Daniel Santos

Daniel Santos, nicknamed Willycat for an unusually high sprawl that earned him comparison to the ThunderCats character, is a 31-year-old Brazilian featherweight riding a documented blend of technical Muay Thai and submission grappling. Born in rural Uberlandia and once working in the fields, Santos was inspired to train after watching Anderson Silva celebrate in the UFC. He turned pro in 2013 and spent years competing in regional Brazilian promotions, capturing the Fatality Arena title in Rio de Janeiro before his 2022 UFC debut against Julio Arce at UFC 273, a bout he lost by unanimous decision but which established him as a serious prospect worth monitoring.

Since that initial setback, Santos has compiled a 6-1 record inside the octagon, showcasing a high-volume striking style grounded in his black-belt Muay Thai. He lands 76 percent of his significant strikes from distance and shows the kind of clinch and ground work that rounds out a modern MMA game. His signature moment came in October 2022 when he knocked out John Castaneda with a vicious second-round knee, a finish that earned Fight of the Night honors. Santos has racked up 7 UFC knockouts and 2 submissions overall, with 3 first-round finishes, making him one of the promotion's most explosive finishers at 145 pounds.

Training at Chute Boxe alongside UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, Santos brings legitimate pedigree and hunger to every fight. He speaks humbly about his dream to become champion and make history, treating each opponent as if they were at the title level. His aggressive style and willingness to take tough fights at short notice have earned respect inside the locker room, even as a recent second-round knockout loss to Dooho Choi at UFC Fight Night (May 2026) reminded him that featherweight's elite are still a rung above. At 14-2, Santos remains positioned to climb back into contention with a few decisive wins.