Gegard Mousasi stops Thiago Santos in one at UFC 200
LAS VEGAS -- Gegard Mousasi wasn't granted his request to replace Jon Jones against Daniel Cormier for a shot at gold. But that didn't stop him from making a statement from the relative obscurity of his UFC 200 preliminary contest against Thiago Santos Saturday. The quiet Dutchman fought loudly and managed to take the dangerous Brazilian contender out in the first round with strikes.
The beginning of the end started with a right short uppercut from Mousasi to Santos' chin. Santos was clearly hurt and Mousasi pounced, following up with a barrage of punches.
Santos covered up and survived initially, before Mousasi scored a takedown after attempting a rear-naked choke. Santos gamely managed to defend himself and get back to his feet, but Mousasi continued pressing.
"The Dreamcatcher" then connected with a left hook to the jaw that put Santos down and out for good. But Mousasi continued his onslaught with a few more hard ground strikes before the referee was able to run across the cage and officially stop the fight.
OHHHHH! @Mousasi_MMA drops Santos!!!!!!!! #UFC200 https://t.co/CatCy4YLyT
— #UFC200 (@ufc) July 9, 2016
The end came at 4:32 of the first round. Afterwards, Mousasi praised his opponent: "I believe he's a top-10 guy," he said of Santos. "He's dangerous."
Though Mousasi took time to praise himself as well. "I believe that I have one of the best stand-up [games] at middleweight, and obviously I felt I was better with wrestling and jiu-jitsu," he said.
The win gives Mousasi a two-fight win streak and improves his record to 39-6. Santos' defeat dips him to 13-4 overall.
