Luana Santos began her UFC career competing in the flyweight division, but she is now considering a future at bantamweight. The 25-year-old fighter is scheduled to return to the 135-pound weight class to face Tainara Lisboa at UFC Vegas 106 this Saturday, a fight she sees as crucial for making a significant career decision regarding her weight class.
Santos had a prior attempt at bantamweight in the UFC but missed the mark significantly, weighing in close to 140 pounds. Doctors later diagnosed her with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid which can lead to weight gain. After receiving medication to manage the disease and competing twice at flyweight with a 1-1 record, returning to bantamweight seemed like a logical step, especially following struggles with stomach issues before and after cutting weight for her recent bout against Casey O’Neill.
Adding to her reasoning, Santos perceives the bantamweight division as relatively shallow, suggesting it could offer a more rapid ascent to the top.
“Not that it’s easier… but it is,” Santos remarked. “I believe the 125-pound division is more competitive than 135. And if I am capable of fighting at 135, why not take that faster route? For example, Tainara earned a ranking after just two fights in the UFC; she hadn’t beaten anyone particularly notable to get ranked. It’s simpler to climb the rankings at 135 than at 125. If I possess the strength and size suitable for 135, why continue pushing my body to make 125, especially when I’m only 25 and definitely won`t remain a flyweight long-term?”
Santos’ decision about her permanent weight class is not yet finalized. Her future at bantamweight will largely depend on her performance against Lisboa and potentially her subsequent fight. However, for the moment, the transition makes sense to her.
“I’m not a small fighter for 135; quite the opposite,” Santos stated. “I have competed at 135 before and I am going to try it again. We’ll see how things unfold. If I win this fight and the next one, then let’s commit to it. It all comes down to how the fight goes and how I feel physically and mentally in there.”
Lisboa is older than Santos and has been out of action for 18 months, recovering from a serious left knee injury that threatened her career. While Santos is not underestimating her opponent, she views the circumstances at UFC Vegas 106 as potentially favorable for herself.
“I think Tainara is a very tough and experienced individual,” Santos commented. “She’s nearly 10 years older than me, but in terms of MMA experience, we are quite close. Her striking is more Muay Thai-focused, and she possesses good jiu-jitsu skills, but I believe I can be superior in that area. Her two previous losses were against fighters who utilized a similar game plan to mine.”
She added, “I think it’s a good matchup for me. She`s coming back from a knee injury, and I`m unsure how her mindset will be after being sidelined for over a year. I acknowledge she is tough. I don’t anticipate an easy fight, but I believe there is a strong probability that I will secure the victory.”
