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.
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 | April, 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.
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.
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.
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.
