Luana Santos, who initiated her UFC tenure in the flyweight category, is now contemplating bantamweight as her potential long-term division. The 25-year-old is slated to compete at 135 pounds against Tainara Lisboa this Saturday at UFC Vegas 106. This upcoming bout is seen by Santos as pivotal in determining her future weight class.
Santos previously had a bantamweight fight scheduled in the UFC but significantly missed the mark, weighing in close to 140 pounds. Subsequent medical evaluations revealed she had Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition impacting the thyroid that can lead to weight gain. After managing the condition with medication, she returned to fight twice at flyweight, achieving a 1-1 record. However, persistent stomach issues encountered during the weight cut for her recent flyweight bout against Casey O’Neill prompted her decision to revisit the bantamweight division.
Adding to her rationale, Santos perceives the bantamweight weight class as having less depth, suggesting a potentially quicker ascent towards the top.
Santos elaborated on her perspective, stating, “It`s not exactly easier, but it does feel that way. I believe the 125 division is more densely competitive than 135. If I can effectively compete at 135, why wouldn`t I choose the more direct path? Take Tainara, for example; she was ranked after just two fights in the UFC without notable wins over high-ranking opponents. It appears simpler to climb the rankings at 135 than at 125. If I possess the strength and physical attributes for 135, and knowing that at 25 I won`t realistically stay a flyweight indefinitely, why should I continue battling my body to make the 125 limit?”
Santos clarified that her decision isn`t entirely permanent yet. Her future in the bantamweight division will largely depend on her performance against Lisboa and potentially her subsequent fight, although the move feels like the right one for the moment.
She added, “I am not a small fighter for 135 pounds; quite the opposite. I have competed at 135 before, and I am giving it another try. Let`s see how it unfolds. If I manage to win this fight and my next, then that will likely be the course of action. Ultimately, everything hinges on how the fight plays out and how I feel physically during it.”
Lisboa is older than Santos and has been sidelined for 18 months following a significant left knee injury that posed a threat to her career. While Santos maintains respect for her opponent, she sees the circumstances surrounding Lisboa`s return as potentially advantageous for herself at UFC Vegas 106.
Commenting on the matchup, Santos said, “I consider Tainara a very resilient and seasoned competitor. Despite being nearly a decade my senior, in terms of MMA experience, we are quite comparable. Her striking style is more rooted in Muay Thai, and she possesses strong jiu-jitsu skills. However, I believe I can establish superiority over her in that particular domain. Her only two losses in the UFC came against fighters who employed a strategy similar to what I might utilize.”
She concluded, “I view this as a favorable pairing for me. Given she is returning from a knee injury, I am uncertain about her mental state after being inactive for over a year. I recognize she is tough, and I don`t anticipate an easy fight, but I do feel there is a strong probability of me securing the victory.”
