“I think everybody loses one day. Everybody gets knocked out one day and July 6 will be his day.”
Thiago Santos is planning to shock the world on July 6, as the heavy-hitting Brazilian slugger believes he has what it takes to hand Jon Jones his first ever knockout loss inside the Octagon at UFC 239.
Speaking to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto in a recent interview (h/t BJPenn.com), a confident Thiago Santos said he plans to headhunt ‘Bones’ from the opening bell ‘till the last.
“I think everybody loses one day. Everybody gets knocked out one day and July 6 will be his day. Yes of course, this [is] my style. No problem, no problem. I’m prepared for five rounds no problem. Always, doesn’t matter. But I will try [to knock him out] first or second, third, doesn’t matter [which] round. I will try to do it.”
Asked how a knockout victory over Jones would affect his life, a determined Santos said he hasn’t thought that far ahead and is solely focused on what he has to do on July 6.
“I don’t think this now. My focus [is] just the fight. My focus, July 6 to do my best and win this fight and put the belt on my shoulder. I think [that’s] just it.”
Santos, who has earned three knockout victories in his last four fights, will challenge Jones for the light heavyweight title in the UFC 239 co-main event. The pay-per-view, which also features a co-headlining women’s bantamweight championship tilt between Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm, takes place on July 6 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.