With Glover Teixeira injured and unable to fight Jimi Manuwa in the UFC Sao Paulo main event, options aren’t exactly plentiful for Manuwa to face, especially as the UFC would rather have a Brazilian opposite the Englishman.

One such Brazilian who says he’s up for the challenge is veteran middleweight striker Thiago Santos. However, according to “Marreta,” Manuwa decided to turn it down.

“ I offered to fight Manuwa in Sao Paulo but he declined. I get it! He is coming off 2 losses doesnt need a 3rd!!!! @ufc @ufc_brasil @canalCombate — Thiago Marreta (@TMarretaMMA) August 15, 2018

Santos (18-6) recently bounced back from a KO loss to David Branch with a unanimous decision win over Kevin Holland at UFC 227. He’s never competed at light heavyweight, although he did weigh 209.2 lbs on fight day itself, per the California State Athletic Commission.

According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Khalil Rountree is in Brazil and also wanted the fight, but as mentioned before, the UFC wanted a Brazilian opponent. This also rules out Corey Anderson, who beat Teixeira in May, but he wasn’t available anyway. Perhaps in jest seeing as he already has a main event coming up in October, Anthony Smith put his name into the conversation.

For what it’s worth, Brazil’s Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is on the UFC Sao Paulo card, set to take on veteran Sam Alvey.

UFC Sao Paulo takes place on Saturday, September 22nd at the Ginásio do Ibirapuera. The night’s main card will air live on Fox Sports 1.