Felipe Santos, after an opponent’s withdrawal from Dana White’s Contender Series, will face top-ranked Manel Kape at UFC 293 in Sydney, an emotion-filled turn of events for the Chute Boxe fighter who intends to prove himself amid expectations and impress UFC president Dana White.
Felipe Santos experienced a whirlwind two weeks which saw him go from competing for a contract at Dana White’s Contender Series in Las Vegas to taking on top-ranked Manel Kape in Sydney at UFC 293. The athletic up-and-down proved to be a roller-coaster of emotions for the Chute Boxe talent. This unexpected turn of events was set in motion when Santos, also known by his nickname “Lipe Detona”, inspired by the animated comedy film Wreck-It Ralph, made weight for his bout with Luciano Pereira at the UFC APEX. Unfortunately, his opponent did not make the weight limit. Dejected, he returned to his hotel room believing his dream had shattered before his eyes. However, a few hours later, the tables turned when a concussion removed Kai Kara-France from his UFC 293 clash with Kape on Sept. 9.
Reflecting on this chaotic period in an episode of Trocação Franca podcast, Santos shared, “I felt lost when that happened. I thought, ‘Damn, I lost the opportunity of my life.’ But I remained calm because I knew good things would happen”. His optimism soon bore fruit. Following the news about Kara-Franca, Santos expressed to his manager and coach Diego Lima his desire to visit Australia someday. Shortly after, while he was still reeling from his cut to 125 pounds, the UFC sent him an official email offering him the opportunity to fight Kape in Australia. Upon realizing the shift in his fate, he said, “It took a while for the penny to drop — and once it did, man, I cried a lot. I don’t think I’ve ever cried that much in my entire life. I spent 30 minutes crying non-stop, and then I started calling every Chute Boxe fighter.”
With a stellar career record of 7-0-1 since 2019, the undefeated Brazilian is set to enter the octagon against a seasoned RIZIN 135-pound champion who holds victories over flyweights Ode Osbourne, Zhalgas Zhumagulov, and David Dvorak at UFC 293. Despite being the underdog in Sydney, Santos is confident and perceives the presence of the Chute Boxe crew as an advantage. “[Chute Boxe] helps me a lot because of all the mental work we do and everything we have to overcome in life,” he said. “We have so many athletes there that aren’t intimidated by anything and can work under pressure. It makes me calm that I get to receive their advice and train with them.” Santos also mentions that he has worked hard for this opportunity, and plans to make a lasting impression on UFC president Dana White in Australia, eventually bringing the victory home to Brazil.
He is not just optimistic about making an impression, but is also confident about his chances of knocking Kape out. Santos, who has won five of his seven MMA matches by knockout, confirms his strategy saying: “You can bet on a knockout. I believe I’ll knock him out with a kick. I’ve been training that a lot and if that’s God’s will, it’s going to be a knockout. I’ve been doing a good job on the ground as well, so I have a submission ready too.” This assertiveness and tactical prowess display Santos’ preparatory efforts and dedication, inspite of the drama surrounding his fight announcement. His case is a testament to the unpredictability of sporting careers and the immense resilience required to thrive in these conditions.