‘Big Monster’ Santos Predicts Knockout or Sub in Bellator 61 Rematch with Prindle

In reality, the bout produced little. After taking the fight to the floor early in round one, Santos stood above Prindle, who lay flat on his back. The Brazilian then executed what appeared to be a swift kick directly to Prindle’s groin. As the American was unable to recover from the shot -- which was ruled accidental by referee Greg Franklin -- the bout was officially called a no contest.

Now, the two heavyweights will lock horns once again this Friday, headlining Bellator 61 from the Riverdome at Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Bossier City, La.

With the rematch now just days away, Santos has addressed the foul that ended his first bout with Prindle prematurely.

“I was very disappointed that the first fight with Eric [Prindle] ended the way it did. I don't think the kick I threw hit him in the groin at all. I tried to kick his ass to get through his guard,” Santos told Sherdog.com. “I think Eric wanted the fight to continue right after the kick landed, but his corner told him to drop in the cage. His corner tried to deceive the referee. They were telling him to fall down.”

Prior to the foul, the Rio Heroes veteran appeared to be sitting in the driver’s seat, planting the heavy-handed American on his back and chopping away with ground-and-pound. Though Santos stopped short of saying he would have won the bout had the foul been a non-factor, the Brazilian does believe he had the upper hand.

“In my first fight with Eric, I saw that he has good boxing and that he's very, very strong. It actually really surprised me that I was able to take him down as easily as I did,” said Santos. “I can't say for sure that I would have beaten him the first time we fought, but I definitely feel like I held a big advantage on that night before the accident.”

Though “Big Monster” respects his opponent, he believes he will be the better man in the rematch come fight night.

“[Prindle] is a good fighter and a good person, but I'm better at everything and I will prove it to everyone in this rematch,” Santos said. “I just have to be focused and execute my game plan. Eric knows what I'm going to do, but there's nothing he can do to stop me. I have nothing to say to Eric before this rematch. I'm going to deliver my message to him personally in the cage.”

If Santos has his way, that message will be delivered quickly, leaving no one standing in his path except the heavyweight champion.

“I see this second fight with Eric [Prindle] ending very fast, either by knockout or submission,” said Santos. “My advice to Cole Konrad would be to train very hard, because he's about to have a serious problem on his hands.”