A year removed from his UFC 300 loss to Diego Lopes, Sodiq Yusuff’s redemption is on the line when he steps into the Octagon at UFC Vegas 106 for a short-notice bout. With his UFC momentum being hindered by injuries in recent years, ‘Super’ confessed to UFC.com, “This has probably been the closest I’ve ever been to hanging it up, just because my body wasn’t keeping up anymore.” His opponent is Mairon Santos, a rising force carrying the momentum of two straight wins inside the Octagon.

So what happens when an experienced fighter trying to steady his ship meets an undefeated wave of talent rising fast? That’s exactly what we’re here to break down as we look at the tale of the tape first!

UFC Vegas 106: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Mairon Santos stats

Sodiq Yusuff enters this bout with a 13-4 record (6-3 in the UFC). Standing 5’9” with a 71-inch reach, the Nigerian-born striker has always been known for his explosiveness. He lands 5.66 significant strikes per minute with 49% accuracy, but absorbs 4.51, which is slightly concerning. Defensively, his striking holds at 53%, while his takedown defense clocks in at 62%.

He rarely shoots for takedowns, averaging just 0.28 per 15 minutes, and has a low success rate at 20%. But his durability and striking volume have made him dangerous in scrappy wars.

Now, meet Mairon Santos, the 24-year-old phenom from Brazil. He holds a 16-1 record and is riding a wave of confidence after winning The Ultimate Fighter 32 and securing back-to-back UFC wins. Santos, at 5’7” with a 72-inch reach, brings a surgical striking approach.

He lands 4.14 strikes per minute at 45% accuracy and absorbs only 2.37. His 70% strike defense is impressive, almost stubbornly unbreakable. His ground game? Unproven. With zero takedowns landed in the UFC and just 40% takedown defense, the ground could be his kryptonite, but only if Yusuff tries to test it at UFC Vegas 106.

Yusuff vs. Santos breakdown and prediction

At first glance, this looks like a striker’s duel. And it probably will be. Both men are leaping into the unknown as the bout is scheduled at lightweight. Sodiq Yusuff is making the jump from 145 lbs, possibly hoping the extra weight helps ease his injuries. Santos? He’s used to the weight cut but now gets to fight at full power, no drain.

Let’s not forget Yusuff’s past. He’s been inconsistent, not from lack of skill but lack of opportunity, as he confessed in his UFC.com interview, “I’ve had a couple shoulder problems (in the past) and at that time, my ankle was also bothering me. I’ve had knee problems, but the biggest one has always been the herniations in my spine.”

But he’s still here. And with names like Andre Fili and Alex Caceres on his resume, he’s beaten high-level fighters before. But back-to-back losses to Edson Barboza and Lopes, especially the stunning finish at UFC 300, have taken the shine off his aura.

Santos, on the other hand, edged past Francis Marshall in his last fight, though some critics thought the decision was questionable. Still, the Brazilian stayed composed under fire and landed crisp counters. Stylistically, this will be a speed vs. precision matchup.

Our prediction? This will be close. But if Mairon Santos can weather the early storm and avoid the haymakers, his cleaner technique and composure could earn him the nod on the scorecards at UFC Vegas 106. But what do you think? Will Yusuff rise again, or is Santos about to add another name to his growing list of scalps? Let us know your picks in the comments below!