Chute Boxe featherweight Daniel Santos wants to score his first knockout in four years when he faces South Korea’s Joo Sang Yoo at UFC 320, which takes place Oct. 4 in Las Vegas.
“Willycat” hasn’t scored a finish since a bonus-winning stoppage over John Castaneda in October 2022 and admits it bothers him to not end a fight like that. Santos enters the cage riding a three-fight winning streak, the last two via decision.
“I can’t wait to see a body flatlined like that and me looking at it with my hands
up,” Santos told MMA Fighting. “It would be something to close the weekend with a flourish, but over the years, with experience, you realize that the win is more important, regardless of how it is. But I miss feeling the adrenaline of the knockout. That feeling is surreal. It would be incredible if I could get the knockout Saturday. That would be wonderful. We’ll work for that.”
Yoo, the man sharing the octagon with him Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena, is 1-0 in the UFC after knocking out Jeka Saragih in just 26 seconds this past June. “Zombie Jr.” won all nine bouts since turning professional in May 2021, four by knockout.
“Based on his fighting style, I think he will try to touch [to score] and run away from the fight,” Santos said. “I don’t think he will try to stand there and trade blows with me. He knows I’m an aggressive guy that throws many strikes, and I think he will try to run from this type of fight a little bit. I think that’s his strategy, to kick and jab more to maintain the distance and try to escape. I think that’s the strategy.”
Santos was originally scheduled to face Doo Ho Choi at UFC Perth on Sept. 27, but was moved to the following week’s event after Choi was forced off the match. Santos admits he asked to be on the UFC Rio show instead, where his teammate Charles Oliveira headlines opposite Mateusz Gamrot on Oct. 11, but celebrates being on a pay-per-view show headlined by the Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch.
“It’s a lot less complex [fighting in Las Vegas instead of Australia] because we have the [Performance Institute] here for the weight cut, the hotel,” Santos said. “We’re more used to the weather and the routine in Vegas. Everything is easier here like training and places to be.”
“The Korean Superboy” Choi had more experience in the UFC after eight octagon appearances, including memorable performances against Cub Swanson, Thiago Tavares and Sam Sicilia. Santos feels that Yoo doesn’t add the same value name-wise, but comes with hype.
“[Choi] was close to the ranking so a win over him would definitely put me closer to a fight with a ranked opponent, or even to the ranking,” Santos said. “He had more name in [the UFC], but I see this kid being hyped up after the quick knockout. [The UFC] sees him with good eyes because he’s a kid that — he’s not young, he’s actually older than me [laughs] so I can’t call him a kid [laughs]. But he’s coming off a quick knockout, has a flashy fighting style and all, so I think it’s going to be a cool fight. I’m excited. I worked as if I’m fighting the champion, no matter who’s on the other side. I don’t underestimate anyone.”
