Considering the short notice, Eryk Anders put up a good fight against Thiago Santos in the UFC Sao Paulo main event on Saturday night.
The rising middleweight, who stepped up on six days’ notice in the light heavyweight division, had success against the Brazilian favorite, landing multiple takedowns and his own fair share of shots on the feet. But it wasn’t enough, as he tired quicker than usual — Santos ended the fight with strikes at the end of the third round.
Referee Marc Goddard called a halt to the contest when Anders collapsed multiple times as he was trying to return to his corner at the end of the round. It was a rather scary scene, but “Ya Boi” reportedly did not suffer any serious injuries and is doing alright.
Brazilian commission CABMMA medical director Marcio Tannure told MMAjunkie.com after the event that the commission is running tests on Anders, but that he believes Anders’ post-fight actions were simply a result of exhaustion.
Just talked to CABMMA’s medical director, Marcio Tannure. They’re running tests on Eryk Anders right now, but he seems to be fine, and Tannure believes it was mostly exhaustion. Hector Lombard suffered an orbital fracture.
— Fernanda Prates (@NandaPrates_) September 23, 2018
Just ran into Eryk Anders in the hotel lobby. A few bumps and bruises, but overall fine.
— Fernanda Prates (@NandaPrates_) September 23, 2018
“Just ran into Eryk Anders in the hotel lobby,” reporter Fernanda Prates wrote on Twitter. “A few bumps and bruises, but overall fine.”
Anders reacted to his TKO loss Sunday morning on Twitter, saying that he hadn’t been as tired as he was in the Santos fight since the night he got married.
Not gonna lie, I haven’t been that tired since my wedding night
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) September 23, 2018
“Not gonna lie,” Anders wrote, “I haven’t been that tired since my wedding night.”
Anders seemingly wants to have a rather quick turnaround following the first stoppage loss of his pro career.
Shhhhhiiiiiiiddddd it be like that sometimes ♂️.. see you pussies in december. To vivo
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) September 23, 2018
“See you p-ssies in december,” he wrote.
Anders stepped up on short notice for light heavyweight contender Jimi Manuwa, who arrived in Sao Paulo at the beginning of fight week and suffered a hamstring injury the same day.
Before UFC Sao Paulo, Anders was coming off a knockout win over Tim Williams. After two straight UFC wins last year, he suffered his first career loss to former champ Lyoto Machida in February — also in Brazil. Anders plans on returning to the middleweight division following the Santos defeat.
Santos, who stepped up on short notice on this card for Glover Teixeira, is now riding a two-fight winning streak. He defeated Kevin Holland in August.
UFC Sao Paulo took place at Ginásio do Ibirapuera.
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