Thiago Santos (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

It remains to be seen what comes next for Thiago Santos, following his memorable, stoppage win over Eryk Anders at UFC Fight Night 137. But it seems clear that the middleweight contender is interested in competing at light-heavyweight again.

Santos agreed to move up to 205 a few weeks ago, and face Jimi Manuwa, when Glover Teixeira withdrew from the UFC FN 137 headliner due to injury. Then Manuwa also was forced out of the contest with an injury, and the middleweight Anders stepped up.

Well, Santos went on to stop Anders on Saturday, as the latter was unable to continue into round four. After the entertaining bout, Santos reported the following, while discussing how he felt competing at light-heavyweight (quotes via MMA Fighting):

“Even though my punches are heavier, I feel I was more resistant,” said Santos. “I took some hard punches and I didn’t feel them. At middleweight, due to the weight cut, and not being able to recover 100 percent, I am a little bit fragile. At middleweight, I was knocked out by [David Branch], who isn’t a knockout artist. He landed a punch and I was really upset by that.”

“Today, [Anders] landed a cross, he landed some heavy blows and I didn’t feel it. So that’s good, too. So not only are my punches stronger, but I’m more resistant. So there’s a lot at play. We have to see the good and the bad and see which pass we’re going to take.”

Santos also relayed that he’s interested in fighting Manuwa later this year, when the light-heavyweight contender is healthy.