UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Teixeira is around the corner and will decide the number one contender. Thiago Santos is favored to win the fight, much in part due to his efforts against Jon Jones in his last outing. ‘Marreta’ put forth one of the hardest tests of Jones’ career and left some to believe that he had won.

1. Jon Jones Thiago Santos Stream
2. Jon Jones Thiago Santos Full Fight Video
3. Jon Jones Thiago Santos Knee
4. Jon Jones Thiago Santos Fight On Youtube
5. Jon Jones Thiago Santos Full Fight

Jon Jones Defeats Thiago Santos Via Split Decision After 25 Minutes Of War! UFC 239 PPV (pay-per-view) event is headlined by an intriguing Light Heavyweight bout between the controversial reigning defending 205-pound champion Jon “Bones” Jones and dangerous striker Thiago “Marreta” Santos. Thiago Santos, who lost a split decision to Jon Jones at UFC 239, tore the ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus in his left knee during the first round.

Let’s take a look at Santos’ star-making performance that unfolded in the main event for UFC 239 in Las Vegas.

UFC 239: Jon Jones vs Thiago Santos

The first-round went to the challenger, who worked the legs of Jones from the very outset of their meeting. He also knocked out Jones’ mouthpiece, thus displaying his power early in the contest. Jon was happy to let the first-round slip by and worked on his distance management.

As the fight progressed, it seemed like ‘Marreta’ was twitching his knee rather uncomfortably. Jon Jones decided to capitalize on his declining forward pressure and began ramping up his aggression. Despite the clear difficulty in planting his leg, Thiago wasn’t afraid to unexpectedly explode into Jones’ range. He continued throwing heavy artillery with his legs, but it was clear he couldn’t effectively stick his landing.

It was later revealed that he suffered a torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and Meniscus mid-way through his bout against ‘Bones’. This went a long way in magnifying his performance, as it was clear that he was struggling to stand upright. Some fans believe that Jon had missed a step, and he wasn’t able to capitalize on a compromised opponent.

The general fan consensus is that Jon Jones did just enough to squeak out a win on the scorecards. Chiefly, it was Santos’ early barrage, overall intensity and the heart he displayed that made fans believe he won. Jon Jones did just enough to ensure that he had outpointed an aggressive opponent and never chased the finish.

Moreover, UFC President Dana White reaffirmed this narrative when he spoke out after UFC 239 had wrapped up. White went so far as to say that Thiago Santos was ‘completely dominated’ by the champion.

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UFC 239 had many astonishing moments. Welterweight Jorge Masvidal knocked out Ben Askren in fewer than five seconds with a flying knee; bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes landed a head kick to put Holly Holm down; and Jan Blachowicz sent Luke Rockhold to the mat with a vicious left hook to spoil his light heavyweight debut.

Nevertheless, no one managed to explain how in the world light heavyweight Thiago Santos went the distance against Jon Jones -- on one leg, courtesy of a torn ACL, MCL and PCL, as well as a meniscus tear on his left leg.

'Marreta' Santos spoke to ESPN and revealed details about the injuries, how they affected him during the fight and most importantly, how in the world he continued to kick Jones with the injured leg.

ESPN: When did you get hurt?

Santos: That happened when I tried to leg kick him [with 19 seconds left in the first round], but I missed. When I kick, I put everything I have on [the kicks]. I twisted my knee instead.

ESPN: Did you know the severity of the injury right away? What did your coach say?

Santos: I knew something serious happened. In the first intermission, I spoke to my coach [Conan Silveira]. It was like this...

Santos: I have to tell you something.
Silveira: Go ahead.
Santos: I screwed up my knee.
Silveira: Is it serious enough to stop the fight?
Santos: I will never stop.

Jon Jones Thiago Santos Stream

ESPN: How did the injury affect you during the fight?

Santos: I just couldn't put any weight [on] my left leg and I couldn't get hit as well. It would be impossible to sustain the pain if he kicked me there. I had to go southpaw the whole fight, protecting this leg. I couldn't even kick with the right, because my left leg wasn't strong enough to hold it. The only thing I could do was to continue to kick with my left leg.

ESPN: I can't imagine the pain of kicking with an injured leg.

Santos: Absolutely. But that was the only thing I could do, and that's why I injured my other leg, because of the weight.

ESPN: Do you think that not being able to move had the judges thinking Jones was dominating the fight?

Santos: I fell sometimes -- two or three [times] because of the knee. I think the judges got a little carried away by that. People asked me after the fight about the knockdowns ... I answered, 'What are you talking about? I didn't suffer any knockdowns.' There was [an] elbow that hit me, but it wasn't a knockdown. There was also a jab that checked me, but I fell because of my knee, not because of his jab, come on. I think that everything related to this took a part in the judges' count.

ESPN: Would it be different if you had not injured the knee?

Santos: 100 percent. I'm not saying I would win, I can't say that. But I would have hit him more, attacked more. I would have fought a better fight for sure.

ESPN: Were you expecting to get the decision?

Santos: When the fight was over, no, I wasn't expecting [to win]. I still think I touched him more, but my knee got in the way. I thought he would win.

ESPN: Did you get to 'shock the world' as you said you would do?

Santos: I don't know, maybe I did. I'm happy to be this guy that wants to compete, doesn't want to lose. I was so close ... but stuff like this could happen to anyone. I was upset, but also happy because of the message I transmitted to the world.

ESPN: Overall, are you happy or sad with the outcome?

Santos: Happy because of the performance. I did everything I could and I left everything I had in the Octagon.

Jon Jones Thiago Santos Full Fight Video

ESPN: Jones himself had nothing but high praise for you after the fight. How did you react to that?

Santos: I was glad. As I said before the fight, he is not unbeatable. He is human like everybody else. His opponent cannot be afraid. I wasn't and I executed the game plan. The injury got in the way, but I fought a good fight.

ESPN: Do you want a rematch?

Jon Jones Thiago Santos Knee

Santos: First and most important, I need to go through [the injuries] I sustained in this fight. I have to make a full recovery because I only want to come back 100 percent. And when the time comes, it could be him or anybody else. But right now I'm focused on the surgery, recovery ... I'll do everything the doctors want me to so I can come back in perfect conditions.

Jon Jones Thiago Santos Fight On Youtube

ESPN: How is the public reacting? I know you have been getting many messages.

Jon Jones Thiago Santos Full Fight

Santos: Even before the fight, I got many messages. Many trusted me [to win], many did not. That's part of the game. I think the most important thing is that I was able to transmit a good message for young boys and girls in Brazil -- don't give up. I was happy to do that. I said it before, the belt is the symbol of the champion, but it does not define one. I'm a blessed dude and for that I thank God.