UFC Vegas 44: Leonardo Santos Happy To Fight Big Name In Guida

Las Vegas, NV – The UFC’s lightweight division is stacked with young and up-and-coming talent as one of the best divisions in MMA. The old guard isn’t ready to just go out quietly however.

Despite coming off a loss, Leonardo Santos has had a tough time securing an opponent for his next bout. Until Guida got the call.

“I’m always looking for this. Look for one guy for big names, for ranked guys. I challenged so many guys. Sometimes I ask my coach to send 3 or 5 names and nobody answered. And now, after a loss, they give me Clay Guida. A big name, of course I’m happy,” Santos said at UFC Vegas 44 media day on Wednesday.

“That’s a fight I dreamed…..I dreamed for a long time. Not Clay Guida, but a big name of UFC, a legend of UFC. Of course we’ll give a big show for UFC.”

Guida is known to have a high-level wrestling as Santos is known for his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Whether ‘The Carpenter’ will engage in grappling with Santos is something the Brazilian said is hard to predict.

“Clay Guida is hard to understand what he’s going to do. I don’t know. That’s something you need to ask him. But i’ll be waiting for anything. Whatever he wants, I have.”

At 41-years-old Santos is getting to the age where many fighters begin to decline and start to think about hanging it up. Not Santos.

“Retirement? No. A fight in the UFC and then retiere? No, no. All the time I talk to my coach. Sometimes I ask him ‘What do you think, it’s time?’ He says ‘No. You’re ready’. It always motivates me and I feel happy. I think it’s more important when you train and do the process with happiness. You’re happy to train hard.”

Lightweight Leonardo Santos (18-5-1) takes on Clay Guida (36-18) on the main card of UFC Vegas 44 on December 4th from the UFC APEX.

Watch the full UFC Vegas 44 media day appearance from Leonardo Santos above. The event takes place this Saturday, December 4, 2021 at the Apex in Las Vegas. More coverage from Wednesday’s media day can be found below.