Not lengthy after Luana Santos made brief work of Mariya Agapova in July, she agreed to face Casey O’Neill on three weeks’ discover at UFC 305, which matches down this weekend in Perth.
The Brazilian travels to Australia understanding she’s about to compete in enemy territory.
O’Neill was born and raised in Scotland however moved to Queensland when she was 10 years outdated. Although she’s lived in Oceania ever since and is 4-0 as an expert MMA fighter when competing in Australian soil, O’Neill will expertise what’s prefer to have the house discipline benefit for the primary time since becoming a member of the UFC in 2021. However Santos is prepared.
“She represents Australia so the group positively received’t be on my facet,” Santos advised MMA Preventing. “I’m prepared for that. They are going to be on her facet. [I want to finish her] so I don’t depart something to likelihood.”
Santos is unbeaten underneath the UFC banner, sandwiching a choice over Stephanie Egger between finishes of Agapova and Juliana Miller. She appears at each different sport the place a decide can determine the winner as instructive on why she must get the job achieved early.
“We simply noticed on the Olympics that we now have to watch out with the judges always,” Santos stated. “It’s inevitable, proper? We wish to win by knockout or submission, however typically it doesn’t occur, and it’s onerous to depart within the arms of the judges. In all sports activities, actually.”
Alexa Grasso, who at the moment reigns at Santos’ weight class, faces Valentina Shevchenko in a flyweight trilogy at UFC 306 after battling to a draw final time round, and Santos agrees that “Bullet” must be involved about dealing with the Mexican star at UFC 306, a Mexican-themed pay-per-view on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas.
“I agree along with her concern,” Santos stated. “It’s her life and profession on the road. I believe she ought to have had the prospect to select the date now since she fought on Mexican Independence Day final time, however it’s a part of the sport. There are issues we are able to’t management, proper? I believe Valentina received that final struggle they usually scored it a draw due to the entire Mexico factor. Alexa is hard and is confirmed she deserves to be there, however I believe Valentina wins this time. I believe she’s going to win extra clearly now to indicate the judges what they didn’t see final time.”
For now, Santos is thrilled to face a ranked opponent in O’Neill. The 24-year-old expertise sees herself sitting within the high 15 with a end Saturday, and even has a reputation in thoughts for a post-fight callout, hoping for a December return to finish the 12 months on a six-fight profitable streak.
However stays centered on the duty forward.
“She’s coming off two losses so I believe she has a ton of stress over her, and that positively favors me,” Santos stated of O’Neill. “She’s fighter in every single place. She walks ahead on the ft, her jiu-jitsu may be very versatile, however is totally different from my grappling. My grappling is extra judo fashion, extra stress, and hers is extra free. It’s going to be fascinating if the struggle goes to the bottom.”
“However the struggle begins on the ft and she or he has flaws there, and I’ll work on her flaws, each on the bottom and on the ft,” she continued. “I’ve three weeks to check her recreation and work on what will likely be good for me, and I’m prepared. I’ve achieved every thing I needed to do to come back out victorious, little doubt about it.”
