Thiago Santos Seeks Top 6 Opponent After Fourth Straight TKO Win at UFC Fight Night 125

Following his second-round technical knockout victory over Anthony Smith at UFC Fight Night 125 — his fourth consecutive KO/TKO triumph in the Octagon — Thiago Santos sounded a little bit frustrated.

The 34-year-old Rio de Janeiro native believes his accomplishments warrant title consideration in the middleweight division. Santos, who has also bested Jack Hermansson, Gerald Meerschaert and Jack Marshman during his winning streak, is currently 15th in the UFC.com 185-pound rankings.

“Marreta” wants a significantly higher-ranked opponent in his next Octagon appearance. In his mind, that’s the only way to achieve his ultimate goal of challenging for middleweight gold.

“As I said and repeat: despite being in the rankings, I do not care. It remains a ranking of lies. Many deserve to be there, but there are many who do not deserve it,” Santos told media after his victory in Belem, Brazil on Saturday. “The ranking is not real. My goal is not to be in the rankings, I want to be the champion.

“I asked for a Top 5, someone ranked sixth and up, because I want someone to take me to the belt,” he continued. “I do not want to be part of being in the ranking — to be in, to be outside, to be the 14th — to me it does [nothing]. I want to fight a guy who takes me to the belt, that's what I'm asking.”