Written by Mairon Santos | Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC
Mairon Santos has something else to fight for this Saturday at UFC 313 in Las Vegas.
This past January, Santos’ wife Yasmim Bonfim gave birth to their son Ayron on Jan. 19. Santos, 24, now aims to not only win, but also to cash $50,000 bonus check when he returns to to the octagon Saturday to battle 8-2 featherweight Francis Marshall.
“I’m training [for the finish], that’s the plan,” Santos told MMA Fighting. “And also, I need the bonus because I have a little son now. That’s the plan, leave the man unconscious on the ground.”
Santos, who became the featherweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter 32 with a nasty knockout of Kaan Ofli in August 2024, feels he’s owed a bonus.
“That’s a lot of diapers, man. More than 10 diapers a day,” Santos laughed. “And not only that. He’s starting to interact more now, so we’ll have to buy toys. And then buy even more stuff [laughs]. So I have to get the bonus.
“Last time, they didn’t give me a bonus, I’m still kinda salty about that, so now I’ll do everything I can to get the bonus.”
UFC 313 is headlined by light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira versus Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira has won bonuses in six of his nine UFC victories. Justin Gaethje, the co-headliner opposite Rafael Fiziev, has more bonuses (13) than UFC wins (8).
That makes competition for a bonus harder, but Santos celebrates being put on such a highly anticipated card.
“I feel this is my moment,” Santos said. “It’s a great opportunity. I can’t wait to get there and work. It’s a big card and I believe the UFC needed good fights and good Brazilians to join ‘Poatan,’ and I’m happy I was one of the ones called. I’m glad to know the UFC sees me that way. It’s a honor to be on such card, especially with Poatan leading it.”
Marshall, his opponent Saturday night, has gone 2-2 so far under the UFC banner with wins over Marcelo Rojo and Dennis Buzukja. He’s surrounded by great talents like Movsar Evloev, Grant Dawson and Mateusz Gamrot at American Top Team, but Santos think it’s a favorable style matchup.
“It’s going to be similar to my last opponents since the first fight on TUF,” Santos said. “I’ve evolved a lot since my loss to the wrestler [Dan Argueta, at LFA 123]. I don’t see it as such a mystery anymore, beating guys like that. We have to respect their game, of course, but I don’t see him offering me much in that wrestling area. I think he will try to trade a little on the feet, and that’s what I want. It’s a perfect match-up for me because he isn’t excellent on takedowns — and when he can’t get the takedown, he tries to strike.”