Thiago Santos is favored against Johnny Walker at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker on Saturday, October 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event is one of 15 fights on ESPN+. Santos is 21-9 in his career, while Walker is 18-5 in his career. There are a total of 15 fights on ESPN+ at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker. Let’s look at the bout between Santos and Walker and UFC predictions.
UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker takes place at UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, October 2 with 15 fights all on ESPN+.
UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker Betting
Thiago Santos (21-9, 13-8 UFC)
Santos came into the UFC with a record of 8-1 and he has 13 wins and eight losses in the UFC. In his last six fights, he has three wins and three losses. He defeated Eryk Anders by TKO, Jimi Manuwa by KO, and Jan Blachowicz by TKO; while losing to Jon Jones by split decision, Glover Teixeira by rear-naked choke submission, and Aleksandar Rakic by unanimous decision. Santos has been a pro since 2010 and he has 15 wins by TKO/KO and one by submission. He has eight first round finishes.
Santos said this to mmajunkie.usatoday.com about his upcoming fight against Walker, "I will show that I deserve to be UFC fighter that I deserve to be No. 4 in the light heavyweight rankings. I need to show to everyone who I am. I think my last fight I didn’t show who I am. This fight I want to show to everyone that I’m better than before my surgery. I will try to finish the fight. … Show everyone that I deserve to get back to the title shot. I respect him as a fighter, as a person, but on fight day (there will be) no respect, no mercy. I will do my job. I will try to knock him out. … I will kick him hard, I will hit him hard, I will bring pain to him and I will try to knock him out. I will do my job. I feel much better than my last fight. I feel more confident, more comfortable and I will use my experience and I will show to everyone.”
Johnny Walker (18-5, 4-2 UFC)
Walker came into the UFC with a record of 14-3 and he has four wins and two losses in the UFC. He defeated Khalil Rountree Jr. by KO, Justin Ledet by TKO, Misha Cirkunov by TKO, and Ryan Spann by KO; while losing to Corey Anderson by TKO and Nikita Krylov by unanimous decision. Walker has been a pro since 2013 and he has 15 wins by TKO/KO and two by submission. He has 15 first round finishes.
Walker said this to lowkickmma.com about his upcoming fight against Santos,"It’s not just about injuries, and it’s his age as well. Like, you have a window — I always talk about this, the window of health, and the window of experience. My window just opened now in my prime, I’m still young, I’m still 29, and I have a lot of experience already. He’s a very explosive fighter, and he has big hooks, but he lifts too much of his chin (sic), and his knees are weak as well now and the two surgeries.”
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Santos 4.27 / Walker 4.41
Striking Accuracy: Santos 48% / Walker 72%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Santos 2.33 / Walker 3.51
Defense: Santos 55% / Walker 31%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Santos 0.70 / Walker 0.40
Takedown Accuracy: Santos 38% / Walker 100%
Takedowns defended: Santos 66% / Walker 60%
Submission average: Santos 0.1 / Walker 1.2
UFC Picks
Did you notice how many finishes these two fighters have? Santos has won 21 times in his career and 16 of his wins were finishes. Walker has won 18 times and 17 of his victories came by finish. Can you see anything other than a finish one way or the other? I sure can't, so I will play the rounds to go under the total.
UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker Card & Odds
| DATE | FIGHTERS | MONEY LINE |
| 10/02 | Johnny Walker | +135 |
| Thiago Santos | -170 |
| 10/02 | Kyle Daukaus | +124 |
| Kevin Holland | -155 |
| 10/02 | Macy Chiasson | +172 |
| Aspen Ladd | -220 |
| 10/02 | Misha Cirkunov | +130 |
| Krzysztof Jotko | -163 |
| 10/02 | Jared Gordon | +110 |
| Joe Solecki | -140 |
| 10/02 | Bethe Correia | +261 |
| Karol Rosa | -350 |
| 10/02 | Gaetano Pirrello | +200 |
| Douglas Silva de Andrade | -259 |
| 10/02 | Devonte Smith | -165 |
| Jamie Mullarkey | +131 |
| 10/02 | Johnny Eduardo | +183 |
| Alejandro Perez | -235 |
| 10/02 | Niko Price | -150 |
| Alex Oliveira | +120 |
| 10/02 | Antonina Shevchenko | +168 |
| Casey ONeill | -215 |
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