Gabriel Santos’ run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship thus far has been a tale of strong showings in nearly impossible circumstances.
Beginning with his Octagon debut nearly two years ago in March of 2023, when the then 26-year-old stepped up on short notice against the undefeated Lerone Murphy and not only held his own, but deserved to win in the eyes of many observers, “Mosquitinho” has shown skills and resilience that belie his 1-2 mark with the promotion. Three months after the Murphy fight, Santos was thrown right back in against another highly regarded featherweight, David Onama.