Las Vegas — In a 153lb catchweight, Daniel Santos scored a TKO victory over Joo Sang Yoo at UFC 320 on Saturday.
The end came just past twenty seconds into the second round, and Santos touched on “mistakes” that he made, and his opponent’s lack of respect, following the win.
“We knew that that was an opportunity to win like that, and that’s what happened. He didn’t acknowledge me, didn’t respect me, and that’s what happened,” Santos (13-2) said, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
One big mistake, mainly botching weight, was on Santos’s part. The preliminary card fight was originally booked at featherweight, then shifted north during Fight Week. It seems that came after “Willycat” was ordered to stop his weight cut by a doctor, after making what he called an “amateur” mistake.
“I had a lot of retention coming up, and the trip as well. Just retaining water. I felt bloated throughout the trip. And then coming here I made a mistake, just an amateur mistake,” revealed Santos. “I know that during a weight cut, you’re not supposed to get up quick, you need to do it very slowly, and I didn’t. From that point on, I don’t remember anything. I had to be told what happened.”
His coach Diego Lima, however, was able to negotiate a catchweight. “Listen, that’s not what you’re supposed to do but I’m here. Thankfully everything went on with the fight, and I’m here because of that man, because of my coach and manager.”
Watch the full UFC 320 post-fight press conference with Daniel Santos above.
