PFL Makes Another Huge Splash By Signing Thiago Santos

The PFL continues to add some of the biggest free agents on the market today.

The most recent is former UFC light heavyweight title contender Thiago Santos, who brings a great track record and name recognition to the 205-pound division.

Santos, 38 years old, left UFC 239 back in 2019 with many believing he had done enough to defeat Jon Jones and win the title. The judges, however, ruled it a split decision in favor of Jones.

Still, that match gave Santos plenty of credibility and put him on the map in the sport. Now, he joins the fastest growing and most innovative league in sports in pursuit of the title and $1 million check that goes with it.

Santos has scored 22 career wins, including a 2021 victory over recent UFC 279 winner Johnny Walker. He also finished former UFC champion Jan Blachowicz in the third round in 2019 and owns a another win over Kevin Holland.

Names like Ronny Markes, Elias Theodorou, Nate Marquardt, Jack Marshman and Anthony Smith are just a handful of the others Santos has bested along the way.

In November, the PFL will crown a new light heavyweight champion when Robert Wilkinson collides with Omari Akhmedov in the finale. The winner of that will definitely be placed in the crosshairs for Santos in 2023 when he enters the regular season tournament.