“He’s done what he’s done with all these tough guys. But at the end of the day, he’s a man who has two legs and two arms.”
Many of Jon Jones’ opponents are mentally defeated before they ever step into the Octagon, but for Brazilian slugger Thiago Santos, who meets ‘Bones’ in the UFC 239 main event, Jones is just another man on the hit list.
Speaking to reporters ahead of tomorrow night’s fight, which is undoubtedly the biggest fight of Santos’ career, the 35-year-old says he is mentally prepared for Jones and has promised to rise to the occasion unlike so many of the champ’s previous opponents.
“We can’t take the merit (away from) Jon Jones,” Thiago Santos told MMA Junkie ahead of UFC 239. “He’s a great fighter. He’s done what he’s done with all these tough guys. But at the end of the day, he’s a man who has two legs and two arms. I don’t care how big of a fighter or how big of a name he has. I’m going to go out there and beat him.
“I’m aware of the challenge, but I look at him as just another man who feels and bleeds just like everybody else. It’s never easy. I know the challenge that’s in front of me. I’m sure he’s very well prepared as I am, and I’m going to go out there and show that.”
Jones has claimed Santos is incredibly nervous ahead of UFC 239 but ‘Marreta’ says it’s the fans who are the most anxious.
“I’m ready,” he said. “It is what it is. I think the fans are more nervous than I am.”
Santos, who has won his last three fights via KO, will challenge Jones for the light heavyweight title. UFC 239 takes place tomorrow night, July 6 at T-Mobile Arena in as Las Vegas.