Felipe dos Santos

Felipe 'Lipe Detona' dos Santos is a 24-year-old flyweight from Maceió, Brazil, whose path to the UFC reads like a template for overcoming adversity. Beginning formal training at age 8 and turning pro in 2019, dos Santos rose through the Brazilian regional circuit on the back of submissions and early finishes before earning his UFC call in September 2023. He made his Octagon debut against ranked prospect Manel Kape at UFC 293, competing hard across three rounds but ultimately losing a unanimous decision. Since then, dos Santos has traded wins and losses against tougher-ranked foes, including setbacks to Andre Lima and Lone'er Kavanagh, before most recently returning to the win column with a clean decision over Kavanagh in March 2025.

As a fighter, dos Santos is a pressure striker with serious finishing instincts. He owns two knockout wins and three submission victories across his 8-3 record, leaning heavily on his favorite submission technique, the triangle choke, as well as elbows and knees in the clinch and from top position. He lands significant strikes at a high volume (3.75 per minute) but can be vulnerable to takedowns, a liability against grapplers. His three first-round finishes underscore his explosive potential, but his recent split decisions and losses show a fighter still adjusting to the speed and technical depth of the UFC roster.

What sets dos Santos apart is his origin story. Raised poor in northeast Brazil, he started training at 8 and worked as a street vendor and bicycle repairman before committing fully to fighting. He has stated plainly that fighting in the UFC is his childhood dream and a way to lift his family out of poverty and inspire children in his community away from the drug trade. That authenticity and hunger resonate with fans who value grit and purpose alongside skill. At 24, with a full career ahead, dos Santos represents the kind of rising prospect whose upside is real but still unproven at the elite level.