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 essential choice.
Santos was booked to combat as soon as earlier than at bantamweight within the UFC, however badly missed the goal, coming in at almost 140 kilos. Medical doctors found the younger Brazilian had Hashimoto’s illness, an autoimmune situation that may result in weight achieve by affecting the thyroid gland. Santos took treatment to get the illness underneath management and she or he went 1-1 as a flyweight, nevertheless it simply made sense to return to bantamweight after fighting abdomen points earlier than and after the lower for her current 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 advised MMA Combating. “I believe the 125 division is extra aggressive than 135. And if I can combat 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 energy 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’ choice isn’t set in stone but. A future at bantamweight will depend on her efficiency in opposition to Lisboa and presumably her subsequent combat, however the transfer is smart proper now.
“I’m not a small woman for 135. Fairly the alternative,” Santos mentioned. “I fought at 135 earlier than and I’ll strive 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 will depend on how the combat goes and the way I really feel in there.”
Lisboa is older than Santos and hasn’t fought in 18 months attributable to a battle with a career-threatening left knee damage. Santos gained’t overlook her opponent, however sees the situation as extra favorable for her at UFC Vegas 106.
“I believe Tainara is a really powerful and skilled woman,” Santos mentioned. “She’s virtually 10 years older than me but when we’re speaking MMA, we now have virtually the identical expertise. Her hanging is extra Muay Thai oriented, she has good jiu-jitsu, however I believe I may be superior than her in that space. The 2 losses she had had been in opposition to ladies who’ve executed that sort of recreation.”
“I believe it’s an ideal matchup,” she added. “She’s coming off a knee damage and I don’t know the way her head shall be after greater than a yr off. I believe she’s powerful. I don’t assume it’s going to be a simple combat, however I believe there’s an ideal probability I come out with the win.”
