Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and the Thrill of the Chase

Order Now! UFC 302 “Makhachev vs. Poirier” Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos wants a more significant piece of the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight pie, and a history of consistent performance indicates he probably deserves one.

The 37-year-old Brazilian cozies up to his latest assignment with a stellar 11-3-1 promotional record, as he takes aim at former Ring of Combat champion Randy Brown in a featured UFC 302 attraction this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Even with a proven track record—two of his losses resulted in split decisions—and fan-friendly style, Zaleski dos Santos finds himself outside the current rankings at 170 pounds.

“From the moment I started fighting, I did it in a way where I could show my best,” he told Sherdog.com. “I always look for ways to improve in martial arts. Every fight has been tough. I see myself as belonging in the Top 15 and being a future champion of the organization. Anything can happen. I still have a lot of time to do my job within the UFC. I have renewed my contract, so I want to be able to show it and see how far I can get.

“I have my goals, and I know I can get very far,” Zaleski dos Santos added. “A lot can happen, and I see a very bright future within the organization with the time I have left. I believe that our division is the most dangerous division and the most in flux. There are a ton of fighters since it’s the average male size in the world, and everyone is looking for their place in the sun.”

Brown does not figure to be an easy obstacle to navigate. “Rude Boy” has rattled off eight wins in 10 appearances, losing only to Jack Della Maddalena and Vicente Luque. Brown, who stands 6-foot-3 and wields 78 inches of reach, last competed at UFC Fight Night 235, where he put away Muslim Salikhov with punches in the first round of their Feb. 3 pairing.

“I expect a great fight, like all the others,” Zaleski dos Santos said. “Brown is a guy who has had good fights, too. He has his own objectives, as do I. For sure, I will keep putting in the work to achieve them. As I see it, he’s a complete fighter, as am I. I think I will find the right opportunity to finish this fight, to knock him out. I see this fight ending before the third round. I believe that we will be able to give our best in there and have a great fight for the organization and for all the fans.”

A longtime CM System representative, Zaleski dos Santos continues to train under Cristiano Marcello in his native Brazil. Marcello’s guidance, wisdom and expertise have been invaluable to him over the years.

“The guys on our team give me the support and put their minds into it,” Zaleski dos Santos said. “We have 50 athletes from every category. We get a lot out of it. I’ve been improving and adding more new weapons to my game so I can always perform the best way possible.”

Zaleski dos Santos settled for a majority draw with the once-beaten Rinat Fakhretdinov in his most recent appearance at UFC Fight Night 231 some seven months ago. He turns 38 in November and seems to understand the urgency associated with his current situation.

“The objective now is to really take this step,” Zaleski dos Santos said. “This step is very important in my career, just like all the others were. They brought me here. My goal is to be able to do my best in there, consequently get my arm raised, eventually climb to the Top 5 and to be able to have my opportunity shot at belt. That’s what I’m chasing after.”

Order Now! UFC 302 “Makhachev vs. Poirier” Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+