"Another hard and painful defeat" - Thiago Santos release statement after loss to Magomed Ankalaev

Following his loss on Saturday, Thiago Santos took to social media to share his immediate thoughts on the fight but promised to make no excuses for the defeat.

The Brazilian came up short against Magomed Ankalaev who outscored him for a decision victory. The loss would serve as the 38-year-old's fourth in his last five fights, leaving his future in the sport uncertain.

Reflecting on the setback, Thiago Santos took a moment to give his views on the matchup, saying:

"No words about yesterday, no excuses, another hard and painful defeat. Still, my faith in God remains unshakable and my gratitude to him, my family, my friends, coaches and true fans only increases, thank you for everything."

While he managed to stay classy and professional, coming up short again and winning just one of his last five fights must leave the light heavyweight considering his options.

Magomed Ankalaev moved to 17-1 and is spearheading his way to the top of the division in search of a titleshot. This win moves him nearer to the top 5 of the weightclass. Fans could potentially see the 29-year-old lining up to face the winner of the Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka title fight on June 11.

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Where does Thiago Santos go from here?

As he quickly approaches 40 years of age, Thiago Santos is more than likely past his prime and could see a major decline moving forward. So what's next for the former title challenger?

While his form inside the octagon has hit a rough patch as of late, he remains a very well-rounded contender. Despite Ankalaev being the favorite, Santos managed to stay competitive throughout the fight, winning two rounds on one judge's scorecard, and even knocking the Russian down.

The 32-fight veteran has a number of possible matchups lined up for him in the light heavyweight division. He could find his way back into the title picture with one or two consecutive wins.

A rematch with Anthony Smith could relight the fire underneath the Brazilian, or a brawl against Jamahal Hill could be a high-risk, high-reward situation. While it is still unclear what's next for Thiago Santos, perhaps a fight with the heavy-handed Dominick Reyes could be enough to earn more of the division's respect.