UFC Fight Night 38 results: Thiago 'Marreta' Santos gets quick upset of Ronny Markes

NATAL, Brazil – In the latest upset for the betting underdogs of UFC Fight Night 38, “The Ultimate Fighter 2? vet Thiago “Marreta” Santos put away Ronny Markes in the first round.

The long and lanky Santos landed a thudding kick to the liver to set up a quick finish in the event’s final preliminary-card bout.

The catchweight contest took place at today’s UFC Fight Night 38 event Ginasio Nelio Dias in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. It aired on FOX Sports 1 following an additional prelim on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of a main card on FOX Sports 1.

The finish came at the 0:53 mark of the first frame after Santos peppered Markes with a flurry of hammerfists and referee Mario Yamasaki moved in to stop the bout.

Markes, who gave up 20 percent of his purse when he weighed in for the middleweight fight at 190 pounds, was ready to trade with Santos when he took the liver kick. His reaction to the strike was delayed, but its effect forced him to drop to his back. On the mat, he was helpless as Santos pounded away.

“I know I wasn’t the favorite,” Santos said. “I was going against a very experienced guy. I had to prove to myself that I deserved to be here. I had the victory in my mind already. I was looking for that kick. I saw that when I was jabbing he was lifting his hands, exposing his ribs, and you know what they say: When a lion smells the meat, it doesn’t let it get away.”

“He hit me right in the (solar) plexus,” Markes said. “I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move my abdomen. It happens – it’s part of the game.”

Santos (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) rebounds from a loss to “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” winner Cezar Ferreira in his professional octagon debut, while Markes (14-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) now has dropped two straight after a three-fight win streak opened his UFC career.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 38 results include:

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 38, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Brazil.