Daniel Santos, a prominent figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight category, disappointingly won’t be participating in the upcoming event scheduled for Nov. 4 in Sao Paulo, marking the organization’s return to the city after four long dormant years. The Las Vegas-based fight promotion confirmed the surprising withdrawal of Santos, who boasted an impressive 12-2 record, from the anticipated UFC Sao Paulo bout. The details surrounding the reasons for Santos dropping out still remain undisclosed to the public.
Originally, Santos was set to face off against undefeated Peruvian prospect, Daniel Marcos, who carries a flawless 15-0 record. The news of Santos’ withdrawal from the fight came out from a report by well-known MMA journalist, Nolan King, who revealed that “Willycat” won’t be partaking in the competition. It is worth noting that the 28-year-old fighter, prior to this unexpected drop-out, was in the midst of a two-fight winning spree, bouncing back from a loss to Julio Arce during his Octagon debut the previous year.
As for Marcos, his rise to prominence caught attention when he emerged as a victor from Dana White’s Contender Series the previous year, courtesy of a winning decision against Brandon Lewis. Post his series win, “Soncora” has been maintaining a winning streak – first with a stoppage win against Saimon Oliveira in January and then by barely managing a split decision against Davey Grant in July. Now, as Santos pulls out from the match, the promotion is actively seeking a worthy replacement for the November 4 bout.