Luana Santos began her UFC journey in the flyweight division, but she may find her future lies in the bantamweight class. The 25-year-old fighter is making a return to the 135-pound division to compete against Tainara Lisboa at UFC Vegas 106 this Saturday, a bout she views as critical for deciding her permanent weight class.
Santos had previously attempted a fight at bantamweight in the UFC, but she significantly missed the weight limit, weighing in at nearly 140 pounds. Doctors subsequently diagnosed her with Hashimoto`s disease, an autoimmune condition that can affect the thyroid gland and lead to weight fluctuations. After successfully managing the condition with medication, she returned to flyweight, where she accumulated a 1-1 record. However, lingering stomach issues experienced both before and after her recent weight cut for a bout against Casey O`Neill made a move back to 135 pounds a logical choice.
Beyond the physical considerations, Santos believes the bantamweight division offers a less congested field, potentially leading to a faster ascent towards a title opportunity.
“It’s not that it’s easier… but it kind of is,” Santos told MMA Fighting. “I believe the 125 division is more competitive than 135. If I’m capable of fighting at 135, why wouldn`t I take the shortcut? For instance, Tainara got ranked after just two fights in the UFC without defeating anyone particularly notable to earn that spot. Climbing the ranking is simpler at 135 compared to 125. If I possess the strength and size to compete at 135, why continue battling my body to make the 125 cut when I’m only 25 and clearly won`t remain a flyweight indefinitely?”
However, Santos` decision is not yet finalized. Whether she commits to a future at bantamweight will depend on her performance against Lisboa and potentially the outcome of her subsequent fight, but for now, the transition makes sense.
“I’m certainly not a small fighter for the 135-pound division. Quite the opposite,” Santos affirmed. “I have fought at 135 before, and I am going to try it again. We’ll see how things unfold. If I manage to win this fight and the next, then maybe that`s where I stay. Everything depends on how the fight goes and how I feel while competing.”
Tainara Lisboa is older than Santos and has faced a significant setback, being sidelined for 18 months due to a serious left knee injury that threatened her career. While Santos respects her opponent and will not look past her, she perceives the circumstances surrounding the UFC Vegas 106 bout as potentially favorable for her.
“I consider Tainara a very tough and experienced opponent,” Santos commented. “She is almost 10 years my senior, but in terms of MMA fighting experience, we are quite evenly matched. Her striking style leans more towards Muay Thai, and she possesses good jiu-jitsu skills, but I believe I can be superior to her in that specific area. Both of her previous losses were against fighters who employed a similar game plan.”
“I think it’s a favorable matchup for me,” she added. “She is coming back from a knee injury, and I’m uncertain about her mental state after being out for more than a year. I regard her as tough; I don`t anticipate an easy fight by any means, but I do believe I have a strong probability of coming out victorious.”
Marcus Blakely