Award Banner
Award Banner

Luis Santos Is Determined To Become A World Champion

Luis Santos Is Determined To Become A World Champion
Luis Santos Is Determined To Become A World Champion
PHOTO: Luis Santos Is Determined To Become A World Champion

Being a nearly-man or an also-ran is not enough for Brazil’s Luis “Sapo” Santos. The 76-bout veteran, who takes on the USA’s Tyler McGuire at ONE: PURSUIT OF POWER in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday, 13 July, is chasing World Title glory.

The 38-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is just as hungry for success as ever because he is so close to reaching the pinnacle of professional mixed martial arts.

“All athletes want to crown themselves with some good accomplishments,” he says. “Every event I have fought in before, I have tried to become a champion. For ONE, it is not any different.”

He can put himself at the front of the queue for a chance to compete for the ONE Welterweight World Title by building on his defeat of Kiamrian Abbasov in March.

His assignment inside the Aixata Arena this weekend will be against an unbeaten athlete from the USA.

McGuire is 10-0 with eight first-round finishes, and presents a huge challenge, but “Sapo” is confident his extensive experience will be a huge advantage.

“I really do not think too much about if he is undefeated or not. I have always faced amazing, great fighters during my career,” says Santos.

“I do not believe he has ever tested himself against good guys. This is going to be the first test of his career.”

There are few martial artists in the world that can match Santos’ level of experience.

The native of Belem native was pushed into judo at the age of 5, and spent 15 years diligently learning the art.

“My dad put me into training. I did not have a lot of options, because I had to obey my dad,” he recalls.

“My dad came to me and said, ‘You have to train.’ He put me in the classes and I had to go. I started doing judo when I was 5 years old, and I trained judo until I was 20.”

His penchant for the grappling arts saw him take up his native land’s art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which was born in his hometown.

This cross-training led him to the world of mixed martial arts, where he has been one of the world’s most prolific competitors since his professional debut in March 2000. 

He knew he had found his calling after his first bout, and he’s still pursuing the sport 18 years later.

“My first fight made me decide what I wanted to do for a living. I fell in love with it right away. That is why I am here today,” he says.

Ever since then, he has been pursuing that elusive belt, and the right to call himself world number one.

Santos had that opportunity once before, but it slipped through his grasp. In 2015, he met Ben “Funky” Askren at ONE: VALOR OF CHAMPIONS in the Philippines.

Despite a positive start against the undefeated World Champion, an accidental eye poke forced an early end to the match, which ended in a no contest.

If he can defeat McGuire impressively, he has a great chance of earning another chance at immortality by securing the top contender’s spot again.

homepage

trending

trending
    Resale flat prices may begin moderating from 2026 as new units reach MOP: Chee Hong Tat
    CCTV footage of man stealing standee of Aespa's Karina in Malaysia tickles netizens
    Fewer private university grads find full-time jobs in 2024, compared to 2023
    10 months' jail for man who stole cash, credit card onboard Scoot flight
    'It feels like a gut punch': Yale-NUS students asked to destroy DVDs prior to campus closure
    Singaporean-Malaysian couple arrested in Melaka for allegedly distributing drug-laced vapes to students
    Secondary school dropout, 36, graduates top of his cohort at Republic Polytechnic
    Francis Ng's son claps back at negativity about his appearance: 'Don't waste your words'
    Porridge, pancakes and more: Popeyes enters Singapore's fast-food breakfast game
    'We are just the middlemen': How property agents grapple with landlords' discriminatory preferences
    'Poop and pee everywhere': Residents' dismay over 2 hornbills leaving Aljunied HDB flat in disarray
    'I'm gaming the system': Singaporean moves to Thailand, flies back weekly for work to save costs

Singapore

Singapore
    • SAF has to come up with new ways to overcome challenges: Chan Chun Sing
    • 'I can peel 3 to 5 eggs in a minute': 12-year-old boy helps out at grandma's porridge stall in Holland Drive Food Centre
    • Applicant claims employer requested full-body photo for recruitment, calling the requirement 'relevant'
    • Woman accused of making fake ex-DBS CEO 'Piyush Gupta' LinkedIn post blames social media manager
    • Poly grad hopes to solve food delivery spillage problem with innovative GRIPBox
    • More firms raise salaries in 2024 than in 2023
    • 'He doesn't see the age gap': How a 93-year-old with vision loss and a 61-year-old bonded over bowling
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Tampines West residents seek witnesses after community cat found dead next to bin with 'blunt force trauma', dislocated jaw
    • Man, 65, found dead in Singapore River near Great World

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • That Visa ad is real, Blackpink's really coming to Singapore
    • Ayden Sng becomes cafe owner in new China reality show uSweet
    • 'Regard me as your mother': Liu Lingling caring for late sister Angie Lau's children
    • The Untamed actor Wang Zhuocheng in Singapore, visits Merlion and Jewel Changi Airport
    • Jiro Wang at Merlion Park and Mandai Rainforest Resort after Lady Gaga's Singapore concert
    • Zheng Geping gets surprise birthday celebration on drama set
    • Grab exclusive Dylan Wang merchandise with Chagee's upcoming Longjing Milk Tea series
    • Ecstasy and bribery accusations in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial bolster racketeering charge
    • Christopher McQuarrie has plot for Top Gun 3 'already in the bag'
    • Billie Eilish takes top prize at American Music Awards

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Is Singapore's F&B industry struggling? Hawkers, entrepreneurs and insiders weigh in
    • Singapore Oceanarium, formerly S.E.A. Aquarium, to open on July 23 with expanded experiences and research centre
    • Supermarket meets kopitiam: New FairPrice Finest outlet featuring food hall opens in Sembawang
    • Bak kut teh or laksa? Uniqlo's latest drop features Singapore food-inspired collection
    • I visit GastroBeats again, here's whether it's still worth the hype
    • Special offers and wildlife experiences at Mandai attractions in celebration of SG60
    • Skyworth K review: A car that's as effective as a household appliance
    • Voraciously hungry? Check out these buffets to get the best bang for your buck
    • Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar's Malay restaurant in Dubai earns spot on Michelin Guide
    • Father's Day: What to get for the dad who says he wants nothing

Digicult

Digicult
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool
    • Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, $100m to be invested: Josephine Teo
    • Ado concert review: Singer without a face ignites fans while in cage with only silhouette visible
    • EU and US authorities take down malware network
    • Google Pixel 9a: The best AI-centric phone under $800 in 2025?
    • Western intelligence agencies warn spyware threat targeting Taiwan, Tibetan rights advocates
    • Taiwan says China using generative AI to ramp up disinformation and 'divide' the island

Money

Money
    • Wall Street equity indexes close higher after US-China tariff truce
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Can you still own multiple properties in Singapore? Here's what you need to know in 2025
    • Selling your home for the first time? Here's a step-by-step timeline to follow in Singapore
    • Why some central 2-bedroom homeowners in Singapore are stuck
    • How the interest rate cycle works - and what it means for your home loan
    • Tampines, Sengkang and more towns set new 2-room all-time-high records - is this part of a broader trend?
    • More people rented in April 2025 despite higher prices, here's what drove it
    • Looking to buy Singapore property in 2025? Here's what's different (and what could catch you off guard)
    • 'Short-term, more conservative view': Local businesses struggle to come to terms with US tariffs

Latest

Latest
  • Putin, for Ukraine peace, wants a pledge to halt Nato enlargement, sources say
  • Many Ukrainians baulk at conceding land to Russia, entangling nascent peace process
  • Daily roundup: More firms raise salaries in 2024 than in 2023 — and other top stories today
  • Arctic warming seen at 3 times global average in years ahead, UN weather agency says
  • Indonesia ready to start diplomatic ties with Israel if Palestinian state given independence, Prabowo says
  • China issues flood warnings after heavy rain in southern regions
  • China being provocative, ignoring olive branches, top Taiwan policymaker says
  • Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel
  • US scolds Russia for stoking WW3 fears after Trump's 'playing with fire' remark

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Pedestrian, 84, dies in accident involving minibus in Choa Chu Kang
  • NDP 2025 marks SG60 with expanded celebrations from Padang to Marina Bay
  • Obesity rates are rising in Singapore, but is overeating the only cause?
  • Trump administration blocks Harvard from enrolling foreign students, threatens broader crackdown 
  • 'We apologise for the operational lapse': NUS responds to backlash over disposal of Yale-NUS books
  • No joke: Bangkok condo resident releases snakes in corridor to protest neighbour's noisy dog
  • 'Only one chance at life': Chinese student, 18, misses exam to save classmate suffering heart attack
  • Baby suspected to have been eaten by monitor lizard in Thailand, only head found
  • 'Dog will return soon': GE2025 independent candidate Jeremy Tan wants to contest again
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.