UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker betting odds, preview, and pick
Thiago Santos at the post fight press conference during the Bellator Fighting Championship 79 event at Casino Rama. (Photo by Darren Eagles/ZUMA Press/Icon Sportswire)
September 27th, 2021
Thiago Santos and Johnny Walker will face off in a crossroads clash between two strikers desperate for a win in the main event of the Oct. 2 edition of UFC Fight Night. We have the betting odds and preview you need before the bombs drop.
Santos has struggled against elite competition
Though Santos’ last win was a stoppage victory over current light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in 2019, he has lost his last three fights and is in dire need of a win. In his most recent fight, Santos lost an uneventful decision to Alexander Rakic at UFC 259.
Despite his recent skid, he’s a resilient and powerful striker. Fifteen of Santos’ wins have come by stoppage, and he is as aggressive as they come. Injuries and age are a concern here, especially as he hasn’t looked the same since tearing practically every ligament in his left leg against Jon Jones three years ago.
Thiago Santos vs. Johnny Walker tale of the tape
| Thiago Santos | vs. | Johnny Walker |
|---|
21-9 | Record | 18-5 |
37 | Age | 29 |
6'2" | Height | 6'6" |
76" | Reach | 82" |
2-3 | Last 5 Fights | 3-2 |
Resilient striking | Key Intangibles | Size and reach |
Walker must tighten up his defense to survive
It wasn’t long ago when Walker was rocketing up the rankings towards a title shot, then came back-to-back losses to Corey Anderson and Nikita Krylov. Walker had to survive multiple knockdowns against Ryan Spann before stopping him in a wild bout last September.
Walker has the kind of physical advantages an aging fighter like Santos hates to see, and he can match him for striking power. While there’s no doubt Walker can hurt Santos, his defense is so bad that it borders as a liability.
Santos should stop Walker in a back-and-forth brawl
Santos has an opponent who won’t challenge his limited mobility and can’t capitalize on his mistakes. If anything, Walker is going to be an open book for Santos when they engage.
Walker may have been climbing the ladder towards elite status, but Santos has established credentials against the top tier of the division. Unless Walker focuses on leg kicks and utilizing a lot of movement, he’ll be giving Santos plenty of opportunities to crack him open.
All in all, Walker might just be what the doctor ordered for Santos. These two won’t spend much time sizing each other up, and Santos is going to go for it. His superior power and desperation will result in a late stoppage over the younger Walker.
MMA Fight Night pick: Santos
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