Daniel Santos Outlasts Bolaji Oki, Honors Late Teammate Allan Nascimento
Daniel Santos wasn’t interested in making life easy for himself Saturday night at UFC 333, but apparently winning the hard way works just fine.
The Brazilian went to war with Bolaji Oki, mixing heavy shots, relentless pressure, and plenty of grappling exchanges. Oki gave him everything he could handle, especially late when Santos looked like his gas tank was running on empty. Still, Santos refused to take his foot off the gas and did enough to get his hand raised.
The victory carried extra meaning for Santos, who took a moment afterward to honor his late friend and teammate, Allan Nascimento.
Round 1 – Santos opened things up with a body kick and calf kick while Oki looked to establish his jab downstairs. Oki answered with a jab, calf kick, and side kick to the body. Santos tried finding his rhythm, but getting inside Oki’s range was proving easier said than done.
Santos continued letting his hands go, but Oki did a solid job making him miss. Oki fired another calf kick before Santos swung at nothing but air with his counterattack. Oki looked to put together a combination, but Santos cracked him with a right hand that forced him to retreat.
Santos started finding success upstairs, landing heavy shots as he appeared to figure out Oki’s timing. Oki fired another body kick but lost his balance and landed on his backside. Santos wasted no time grabbing a guillotine and dropping back in search of the submission.
Oki managed to free his head and escape danger. An elbow Oki landed earlier had also opened up a cut on Santos. Oki settled into top position and went to work looking for ground-and-pound opportunities. He eventually dropped a nasty hammer fist on Santos, who wasn’t exactly enjoying life on the bottom.
Santos turtled up, allowing Oki to grab his neck before switching to underhooks and attacking the body with knees. The two eventually separated and went back to work on the feet.
Santos connected with a clean left hook, prompting Oki to shoot for a takedown. Oki got the Brazilian to the canvas, but Santos immediately started scrambling, looking for a way out.
Unfortunately for Santos, Oki wasn’t interested in letting him go anywhere. Oki maintained control, shut down the scrambles, and eventually worked his way into side control.
Round 2 – Santos opened things up with a jumping knee, but couldn’t quite find the target. He continued pressing forward, forcing Oki to circle around the cage looking for some breathing room. Santos shot for a single-leg takedown, but Oki wasn’t having it. Oki answered with a takedown attempt of his own, driving Santos back against the fence.
Santos managed to get Oki to the canvas, but Oki immediately scrambled and attacked a single leg to get back up. Santos wasn’t about to let him off that easily, circling around and taking Oki’s back. Oki worked his way to his feet, pressed his left side against the fence, and tried breaking Santos’ grip.
Santos had other plans.
The Brazilian kicked Oki’s right leg out from under him, sending him right back to the canvas.
Oki eventually scrambled back to his feet, and the two returned to trading strikes. Santos shot for another takedown, but Oki did a solid job stuffing the attempt.
Oki tried turning up the pressure and pushing Santos backward, but those kicks continued making life difficult. Every time Oki looked to get something going, Santos used his kicks to force him back and reset the action.
Round 3 – The two shared a hug before the round began, but it was right back to business once the action resumed. Santos’ jab was just as crisp as it was in the opening round. The Brazilian continued playing the aggressor, chasing Oki around the cage and looking to close the distance.
Oki clearly showed up in shape, using his movement and defense to stay a step ahead of Santos. Santos kept pressing forward, but his attacks started looking labored after burning so much energy in the grappling exchanges.
Still, the Brazilian wasn’t about to stop coming forward.
Oki stuck to his stick-and-move game plan before suddenly exploding forward and putting Santos on the canvas. Santos grabbed a headlock, but Oki secured top position and eventually worked his head free. Santos managed to scramble back to his feet before breaking away, leaving both fighters with about a minute to work.
That’s when things got interesting.
Oki cracked Santos with a nasty right hand that forced the Brazilian to cover up. Santos answered with a wild spinning attack, showing he still had plenty of fight left in him.
Oki smelled blood and started unloading powerful shots, picking apart a visibly exhausted Santos. The Brazilian looked hurt and was running on fumes, but apparently nobody told him he was supposed to slow down.
Santos fired off another spinning backfist, refusing to go quietly.
Both fighters continued throwing heavy leather until the final horn, putting an exclamation point on a hard-fought battle.
Daniel Santos ultimately got his hand raised, but the victory meant more than just another win on his record. The Brazilian took a moment afterward to honor his late friend and teammate, Allan Nascimento.
Official Result: Daniel Santos def. Bolaji Oki via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3)
The post Daniel Santos Outlasts Bolaji Oki, Honors Late Teammate Allan Nascimento appeared first on Cageside Press.