Luana Santos began her UFC profession as a flyweight, however her future could also be at bantamweight. At 25, she returns to the 135-pound division to face Tainara Lisboa at UFC Vegas 106 on Saturday trying to make an vital determination.
Santos was booked to struggle as soon as earlier than at bantamweight within the UFC, however badly missed the goal, coming in at practically 140 kilos. Medical doctors found the younger Brazilian had Hashimoto’s illness, an autoimmune situation that may result in weight acquire by affecting the thyroid gland. Santos took remedy to get the illness below management and he or she went 1-1 as a flyweight, but it surely simply made sense to return to bantamweight after combating abdomen points earlier than and after the lower for her latest bout with Casey O’Neill.
On prime of that, Santos sees the bantamweight class as being so shallow it might imply a faster rise to the highest.
“Not that it’s simpler… however it’s,” Santos informed MMA Combating. “I feel the 125 division is extra aggressive than 135. And if I can struggle at 135, why not take the shortcut? For instance, Tainara was ranked after solely two fights within the UFC. She didn’t beat anybody related to be ranked. It’s simpler to climb [the ranking] at 135 than 125. If I’ve the power and measurement to be at 135, why proceed battling my physique to chop to 125 if I’m solely 25 and will certainly not be a flyweight sooner or later?”
Santos’ determination shouldn’t be set in stone but. A future at bantamweight relies on her efficiency in opposition to Lisboa and probably her subsequent struggle, however the transfer is smart proper now.
“I’m not a small woman for 135. Fairly the other,” Santos stated. “I fought at 135 earlier than and I’ll attempt that once more. Let’s see the way it goes. If I win this one and the following, let’s do it. All of it relies on how the struggle goes and the way I really feel in there.”
Lisboa is older than Santos and hasn’t fought in 18 months as a result of a battle with a career-threatening left knee damage. Santos received’t overlook her opponent, however sees the situation as extra favorable for her at UFC Vegas 106.
“I feel Tainara is a really powerful and skilled woman,” Santos stated. “She’s virtually 10 years older than me but when we’re speaking MMA, we have now virtually the identical expertise. Her hanging is extra Muay Thai oriented, she has good jiu-jitsu, however I feel I will be superior than her in that space. The 2 losses she had have been in opposition to ladies who’ve completed that sort of recreation.”
“I feel it’s a fantastic matchup,” she added. “She’s coming off a knee damage and I don’t know the way her head might be after greater than a 12 months off. I feel she’s powerful. I don’t assume it’s going to be a simple struggle, however I feel there’s a fantastic likelihood I come out with the win.”
