Yana Santos secured a significant victory at UFC Des Moines, defeating former champion and future Hall of Famer Miesha Tate on Saturday.
Santos established an early advantage using effective striking, landing sharp combinations throughout the initial two rounds that put her ahead on the scorecards. Although Tate managed a determined late-fight takedown attempt, she couldn`t secure a finish, allowing Santos to survive the round and claim the win.
The judges unanimously scored the bout 29-28 in favor of Santos, marking her second consecutive victory.
Following the fight, Santos expressed gratitude towards her opponent, stating, “I want to say thank you to my opponent. 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.”
The fight began with Tate aggressively pushing forward, attempting powerful punches and swift transitions to takedowns. Santos effectively defended against the initial onslaught, responding with strong counter-strikes and opportune elbows during clinch exchanges.
As the rounds progressed, Santos focused her attack, targeting the body before moving to the head with a sharp lead jab. She also incorporated leg kicks that visibly impacted Tate`s mobility.
Despite Tate`s persistent pursuit, Santos skillfully circled away, measuring her strikes to land effectively. Tate`s wrestling attempts were largely thwarted as she struggled to generate effective forward pressure, allowing Santos to defend and disengage.
Entering the final round, with Santos holding a likely lead on the scorecards, Tate needed to take risks. This led to her first successful takedown. On the ground, Tate actively worked to advance position, moving from half-guard to mount and eventually securing Santos`s back.
Tate aggressively sought a submission, but Santos successfully defended against each attempt, surviving until the final bell. With time expiring, Santos had done enough in the preceding rounds to earn the decision.
This victory over Tate adds a notable name to Santos`s record as she aims to ascend the bantamweight rankings. For the 38-year-old Tate, her record since returning from retirement in 2021 now stands at 2-3.
