Mairon Santos had his hand raised after a 15-minute conflict with Francis Marshall at UFC 313, however the resolution had many people calling it a robbery on social media.
Santos felt he was the rightful winner when he left the octagon in Las Vegas, saying judges “don’t know sh*t, I received the battle,” however modified his thoughts upon rewatching the featherweight bout.
Santos informed MMA Preventing it’s onerous to have an actual thought of how the battle goes scoring-wise while you’re the one touchdown punches and getting hit again, and would have felt robbed Saturday evening had the judges gave Marshall the victory.
“I watched the battle, and noticed it was nearer [than I felt], even on the ft,” Santos stated. “I hit him, however he additionally hit me again. When the battle was over, I felt I clearly received, however that wasn’t the reality. In conditions like that, I believe takedowns make a distinction, so I went again and noticed that he had received it. I believe it will have been a greater resolution. However the judges stated I received, and I’ve to reside with that. I’m taking it as a loss although I received, so let’s transfer on and get higher subsequent time.”
Santos was coming off a TUF-winning knockout over Kaan Ofli in August 2024 and admits he was a tad overconfident getting into his UFC 313 bout.
“The primary factor was that I solely introduced good issues from my earlier battle, like figuring out I’ve knockout energy and my takedown protection is superb,” Santos stated. “Leg kicks, I skilled that rather a lot. I ended up too dependent of these issues. I assumed I’d go there and he would really feel the primary punch I landed may finish the battle. In the long run, I couldn’t land a punch the way in which I needed, and people I landed he was capable of soak up effectively. I landed a number of leg kicks and he took them effectively.
“I’m not proud of my efficiency,” he continued. “I do know I can battle rather a lot higher than that, however I can’t return in time, it already occurred. What I can do it return to the health club and prepare and be higher subsequent time. That’s what I take away from this battle, the training and expertise.”
Santos stated he’s open to a rematch, however doesn’t count on the UFC to ebook it given it wasn’t a battle with greater stakes between two widespread athletes.
In the long run, the advantage of having his hand raised was that Santos was paid his win bonus, which is much more necessary now that he has a new child at dwelling.
“Deep in there, I didn’t need it to be like that, as a result of we now have a code of honor,” Santos stated, “However that’s what occurred, it’s the truth, and we are able to’t change it.”
