Report: Thiago Santos vs. Aleksandar Rakić targeted for UFC event on March 6th.

Santos
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

A light heavyweight pairing of recent feature and one-time UFC light heavyweight championship challenger, Thiago ‘Marreta’ Santos, and fellow knockout artist, Aleksandar Rakić is currently in the works for a UFC Fight Night event on March 6th. – with a location or venue for the showcase yet to be determined by the organization.


Featuring just last weekend at UFC Vegas 13 in his Octagon return, Brazilian Muay Thai ace, Santos dropped a third-round rear-naked choke defeat to Glover Teixeira in a title-eliminator. Struggling with his compatriot’s grappling and top position, Santos had his moments early and late in the fight before the submission stoppage – stunning Teixeira with strikes on the feet.


Headlining UFC Vegas 8 in August in a three-round short-notice headlining clash, Rakić took home a unanimous decision win over one-time 205-pound title hopeful, Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith – bouncing back to winning ways. News of the interesting three-round affair was first penned by ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto


Dropping his second consecutive defeat at light heavyweight since his leap to the division back in September of 2018, Santos had suffered a slew of leg and knee injuries in his close, contentious split decision title challenge loss to former two-time champion, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones at UFC 239 in July last year.


Earning his shot at Jones, the veteran striker had scored knockout triumphs against Eryk Anders, Jimi Manuwa, and current light heavyweight champion, Jan Błachowicz.


Himself returning to the win column at the August event, Austrian born striker, Rakić had suffered a razor-thin split decision loss to one-time championship chaser, Volkan ‘No Time’ Oezdemir back at UFC Fight Night Busan in December last.


As well as his wrestling heavy decision win over Smith, Rakić has scored other notable Octagon victories over Francimar Barroso, Justin Ledet, Devin Clark, and a particularly eye-catching high-kick knockout win over common-foe, Manuwa.