Yana Santos achieved a significant victory, defeating former champion Miesha Tate via unanimous decision at UFC Des Moines on Saturday. Santos showcased superior striking in the initial two rounds, landing precise combinations that secured her a lead on the judges` scorecards.
Despite a late surge from Tate, who managed a crucial takedown, she was unable to find a fight-ending submission. Santos successfully defended until the final horn, ensuring her win.
The fight was scored 29-28 by all three judges in favor of Santos, marking her second consecutive win.
Following her triumph, Santos expressed respect for her opponent. “I want to say thank you to my opponent,” Santos commented about Tate. “She’s my all-time favorite fighter. It’s more than my dream that I have a win over her. I’m happy that I won it.”
Tate began the bout with high intensity, launching forward with punches and initiating takedown attempts. Santos adeptly weathered this early pressure, responding with effective counter-strikes and well-timed elbows during clinch exchanges.
As the fight wore on, Santos began systematically targeting the body before moving upstairs with a sharp lead jab. She also incorporated leg kicks that visibly impacted Tate`s mobility.
Santos maintained distance, effectively circling away and choosing her moments to land impactful strikes while Tate pressed forward. Santos also demonstrated strong takedown defense, easily shrugging off Tate`s wrestling attempts.
Entering the third and final round, and likely trailing on the scorecards, Tate intensified her efforts, finally securing her first takedown. She worked diligently from top position, transitioning through half-guard and mount before taking Santos`s back.
Tate aggressively pursued a submission, but Santos showed resilience, defending against every attempt until the fight concluded. With time expiring, Santos had done enough to earn the judges` decision after a competitive three rounds.
Adding Miesha Tate to her list of victories bolsters Santos`s standing in the bantamweight division as she aims to climb the rankings. For the 38-year-old veteran Tate, this loss brings her record to 2-3 since her return from retirement in 2021.
