Leonardo Santos says he belongs in 'TUF: Brazil 2' final at UFC on FUEL TV 10

Leonardo Santos didn’t reach the finals of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.” Yet here he is, fighting for the title.

Santos (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) meets Willaim Macario (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at UFC on FUEL TV 10 in Brazil, and he’ll be hoping to become the next “Ultimate Fighter.”

But how he got there is a little non-traditional. When Santiago Ponzinibbio was hurt after beating Santos by close split decision in the semifinals, Santos got a reprieve – and a shot at Macario.

UFC on FUEL TV 10 takes place at Paulo Sarasate Arena in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. The main card, including Santos vs. Macario, airs on FUEL TV following a prelims stream on Facebook.

But regardless of how he got here, Santos believes it was meant to be.

“I saw the fight after the show and I thought I had actually won the fight, and many people texted me saying they thought I had won,” Santos told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “So it was like God’s finger – He didn’t give me the victory, but He brought it back to me. this comeback was divine justice.”

Although he didn’t lose on the reality series until the semifinals, Santos said he wasn’t altogether happy with his performance on the show.

But when it got right down to it, winning the show was of the utmost importance.

“I really wasn’t very pleased because I wasn’t able to submit anyone, which is my specialty,” he said. “The athletes were very high level. After my first fight, my target was just to win, regardless of how. So I did my job and did the best I could. And thank God I’m back.”

Santos will be facing one of his Team Nogueira teammates in Macario, whose pro career includes all stoppages – five in the first round.

It won’t be the first time “TUF” teammates have met in the finals after training together during their time in the house. But Santos isn’t too concerned about that.

“I’m going to be facing a guy who was on my team, yes,” Santos said. “But in reality, he isn’t on my team. It will be a normal fight just like any other. To fight someone inside my actual team would be different.”

Santos is trying to put the circumstances of how he got to the finals and fighting a teammate behind him, though.

More importantly, taking a “TUF” title would cement him in the UFC.

“It will be a big dream come true,” he said. “It will be a new step forward. I’ve been in this for a long time, so now is the time to show everything I’ve done and everything I’ve fought to overcome.”

For the latest on UFC on FUEL TV 10, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.