Santiago Ponzinibbio had a mixed bag of a UFC career in 2021. The Argentine welterweight went 1-2 but the record doesn't tell the whole story.

He lost by knockout to Li Jingliang in his first UFC fight back, then he put on an arguable ‘fight of the year' in a win over Miguel Baeza, and then ended things with a close decision loss to Geoff Neal. It wasn't a bad stretch at all but it was still a tough one.

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“I didn’t get the result I hoped for,” UFC welterweight Ponzinibbio told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “It was a close fight. I could’ve won it. In fact, it was a split decision. I do leave with a sour taste because I know I could’ve won the fight, but that’s how things go.

“Each fight is different, and it depends on how you’re feeling that day and many other factors,” the UFC fighter continued. “I don’t want to take anything away from Geoff Neal. I give him his props because he’s a tough adversary. I knew he was going to come strong because he had taken his time from issues that he had. So I knew he was going to show up, because he had a lot on the line. He was very prepared and had a good fight. I still think I have the resources to beat him, but it wasn’t my night. I’m now focused on 2022.”

The UFC welterweight expects to have a big year in 2022 and hopes to get back in the title picture. Only time will tell if Santiago Ponzinibbio is able to get back on track and knockout top contenders again.