Nick Maximov vs. Wildemar Santos: LFA 243 Preview and Prediction

Nick Maximov’s Move to 205 Meets Wildemar Santos’ Submission Threat at LFA 243

Nick Maximov, a former UFC fighter, has rebooted his career with six victories since his exit from the organization, now facing a significant challenge against Wildemar “Negueba” Santos at LFA 243. The matchup features Maximov, a grappling specialist moving up to light heavyweight, against Santos, a larger opponent known for submissions. Maximov's record stands at 14-2, including wins over notable competitors, while Santos, at 14-5, boasts a strong submission background. This fight will test Maximov’s grappling against Santos' size and submission skills, with predictions favoring Maximov's experience and wrestling, potentially leading to a decision victory.

AI Author September 28, 2026 6 minutes read

Nick Maximov has rebuilt his career through six victories since leaving the UFC. On Friday, October 9, that run meets a considerably larger obstacle.

Maximov will face Wildemar “Negueba” Santos in the 205-pound main event of LFA 243 at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, California. The official LFA announcement lists Maximov at 14-2 and Santos at 14-5, creating a matchup between a proven wrestler moving up in weight and a natural light heavyweight whose record is built around submissions.

For Maximov, this is more than another regional assignment. It is a chance to prove that his grappling and pace remain effective against a taller opponent carrying light-heavyweight size. Santos, meanwhile, can turn a victory over a former UFC fighter into the most recognizable result of his career.

Maximov’s Regional Rebuild

Maximov’s UFC run ended after consecutive losses to Andre Petroski and Jacob Malkoun in 2022. He did not return to MMA until August 2024, but he has been unbeaten in seven appearances since then, producing six wins and one no contest.

That stretch includes decisions over Kevem Felipe, Said-Magomed Abdulgaziev and Renato Valente, a submission of Elias Urbina, a stoppage of Handesson Ferreira and a March 2026 first-round TKO of Randall Wallace. The January fight with Wallace ended in a no contest following an accidental eye poke, before Maximov won the rematch two months later. His current Sherdog record lists four knockouts, four submissions and six decisions among his 14 victories.

The variety matters. Maximov is still best known for wrestling, but the six decisions on his record show that his offense does not require an immediate finish. That becomes especially useful against Santos, who has never been submitted as a professional.

Maximov’s four-fight UFC sample also offers a limited statistical window into his approach. GIDStats’ UFC data credits him with 15 completed takedowns on 32 attempts, a 47 percent conversion rate, and 3.8 takedowns per bout. The sample is too small to treat those numbers as a complete forecast, but it supports what his record and footage suggest: Maximov is willing to keep returning to grappling exchanges until they begin producing control.

Santos Brings Size and Submission Danger

Santos is listed at 6-foot-4, four inches taller than Maximov, and his recent weigh-ins have placed him close to the light-heavyweight limit. Maximov’s recent fights have occurred at middleweight, making the physical transition one of the most important uncertainties in this matchup.

The Brazilian has also won three consecutive fights. He submitted Adam Vigil with a first-round face crank in July, stopped Cleber Sousa Silva after an opponent knee injury in September 2025 and submitted Marcus Atila in May 2025. According to his Sherdog fight history, nine of Santos’ 14 victories have come by submission. That is 64 percent of his professional wins, with three knockouts and two decisions accounting for the rest.

Santos has lost five times, but only once by stoppage. Four of those losses went to decisions, and none came by submission. That history suggests Maximov should not expect an easy finish even if he establishes top position.

The size difference also complicates the wrestling exchanges. Santos’ longer frame can create openings for front headlocks, back takes and scrambles if Maximov shoots from too far away. Maximov will need to enter behind strikes or cage pressure, connect his hands before Santos extends his hips and keep the Brazilian from using length to attack his neck during transitions.

At distance, Santos has the longer tools, but Maximov has faced the stronger overall level of competition. Maximov owns UFC victories over Cody Brundage and Punahele Soriano, while his post-UFC run has given him repeated experience against durable regional veterans. Santos’ best path is to make that experience less relevant by turning the fight into a physically taxing scramble at a new weight.

Other Fights to Watch at LFA 243

LFA’s initial announcement contains seven matchups. The supporting card includes Mason Carzino-Hartshorn against Kelvin Martinez at flyweight, Kyle Clark against Ali Gazamatov at light heavyweight and an unbeaten-prospect pairing between Sophie Lang and Aysia Cortez at strawweight.

Ciaran Saunders meets Latrell White at bantamweight, while Lorenzo Figueroa faces Helton José Jr. at heavyweight. LFA has said additional bouts will be announced, so the card should be checked again before publication.

JMA prediction

Pick: Nick Maximov by decision

Structured-evidence forecast: Maximov 61 percent, Santos 39 percent. Confidence tier: Pick.

Maximov’s deeper experience, persistent wrestling and demonstrated ability to win full-length fights give him the narrow advantage. His clearest route is to close distance, force Santos against the cage and accumulate enough control to win rounds without taking unnecessary submission risks.

Santos’ size and nine career submissions make him a live underdog. If Maximov’s entries become predictable, Santos can attack the neck or use his longer frame to reverse position. The move to 205 pounds also makes Maximov’s normal strength advantage less certain.

The contradiction is clear: Maximov’s best weapon takes the fight directly into Santos’ most productive finishing phase. That keeps the forecast close and makes a decision safer than predicting a Maximov submission.

How to attend

LFA 243 takes place Friday, October 9, at Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front Street, Santa Cruz, California.

The official Ticketmaster listing confirms doors at 4 p.m. PT, preliminary fights at 4:30 p.m. and the main card at 6 p.m. Ticketmaster currently limits purchases to eight tickets per person and credit card. Its dynamic listing did not expose a stable price range during verification, so prices should be checked directly before publication.

The main card is scheduled to air in the United States on VICE TV at 9 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. PT.

Maximov has already shown that he can rebuild after leaving the sport’s largest stage. LFA 243 will test whether that rebuilding project can continue against a larger opponent with the submission game to punish almost any grappling mistake.