Thiago Santos Bio: Wife, Next Fight, Jon Jones & Net Worth

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Brazil is at the top when it comes to producing world-class MMA fighters. Over the years, talents such as Anderson Silva, Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, Jose Aldo, the Nogueira brothers, etc., have all been dominant champions at various organizations. Thiago Santos is another one that has been making waves recently.

Thiago Santos
Thiago Santos

Moreover, Santos came into the limelight for being the first fighter to win a judge’s scorecard against the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, Jon Jones.

However, there is much more to Thiago’s career than just that one particular fight.

Let’s get to know more about this 40-year-old fighter from Rio de Janeiro, known for his knockout power. More on Santos right this minute.

Quick Facts

Full Name Thiago Santos de Lima
Birth Date January 7, 1984
Birth Place Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nick Name Marreta (The Sledgehammer)
Religion Not available
Nationality Brazilian
Ethnicity Not available
Education Not available
Horoscope Capricorn
Father’s Name Not available
Mother’s Name Not available
Siblings Not available
Age 40 Years Old
Height 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg)
Shoes Not available
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Black
Body Measurement Not available
Build Muscular
Married Yes (Divorced)
Current Girlfriend Yana Kunitskaya
Children Yes (1)
Profession Mixed Martial Artist
Division  Light-heavyweight (Current); Middleweight (Former)
Record 21-7-0
Career Earnings $1.2 million
Net Worth $5 million
Social Media  Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Last Update December, 2024

Thiago Santos: Family & Early Life

Thiago Santos de Lima was born on January 7, 1984, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But, sadly, there is no intel on his parents. Similarly, the whereabouts of his siblings also remain in the dark.

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To say the least, Thiago had a challenging childhood. During his childhood years, Santos suffered from an untreated disease that spawned growing cysts in his stomach. They were removed surgically later on.

Besides that, the Rio de Janeiro native’s family lost all their belonging in one of the occasional floods. As a result, they had to relocate to one of Brazil’s most dangerous neighborhoods, Cidade de Deus.

Thiago Santos: Career

Thiago started his professional career with a bang as he amassed eight wins and one loss. Consequently, UFC picked up the raw talent and announced that Santos would be a part of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.

Subsequently, the 6 feet 2 light heavyweights defeated Pedro Irie in the elimination round before losing to the eventual winner, Leonardo Santos.

However, Thiago showed enough talent in those bouts to earn himself a UFC contract.

Thereafter, on August 3, 2013, Santos made his UFC debut against Cezar Ferreira. Sadly, he lost the fight in the first round via submission.

After that, Thiago fought 14 times in the middleweight division before moving to the Light-heavyweight division in 2018.

Thiago Santos, UFC
Santos has fought 18 times in the UFC.

During those 14 bouts, the 40-year-old defeated talents like Elias Theodorou, Nate Marquardt, and Kevin Holland.

On the other hand, he lost to the top 10 fighters, Uriah Hall and Gegard Mousasi.

After his move to the 205 division, Thiago went on a three-fight win streak defeating Eryk Anders, Jimi Manuwa, and Jan Blachowicz.

Consequently, UFC rewarded him with a title shot against UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

Thiago Santos vs Jon Jones

Santos headlined the UFC 239 PPV alongside his competitor and champion Jon Jones. The fight went back and forth throughout the duration of the five rounds. But, Jones’ champions mentality won out in the end.

Thiago Santos, Jones Jones
Santos lands a left-hook on Jones.

Nevertheless, Thiago became the first fighter in MMA’s history to win a judge’s scorecard against Jon.

However, the impressive showing came at a huge cost as Santos tore his left LCL, PCL, MCL, and meniscus. Since then, Thiago has not fought competitively.

Did Thiago Santos fight again? Thiago Santos next fight

The simple answer is yes. After a short break and recovery, the fighter was back in the ring.

He was scheduled to fight against Glover Teixeira on September 4, 2020. But the fight was canceled after Glover tested positive for Covid-19.

Later on, the fight was rescheduled but was canceled after Santos tested positive for Covid-19. Finally, the fight took place on November 7, 2020, where Santos lost the fight via submission in round three.

After that, the MMA Fighter fought against  Aleksandar Rakić on March 6, 2021, and lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Thiago Santos: Age, Height & Nationality

Having been born in the year, 1984 makes Thiago’s age 40 at the moment.

Further, he falls under the sign of Capricorn. Likewise, Capricorns usually tend to be ambitious, persistent, and realistic.

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Moving on, Santos stands at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and weighs 205 lb (93 kg).

Moreover, he fights in the UFC’s Light-heavyweight division, where the weight limit is 205 lb. Besides, he trains at the American Top Team gym.

When it comes to his nationality, Thiago is a Brazilian. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, one of Brazil’s most popular tourist destinations.

How did he injure his knee?

In his title fight against Jon Jones, Thiago injured his knee in the five-rounder’s early rounds. Nevertheless, Santos fought through the injury but wound up losing via a split decision.

Thiago Santos: Net Worth & Fight Purse

As of 2024, Thiago’s net worth stands at an estimated $5 million. Likewise, he has been involved in the sport for over a decade.

And, during that time, Santos has earned $1.2 million in the fight purse. Unsurprisingly, Conor McGregor is at the top of the UFC career earnings list with $15 million.

Talking about his fight purse, Thiago took home $350,000 in his title bout against then UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones.

On the other hand, Jones received $500,000. It is in stark contrast to when Santos earned $8,000 for his first fight in the UFC.

Net Worth of Thiago Santos in Different Currencies

Let’s have a look into the net worth of Thiago Santo’s net worth in different currencies, including the cryptocurrency and Indian Rupee:

Currency Net Worth
Euro 849,150 
Pound Sterling £722,695 
Australian Dollar A$1,359,453 
Canadian Dollar C$1,267,560 
Indian Rupee 73,723,050 
BitCoin ฿22 

Thiago Santos: Wife & Kids

Currently, Thiago is involved in a serious relationship with UFC’s Bantamweight fighter, Yana Kunitskaya.

Although we don’t know the beginning of their love story, we know that they met while on a training camp.

thiago santos wife
Santos with his Girlfriend

Since then, the two lovebirds have remained loyal to each other with no signs of controversy. As a matter of fact, rumors have been flying around that the duo might tie the knot very soon.

Moving onto his kids, Santos has a son named Hiago from his previous relationship. However, it is not from his relationship with Kunitskaya.

Instead, it was from his failed marriage with a mystery woman. Similarly, Yana has a son from her previous affair.

Social Media Presence

Instagram: 535k followers

Twitter: 73.1k followers

Facebook: 194k followers

Some FAQs

Does Thiago Santos Have Tattoo on his Body?

Yes, the MMA fighter has tattoos on different parts of his body. His chest tattoo represents a sledgehammer. He also has various design back tattoos on his body.

Who is Santos Dating?

He is dating Yana Kunitskaya who is also a MMA from Russsia.

When did Thiago Santos Fought with Glover Teixeira?

They fought in a match on November 8, 2020, where Glover won the fight.

Who won the Fight Between Thiago Santos vs Israel Adesanya Fight?

Israel won the fight which he played against Thiago.

When is Thiago Santos Scheduled Fight Against Johnny Walker?

Santos is scheduled to fight against Johnny on October 2, 2021.

Did Santos Suffer from Leg Injury?

The MMA fighter did not suffer from the leg injury. However, he suffered from a knee injury.

Aaditya Bhatta
Aaditya Bhatta

Aaditya Bhatta

Aaditya Bhatta is a dynamic writer and sports enthusiast, whose passion for both realms is reflected in his work. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, Aaditya brings a unique perspective to his writing, captivating readers with his engaging content.

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  • From in-depth match reports to thought-provoking opinion pieces, Aaditya's versatility shines through in his ability to tackle diverse topics

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Aaditya's journey as a writer and sports aficionado began at a young age when he discovered his passion for both pursuits. Throughout his academic and professional endeavors, Aaditya has honed his skills in content creation and sports analysis, immersing himself in the intricacies of the games he loves.

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