 3 of 18 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 3 | 5 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Johnny Muñoz Jr. | 8 of 17 | 47% | 3 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Daniel Santos | 29 of 41 | 70% | 18 of 27 | 8 of 8 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 33 |
| Johnny Muñoz Jr. | 6 of 15 | 40% | 3 of 9 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Daniel Santos | 14 of 22 | 63% | 9 of 17 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 12 |
| Johnny Muñoz Jr. | 4 of 7 | 57% | 2 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-205), Munoz (+175)
Round 1
Wrapping up the prelims is a fight previously scheduled for May. Suffering an injury a month ago, Santos (11-2, 2-1 UFC) is ready to go this time around, and ready to represent his team of Chute Boxe Diego Lima. He will throw down with California’s Munoz (12-2, 2-2 UFC), who is hoping to lift his UFC record above .500. The two will battle it out under the oversight of referee Herb Dean, and the fight kicks off with a half-hearted touch of gloves. The two immediately kick at the same time, and Santos’ shin spits the upright and smashes square into Munoz’ cup. Munoz collapses to the ground in agony from the brutal but accidental kick, and he rolls around trying to recover from the blow. After a minute, Munoz manages to stand up, and he leans on the cage as Dean tells him to take his time. Munoz paces back and forth, shaking it out, and he tells Dean that he is good to go after two minutes. Dean tells Santos to watch his weapons, and the two fighters get back to it with a glove touch. Santos thinks about a low kick, and he pulls back on it. Munoz strides forward with a right hand, and he rushes the Brazilian fighter to the wall. Santos attempts to trip his foe to the mat, and then both drop a knee. Munoz stands up and pulls guard to drag “Willycat” on top of him, and he fastens a body triangle around Santos’ waist on top of him. Santos breaks it up courtesy of a few body shots, and Munoz rolls for an armbar. Santos climbs back to his feet, and he gets belted with an upkick on the way. Santos lowers himself back in, and he finds himself in immediate triangle choke danger. Munoz locks it up, but Santos is able to stack him up and break the grip just enough to get some breathing room, and he stands back up. Santos allows Munoz to follow him, and he is greeted by a step-in knee. Santos thanks him for this by spinning with a kick to the body, and Munoz drills a left hand to the dome and kicks low only to catch Santos in the cup. Santos gets ample time to recover, and Munoz gets the warning this time around. After 30 seconds, Santos is ready to roll out, and he starts by kicking. Santos then decides to jump with a strike, and he takes a front kick to the body and dodges a spinning back fist that flies past him. Munoz shoots in for a double out of nowhere, and Santos stands him up and knees him in the groin. There is no break this time, and instead they explode out of the clinch position with a knee from Munoz. Munoz gets thrown to the floor and may welcome the takedown, and Santos stands and swats away an upkick before letting Munoz back up. When both up again, Santos rips the body with a kick. Munoz dives at him for a takedown, and when that fails, he attempts a flying leglock that misses the mark and ends with him flopping on his back. Before he can stand, Santos leaps at him to take top position. Santos lets the guard close around him to slow things down. Santos postures up with seconds to go, and Munoz kicks off the chest to make Santos get up. When Munoz follows him, he blocks a jumping switch kick, and the dramatic round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Munoz
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Round 2
The fighters touch ‘em up to start the second round, and Munoz jumps with a knee and is intercepted midair with a front kick. Santos sits down on a left hook as Munoz crashes the pocket, and Munoz ends up pulling guard when he cannot secure his own takedown. Santos lets him close the guard so that he can work the body and head with punches and an elbow, and Munoz looks for a body triangle off his back. Santos breaks it up with a straight right hand, and he swats away an upkick and stands up to look for a way back in. Santos chips at the left leg with kicks as he stands with Munoz his back, and Munoz occasionally kicks back to the knee. Santos wades back into the guard, and Munoz fastens the body lock again to keep Santos pinned on top of him. This allows Santos to pound away from on top, as the submission threats have slowed while Santos is doing some work courtesy of solid ground-and-pound. Dean asks Santos to work during a lull, and Santos rains down punches and hurts Munoz to make him turn to his side. Santos opens his foe’s nose up with ground strikes, and he stands up to drive a left hand to the jaw. Santos kicks the leg a few times before letting Munoz up. Munoz punches his way into a desperate takedown attempt, and Santos stuffs him and sets up a front choke. Munoz rolls to his back before the submission can be set up, and he starts hunting for upkicks until Dean has him stand up. They let front kicks do again at the same time, and Munoz kicks a second time and gets knocked to his back with a right hand while off-balance. Santos pounds on his opponent right to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Round 3
The last round begins with a glove touch, and Santos kicks Munoz in the thigh and it bounces up to the cup. Munoz drops to a knee, and he leans against the wall as he figuratively licks his wounds. Munoz holds his midsection because of the pain he endured from the second powerful groin strike. Dean has someone bring the bucket in case Munoz is forced to vomit, but the fouled fighter signals that he is not going to do so. Munoz stands after about two minutes, and Dean has no choice but to deduct one point from Santos for the second foul of its type. Munoz is ready to go again, and Santos is enraged. Munoz starts off looking for a takedown, and Santos throws him to the ground angrily like a sack of potatoes. Munoz allows this so he can open his guard up and try to lock Santos down or look for a submission, but it only results in him staying on his back for a time. Santos lets the body triangle clamp around him so that he can start up with ground-and-pound, and Santos does exactly this for a time. Santos jumps back to his feet, and Munoz fires off upkicks and trips Santos to his back. Munoz climbs back upright and gives chase, throwing haymakers at his opponent until they are driven to the fence. Munoz, getting pushed to the wall, jumps guard with a guillotine choke. Santos keeps tightly pressed against the fencing to prevent any leverage for the sub, and he lowers Munoz to the mat and breaks out of the grip. Santos gets pulled into the closed guard when he goes horizontal, and he opens up with punches to the body and head. Santos sneaks an elbow up top, prompting Munoz to throw his legs up for an armbar. When Santos scampers away, Munoz implores him to test his wares there again. Dean stands them up before this give-and-take ensues, and Munoz answers this by sprinting at Santos and sweeping him off his feet with a successful takedown. Munoz looks to get off strikes, only to get swept and dumped to his back. With seconds to spare, Munoz explodes back to his feet, and Santos leaps at him with a flying cartwheel kick out of the capoeira playbook. Munoz dodges it, and he crashes forward with a flying knee. The fight ends, and it will all hinge on if any judges scored the first round in favor of Munoz.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 9-9 (28-28)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Santos)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 9-9 (29-27 Santos)
The Official Result
Daniel Santos def. Johnny Munoz Jr. via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Daniel Santos confidently, noting his dangerous striking and BJJ, though he has low grappling IQ. He is slightly less confident due to the fight being canceled previously for an abscess, but still believes Santos should win. He thinks Santos' pressure and power will be too much for Muñoz, who doesn't like being crowded. Angelo has bets on Santos but not in the safety parlay.
Cody also picks Santos, calling him a big fan. He notes Santos's forward pressure and aggressive style, and that Muñoz has cardio issues and low volume. Cody expects Santos to win by knockout or decision as Muñoz fades. He thinks the -220 line is a bit stiff but still picks Santos.
Connor picks Muñoz for consistency, having picked him previously. He acknowledges that Santos' pressure is a major threat, but believes Muñoz's jab will be effective early, similar to how Shabazian used his jab against Santos. Connor admits Muñoz is not creative, but thinks he can land enough jabs to win rounds, though he recognizes Santos' wildness makes this a risky pick.
Daniel picks Daniel Santos, noting that he is the more aggressive and technical fighter, though he takes risks. He believes Santos can overwhelm Muñoz with pressure and chaos, and that Muñoz doesn't like being backed up. He mentions Santos' grappling is underrated, having tapped out a high-level grappler in training.
Jacob picks Santos, citing his high-pressure Muay Thai style and ability to get dropped and bounce back. He thinks Muñoz doesn't like being crowded and lacks the takedowns to keep Santos down. Jacob notes Muñoz's only path to victory is an early takedown and grind, but Santos' scrambling and offensive wrestling should prevent that. He is confident Santos wins.
Santos is an aggressive forward-pressure fighter with power and BJJ. He will crash the pocket and land big shots. Muñoz is live for a submission if he can get it to the ground, but Santos' power and pace will be too much. Santos will knock him out in the second round.
Paul picks Daniel Santos confidently. He loves Santos's forward pressure and aggression, especially in the small Apex cage. He notes Santos is hittable but has a heart of a lion and will break opponents down over time. Paul contrasts Muñoz's questionable cardio and low volume, expecting Santos to take over in later rounds. He acknowledges Santos's loss to Julio Arce but sees that as a tough debut matchup.
The MMA Guru picks Daniel Santos, citing a lack of talent in Johnny Muñoz Jr.'s game. He notes Santos has skill in how he throws shots, pressures fighters, and cuts off the octagon, despite having striking defense issues. He criticizes Muñoz for being well-rounded but unremarkable, and points to his loss to Tony Gravely. The Guru predicts Santos will win by TKO against the cage, but if it goes to decision, it will be close.
Zane picks Santos, sticking with his previous analysis that Santos' relentless pressure and volume will overwhelm Muñoz's one-dimensional jab. He notes that Muñoz's game is built almost entirely around his jab, and Santos' wild, high-output style will break Muñoz's footwork and force him into exchanges where he is vulnerable. Zane believes Santos' aggression and durability will be too much for Muñoz to handle over three rounds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Santos | 1 | 57 of 106 | 53% | 67 of 118 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:04 |
| John Castañeda | 1 | 69 of 134 | 51% | 71 of 137 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:52 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Santos | 1 | 40 of 69 | 57% | 50 of 80 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:40 |
| John Castañeda | 0 | 19 of 46 | 41% | 19 of 46 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 | |
| 2 | Daniel Santos | 0 | 17 of 37 | 45% | 17 of 38 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| John Castañeda | 1 | 50 of 88 | 56% | 52 of 91 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Santos | 57 of 106 | 53% | 45 of 89 | 8 of 13 | 4 of 4 | 41 of 87 | 8 of 10 | 8 of 9 |
| John Castañeda | 69 of 134 | 51% | 52 of 111 | 14 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 53 of 114 | 14 of 18 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Santos | 40 of 69 | 57% | 34 of 61 | 3 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 27 of 53 | 5 of 7 | 8 of 9 |
| John Castañeda | 19 of 46 | 41% | 15 of 39 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 38 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Daniel Santos | 17 of 37 | 45% | 11 of 28 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 34 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| John Castañeda | 50 of 88 | 56% | 37 of 72 | 12 of 14 | 1 of 2 | 41 of 76 | 8 of 11 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Moving things right along, another fight is on the docket at 140 pounds, but in the men’s divisions. Castaneda (19-5, 2-1 UFC) will look to make it three finishes in his last three outings, while Chute Boxe Diego Lima rep Santos (8-2, 0-1 UFC) has not yet been stopped as a pro. Whether something has to give in that regard, referee Keith Peterson will be the first to know and the last to let nonsense in. The two competitors touch ‘em up, and Santos walks straight into a low kick. Castaneda gets off a few punches on the inside, and a low kick as he circles out. Santos strings several punches together, and he lands a few before shooting in for a double. Castaneda falls to his back and sets up a guillotine choke, and he uses the submission to work his way back to his feet. Castaneda presses his man up against the cage, and he narrowly avoids a blistering elbow upside the head. Santos keeps his foot on the gas when they separate, and he fires off a few quick kicks only to get cracked with an overhand right. Castaneda release a head kick from up close, and Santos’ legs nearly give out beneath him. Castaneda crashes forward and shoves Santos to the mat in an effort to finish the job, and the Brazilian threatens with an armbar off his back to keep Castaneda honest. “Sexi Mexi” stands up and gets nailed with an upkick, and he lets Santos back up while he recovers. When Santos stands, his balance is still not with him, as Castaneda drills him with a left hand and sets Santos on his seat. Castaneda again moves to top position, and he shifts right to mount and starts dropping down strikes. Santos somehow recovers enough to get out of the bad posture and get back to his feet, but Castaneda is on him tightly. Castaneda ragdolls him down to the mat, and when “Willycat” scrambles back up, Castaneda hits a dramatic mat return to put Santos down with an exclamation point. Castaneda backs away and stands up, this time avoiding the upkick, and Santos follows him and looses a spinning back kick. Castaneda walks through a few punches and boots Santos upside the head, and Santos is practically out on his feet. Castaneda charges forward, unloading with punches, and Santos is throwing back even though he might be in big trouble. Santos, possibly on autopilot, slings heavy leather to keep Castaneda from putting him away, and he connects with a heavy knee to give Castaneda pause. Santos gets the upper hand as Castaneda is now struggling, and he lets go with his hands and makes Castaneda shell up. Santos gains steam and leaps at him with a flying knee, and it connects right before the horn sounds. What a round!
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Castaneda
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Castaneda
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Castaneda
Round 2
Before the round begins, Santos has a piece of tape clipped, allowing them a few precious additional seconds to recover. Santos is the one who leads the dance in the second round, possibly with momentum turning to his side, and he loads up on a body kick. The foot skims off the cup, and Castaneda reacts as Peterson pauses the action. In less than a minute, Castaneda is able to get his wind back and he is ready to go. Santos starts off by releasing a body kick that is not low this time, and Castaneda reels and backs off. Santos swings a high kick at him, and Castaneda grabs him from behind and drags him to the mat. “Willycat” scrambles wildly and powers back up, and he latches on to a guillotine choke that allows him to lower Castaneda to the floor. Castaneda shakes it off and gets back up, and Santos is not letting him breathe. Santos rings his bell with a few right hands, and Castaneda appears the worse for wear after seven minutes of furious action. Castaneda reaches up a high kick that is too slow to get through, and Santos scores leg kicks and a body kick. When Castaneda responds with his own kick to the body, Santos times a takedown entry and drags “Sexi Mexi” to a knee. Castaneda climbs back up, and Santos jumps at him with a knee that belts him in the face. Castaneda is stunned, and he starts pushing the pace again as he walks Santos down and lands with several strikes. Santos spins with a back fist that hurts Castaneda, and Castaneda does a quick count of his teeth as Santos bears down on him. Castaneda tries to back him off with a few punches, and Santos suddenly goes up high with a head kick that Castaneda eats. Santos has a kick checked high, but his pressure is getting the better of Castaneda, as he knocks Castaneda back to the wall with a right hand. Castaneda has his hands low, and Santos is teeing off on him and working him over.
Santos rips a few punches to the body, and Castaneda’s eyes betray his otherwise calm poker face. Santos chains together a few punches that allow him to knee Castaneda in the chin, and Castaneda’s legs go out from beneath him. Before Santos can land a second that he has chambered, Castaneda falls to the ground, and Peterson knows that Castaneda’s tank is empty and he calls it a night.
What a huge comeback from the Chute Boxe fighter, who earns his first UFC win impressively after overcoming a great deal of adversity.
The Official Result
Daniel Gustavo Santos def. John Castaneda R2 4:28 via KO (Punches and Knee)
Expert Picks (3)
Cody leans towards Daniel Santos as a plus money underdog, expecting a low-volume fight where Santos's power and killer intent could be the difference. He acknowledges Castañeda's durability and pressure but thinks Santos has a puncher's chance. He is not fully confident and may not bet it.
Paul leans towards John Castañeda, citing his durability, forward pressure, and ability to break opponents. He notes that Santos has a history of first-round finishes but fades if he doesn't get the early finish. He expects Castañeda to mix in wrestling and outwork Santos in the later rounds. He considers live betting Castañeda if Santos wins the first round.
The MMA Guru is high on John Castañeda, calling him one of his favorite favorites on the card. He believes Castañeda's smothering wrestling and fundamental striking will overwhelm Daniel Santos, who he views as a wild Muay Thai striker not ready for UFC level. He predicts Castañeda will get a submission, possibly an arm triangle, after wearing Santos down on the ground. He includes Castañeda in his parlay.
Apr 09, 2022
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julio Arce | 0 | 127 of 265 | 47% | 127 of 265 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 49 of 229 | 21% | 49 of 229 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julio Arce | 0 | 39 of 78 | 50% | 39 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 17 of 70 | 24% | 17 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:35 | |
| 2 | Julio Arce | 0 | 41 of 78 | 52% | 41 of 78 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 18 of 79 | 22% | 18 of 79 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 | |
| 3 | Julio Arce | 0 | 47 of 109 | 43% | 47 of 109 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Daniel Santos | 0 | 14 of 80 | 17% | 14 of 80 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julio Arce | 127 of 265 | 47% | 100 of 228 | 25 of 35 | 2 of 2 | 125 of 262 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Daniel Santos | 49 of 229 | 21% | 27 of 197 | 15 of 24 | 7 of 8 | 46 of 225 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julio Arce | 39 of 78 | 50% | 34 of 71 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 37 of 75 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Daniel Santos | 17 of 70 | 24% | 10 of 61 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 16 of 68 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Julio Arce | 41 of 78 | 52% | 28 of 61 | 11 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 41 of 78 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Daniel Santos | 18 of 79 | 22% | 9 of 65 | 6 of 10 | 3 of 4 | 17 of 78 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Julio Arce | 47 of 109 | 43% | 38 of 96 | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 47 of 109 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Daniel Santos | 14 of 80 | 17% | 8 of 71 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 79 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
After a much-needed week away for the UFC, the promotion is coming back guns blazing as it takes to Jacksonville, Fla., for a tentpole pay-per-view. Two title fights and a very highly anticipated welterweight showdown will top off the dozen-bout card, and we begin with a fight scheduled at bantamweight that hit a slight snag. Arce (17-5, 4-3 UFC), who missed weight by half a pound, will welcome “Willycat” Santos (8-1, 0-0 UFC) to the promotion. The Brazilian was originally slated to make his debut in 2021, but a pair of fight cancelations pushed it back to this April event. Referee James Larry Folsom will oversee the first match of the evening, and there is an apologetic glove touch offered by Arce and accepted. The first strike attempt comes from Santos, who comes up short with a high kick as Arce bats it away and flicks out a jab. Santos bears down on him with a standard Chute Boxe-style plodding approach, and Arce dips out of the way when Santos swings wide. A spinning strike gets pulled back from Santos when he finds it would not reach his intended target, and Arce stays on the outside with long single strikes. Arce interrupts Santos coming in, but the Brazilian wings a few hooks at him that partially connect. Arce’s jab continues to find its home as Santos’ strikes have more arc on them, and the New Yorker is able to slide out of the way before they reach him. When Santos punches his way into a clinch, he punishes Arce with a clean elbow. He pushes off, and then storms forward with an up-elbow in the vein of Anderson Silva. Arce wears it well and walks into a right hand, but he does not seem overly concerned as he uses his footwork to stay safe. Santos swings and misses with a spinning hook kick, and Arce’s strikes are still very fundamental and effective, with a jab and a two that comes after every so often. Another spinning kick from Santos misses the mark, and Arce tags him with a few more crisp punches. Santos is still throwing everything he has into his strikes, and Arce sees them coming and evades the brunt of most of them. Arce times his jab and a cross to follow as Santos cannot seem to figure it out, as the Brazilian still meanders forward recklessly while throwing haymakers. One jab is followed by a head kick, and Santos absorbs it without missing a beat. Santos lets go with a heavy leg kick, and Arce replies with a head kick that rings his bell. Knowing Santos is hurt but still dangerous, Arce picks and pokes away at his opponent until the round ends, rather than burning his gas tank searching for a finish with seconds to go.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Arce
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Arce
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Arce
Round 2
The fighters come out of their corners to touch gloves in the middle, and Arce resumes his accurate jabbing approach. Santos, on the other hand, is far more aggressively, jumping in the air with a knee and throwing bombs. Arce takes one on the chin that gives him pause, and he is able to dance out of the way when more come from Santos. Seeing Santos charging at him to wind up with a huge right hand, Arce changes levels at the right moment to trip Santos’ leg out beneath him. Arce does not follow him to the ground, and instead just appeared to want to give Santos something else to think about. Santos gets back to his feet and continues his constant forward motion while Arce slips and rips his strikes. Santos lands at the end of a right hand, and Arce escapes out the back door and dodges a spinning wheel kick. Arce is far more mobile of the two, circling on the outside and pawing away strikes that come at him. The Brazilian lands a kick to the body, and Arce returns fire with two to the midsection, with the second colliding with the hip as Arce withdraws his foot gingerly. Arce pushes out a jab as Santos walks him down, and he dings Santos with a head kick. Santos bites down on his gumshield and throws heavy leather, clipping Arce but not slowing him down. Instead, Arce smartly circles away and targets the body with his fists. Santos is the bus that couldn’t slow down, continuously ignoring the offense coming his way and taking practically every jab flush. Santos begins to telegraph his wide strikes, and Arce is able to manage this by planting a clean one-two on the jaw. “Willycat” pays it no mind, steps back and launches a high kick that comes up short. Santos kicks low, and that strike does land, but a head kick shortly thereafter is off-target. Arce scores a right hand, throws a push kick to the chest, and has his leg caught. Before Santos can do anything with it, the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Arce
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Arce
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Arce
Round 3
There is a final clap of hands to start off Round 3, and Arce gets on his bike early when Santos rushes at him with little defense. Santos gets popped on the chops from a couple sharp Arce punches, and he tries to let loose with a spinning kick that ends up colliding with the wall instead of his opponent. Arce blocks a body kick, and he paws out a handful of jabs as Santos looks for a superman punch. The heavier man is much sharper and practically landing at will, while Santos is all offense without landing much of note. Arce lands a jab and follows it with a left to the ribcage, and Santos grimaces and continues plodding ahead. Santos gives a half-hearted spinning high kick, and then changes things up with an Andy Hug-esque spinning kick to the thigh. Arce walks it off and peppers his foe with jabs and low kicks, doing well enough to keep Santos at bay or disturb him long enough to not get tagged by one of his power shots. Arce sticks him with a jab, slides out of the way from a swinging hook, and comes out with another jab. A double jab into a left hand stings Santos for a moment, but the Brazilian is not going to stop pressing forward. Even though he misses with a spinning back fist and a jumping switch kick, he does not lose heart, ever pushing forward and attacking. Arce can see most of these big shots coming and be out of harm’s way well in time, only to reset and put a jab in Santos’ face. A spinning back fist from Santos does not connect, but a kick to the midsection does push off of Arce’s liver. Arce replies with a head kick, not showing any concern with anything coming back at him. The jabs have begun to mark up Santos’ face, with swelling around the left eye. Throwing caution to the wind, Santos jumps forward with a rolling thunder kick, and Arce rocks him when Santos is on his knees after missing with the kick. Santos gets up, and he initiates a brawl that Arce obliges. They throw down right to the final bell, and this one is going to the scorecards but there shouldn’t be much doubt on who will get their hand raised.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Arce (30-27 Arce)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Arce (30-27 Arce)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Arce (30-27 Arce)
The Official Result
Julio Arce def. Daniel Gustavo Santos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Julio Arce but notes he likes Daniel Santos as a live underdog. He thinks Arce's wrestling can be key to slowing Santos' striking. He also likes a prop bet on Santos winning inside the distance with a safety net (refund if decision).
Cody leans towards Santos as an underdog, citing the unknown factor and Santos' two-and-a-half-year layoff for improvement. He notes Santos' spinning techniques and aggression, and that Arce has been knocked out before. Cody thinks Santos could be a live dog and plans to play him in DFS due to low ownership.
Daniel Levi acknowledges Julio Arce's experience and fundamental soundness but sees Arce as having peaked, while Santos is a young, improving fighter with aggression and wrestling defense. He is concerned about Santos's three-year layoff and first time under bright lights, but believes Santos at 27 is a better version than at 24. At plus money, he is willing to roll the dice on the upset.
I love the underdog price on Santos. He is wild, aggressive, and crashes the pocket, which is where Arce struggles. Arce has trouble when opponents engage with him in the pocket. Santos can land big shots and possibly get a knockout. I'm taking Santos to win, probably by KO.
Paul picks Arce but has a bad feeling about it. He notes Arce's skill set as a former golden glove boxer and BJJ black belt, but worries about his chin after being knocked out by Song. Paul thinks Santos is dangerous with spinning attacks but is hittable and lacks defense. He expects Arce to win on skill but acknowledges Santos could clip him.
The MMA Guru picks Julio Arce, citing his experience and veteran savvy. He expects Santos to start fast but fade, with Arce winning the second and third rounds. He predicts a 29-28 decision, noting that Arce is a high-level unranked bantamweight with good wins.
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