Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Thiago Santos got back into the win column earlier tonight (Sat., Oct. 2, 2021) at UFC Vegas 38 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he outlasted a calmed Johnny Walker to the tune of a unanimous decision.
Walker led the dance early with whipping leg kicks from the outside as he controlled the range. Santos seemed hesitant to enter inside and it prevented him from landing much of anything. “Marreta” did regain momentum in the second frame when he opened up with some hard kicks to the body. Walker kept his composure and didn’t rush in like he typically does.
In Round 3, Walker caught Santos with a nice counter hook that put the former title challenger on notice. Santos got it back with some volume kicks in the final minutes. It was much of the same in the fourth round as the two fighters exchanged kicks for five minutes. Walker did mix in some power shots during an exchange inside, but nothing that seemed to really hurt Santos.
The fifth and final frame saw Santos land a massive left hand that caught Walker flush and backed him up. Santos followed up with a nasty kick to the body. Walker tried to retaliate, but Santos was able to move around the cage out of harm’s way. Neither fighter landed anything else of true significance in the final moments of action.
Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:
Expect the unexpected with @JohnnyWalker
[ #UFCVegas38 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/0lKVEuBLTm— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2021
makes his walk
[ @TMarretaMMA | #UFCVegas38 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/olSHaE0yEp— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2021
Round de estudio entre @TMarretaMMA y @JohnnyWalker #UFCVegas38 pic.twitter.com/Uwf9pKAirf
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) October 3, 2021
Throwing in the second
[ #UFCVegas38 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/lP3buwB94g
— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2021
@JohnnyWalker is having a blast in there.
[ #UFCVegas38 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/scJl12K0Zl
— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2021
El poder que tienen los misiles de @TMarretaMMA ?? #UFCVegas38 pic.twitter.com/B5lHWWJWMw
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) October 3, 2021
Agresividad en este round para @JohnnyWalker #UFCVegas38 pic.twitter.com/7oKns2VSTZ
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) October 3, 2021
Santos lands clean, but Walker
[ #UFCVegas38 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/ycK0sBggRc
— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2021
For complete UFC Vegas 38 results and highlights click here.