Jimi Manuwa Expected to Face Thiago Santos in New Main Event for UFC Card in Brazil

The day has been saved for the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in Sao Paulo, Brazil as Jimi Manuwa is expected to face Thiago Santos in a light heavyweight main event on Sept. 22.

Sources close to the matchup confirmed the fight on Friday with verbal agreements in place from both athletes. ESPN first reported the possible matchup.

The fight came together just days after former title contender Glover Teixeira was forced off the card due to a shoulder injury that may require him to have surgery.

Manuwa had been chasing the fight with Teixeira for months so following his injury, there was no word whether or not he would even stay on the card.

Now the UFC has secured him a replacement opponent with Santos stepping in on short notice while also bumping up to 205 pounds after spending the majority of his career as a middleweight.

Santos most recently defeated Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series veteran Kevin Holland at UFC 227 and said he was going to stay ready for another short notice bout if his services were required.

He got the call and now Santos will headline the upcoming card in Brazil as he faces a fellow knockout artist in Manuwa.