Thiago Santos and Tafon Nchukwi will clash in a bare-knuckle MMA co-main event on September 12 in Chelyabinsk. The bout is part of a joint RCC and Gamebred tournament.
Thiago Santos and Tafon Nchukwi will meet in a bare-knuckle MMA co-main event on September 12 in Chelyabinsk, Russia, as part of a joint tournament organized by RCC and Gamebred.
Santos, known by his nickname "Marreta," brings a professional record of 22-13 into the matchup. The 42-year-old Brazilian stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and has built his reputation as a punishing striker over a lengthy career. He carries a striking accuracy of just over 55 percent, and his willingness to stand and trade has defined his style across more than three decades of competition.
Nchukwi, nicknamed "Da Don," enters with a record of 6-4. The 31-year-old from Cameroon, who trains out of Team Lloyd Irvin, is a physically imposing light heavyweight in his own right — standing six feet tall with a 77-inch reach. He produces significant output on the feet, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy clip. Nchukwi's game is largely built around striking, with minimal submission activity in his career numbers.
Why it matters
- The bare-knuckle MMA format adds an unusual wrinkle to what is already a high-energy striker-versus-striker matchup
- Santos's experience edge — 35 professional bouts against Nchukwi's 10 — sets up a notable contrast in seasoning
- A strong performance for either fighter carries weight as both look to establish positioning in the light heavyweight landscape
- The RCC and Gamebred co-promotion signals continued international expansion of bare-knuckle MMA as a competitive format
