Brazilian knockout artist Thiago Santos is set to face Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 239 at the start of July, and while we wouldn’t say things are anywhere near Jones vs. Cormier level, the intensity is starting to ramp up. Earlier this week Jones responded to repeated heckling from Santos about his drug failures by posting a video of Santos getting dropped by Jack Marshman back in 2017.
Textbook @TMarretaMMA#UFCHalifax pic.twitter.com/WgfQ5JRjyP
— UFC (@ufc) February 20, 2017
”Marreta” would go on to win that fight via spectacular spinning heel kick, but Jones’ point was clear: Thiago Santos is by no means invincible, and “Bones” plans to drop the Brazilian before Santos drops him.
Now Santos is responding, sharing his confidence with the world over social media.
Jones has not fought anyone like me. I have nothing to hide, no secret strategy. I will bring the pressure. He knows it. But can he feel it? Can he deal with it? Reality will knock on his door! I am reality!!!
I have nothing to lose!! @UFCBrasil @ufc @canalCombate @Alexdavismma— Thiago Marreta (@TMarretaMMA) May 31, 2019
”Jones has not fought anyone like me,” Santos wrote. “I have nothing to hide, no secret strategy. I will bring the pressure. He knows it. But can he feel it? Can he deal with it? Reality will knock on his door! I am reality!!! I have nothing to lose!!”
While Santos is definitely has the most devastating power Jones has faced in some time, there’s been a whole lot of other fighters coming in claiming that ‘nothing to lose’ meant they’d press forward endlessly against Jones. And then the light heavyweight kingpin hits them with a couple oblique kicks and maybe an eye poke and suddenly that forward movement stops.
Still, Thiago Santos certainly seems to have a more compelling toolbox to pull from than Jones’ last opponent. If Jon is just looking at the dangerous Brazilian as another day at the office as he works towards a three fight year, he may be reminded that anything can happen in MMA.