LAS VEGAS – Mairon Santos wanted to pinch himself to verify he wasn’t dreaming.
Santos (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) cracked Kaan Ofli with a counter left hand within the second spherical of their featherweight Season 32 finale of “The Final Fighter,” came about on the principle card of UFC on ESPN 62 on the UFC Apex.
The punch related, and Ofli (11-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) crashed face-forward into the canvas. However Santos didn’t cease punching.
“I used to be like, this could’t be actual,” Santos stated at a post-fight information convention. “The best way that it was, like him going face-first, I used to be like, this could’t be actual. That’s why I stored punching him as a result of I didn’t imagine it. Proper now, I’m nonetheless considering that’s a dream, however on the identical time, I’m making an attempt to assume, OK, that is it. You’re The Final Fighter and someday you could be a champion. … It’s a dream come true.”
There was no dream. Santos is now a UFC fighter and have become one with a highlight-reel end in an unfamiliar style. Positive, Santos has completed opponents with strikes on the regional scene, however this one was totally different.
“I’m not used to knocking folks out like that,” Santos stated. “I didn’t know that I had this energy. That’s why I stored punching him, as a result of it was unreal to me.”
Now that he’s completed step one in his objective of turning into a UFC champion, Santos can’t wait to get pleasure from some good meals earlier than making ready for his subsequent struggle, which he hopes happens earlier than the top of the 12 months since he and his spouse have a child on the best way.
Other than getting in his subsequent struggle quickly, he doesn’t need to rush his development within the UFC.
“When I’ve to be within the high 15, it’s going to occur naturally,” Santos stated. “I don’t need to power it. I do know I’ve a protracted option to go. So, I simply need to struggle earlier than the top of the 12 months after which struggle once more, struggle once more. Prime 15, high 5, however with out dashing something.”
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