Five Things You Might Not Know About Thiago Santos

New opponent?

No problem. @TMarretaMMA #UFCSP pic.twitter.com/BwcNcRgoVT

— UFC (@ufc) September 19, 2018

Thiago Santos has been competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division since 2013. His record with the organization stands at 10-5. In the Brazilian’s fourth contest of the year, “Maretta” will upsize to light heavyweight to take on Eryk Anders in the main event at UFC Fight Night 137, on Sept. 22 in Sao Paulo.

In build up to the clash, here are five things that you might not know about the 34-year-old Tata Fight Team standout.

1. He hails from an infamous Rio de Janeiro slum.

Santos was born and brought up in Cidade de Deus, the same crime-ridden neighbourhood that is featured in the 2002 film, “City of God.” He is keen to point out that the negative portrayal of the place is not entirely accurate, and that there are many good, law-abiding people residing there. Santos’ own parents are hardworking, blue collar types who distilled many positive values on their young son. “Maretta” has stated in interviews that on several occasions local drug gangs made overtures to employ him as an enforcer, due to the fearsome fighting reputation he had garnered on Brazil’s MMA circuit. Santos declined their offers of employment. To this day he calls the city of Rio de Janeiro home.

2. He was a participant on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

In 2013, Santos took part in “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil: 2.” He gained entry to the house via unanimous decision win over Gil Freitas. Santos ended up being the last pick for Team Werdum. He lost his preliminary bout to William Macario, but then beat Pedro Irie by unanimous decision in the wild card bout to stay in the house. In the quarter finals, “Maretta” was eliminated by Leonardo Santos. He commemorates his time on the show by sporting an Ultimate Fighter Brazil: 2 tattoo on his left bicep.

3. His introduction to martial arts was through capoeira.

Santos earned a coveted green rope from his 8-years of training in the gentle Brazilian martial art of capoeira. Seeking something more aggressive, he later transitioned to muay Thai, and went on to become a 2-time state champion in the sport before turning his attention to MMA.

4. He has a big tattoo of a sledge hammer.

It was Santos’ trainer who first gave him the moniker “Maretta” (sledgehammer in Portuguese). He earned the nickname because of the violent nature of the majority of his wins. In 2016, Santos had a tattoo inked of a sledgehammer on his chest and stomach. The body art enthusiast has several other prominent tattoos.

5. He used to be a paratrooper.

Santos joined the army at the age of 18, and ended up spending seven years in the military. Although he trained in combat sports during this period, he did not commence his professional MMA career until leaving the army in 2010. Maretta believes that his stint with the paratroopers was an ideal preparation for his professional MMA career. He once said in an interview, “Is dieting awful? Yes, but not as bad as being stuck in the Amazon jungle having to hunt for your own meals.” One of the disciplines he asserts that he learned in the military was timekeeping, something he claims is not shared by all his fellow Brazilian MMA pugilists.