LAS VEGAS — Daniel Santos outlasted Bolaji Oki to earn a unanimous decision victory at UFC 333 on Saturday, with all three judges scoring the lightweight clash 29-28 in his favour after a gruelling three-round war that left both men exhausted at the final horn.
Santos opened with body and calf kicks as Oki worked his jab and side kick to the body, but the Brazilian began to find his range with heavy shots upstairs. After Oki lost his balance on a body kick, Santos seized a guillotine and dropped back for the submission before Oki freed his head and escaped. An earlier elbow from Oki had opened a cut on Santos, and Oki capitalised from top position with a nasty hammer fist and later knees to the body before taking side control after shutting down Santos' scrambles.
Round two was fought largely in the grappling exchanges. Santos missed with a jumping knee and pressed forward, trading takedown attempts against the fence. He eventually dragged Oki to the canvas, took his back and kicked his leg out from under him to return him to the mat, though Oki scrambled repeatedly to his feet. Santos' kicks continued to disrupt Oki's rhythm every time he tried to build momentum on the feet.
The pair shared a hug before the third round before resuming at pace, with Santos' jab still crisp as he chased Oki around the cage. Oki exploded for a takedown and secured top position after Santos briefly held a headlock, but Santos scrambled free with a minute remaining. Oki cracked him with a hard right hand and unloaded as Santos ran on fumes, yet the Brazilian answered with wild spinning attacks including a spinning backfist and refused to fade. Both men threw heavy leather until the horn, and Santos afterwards honoured his late friend and teammate Allan Nascimento, saying the victory carried extra meaning.