Written by Luana Santos | Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images
Luana Santos started her UFC career as a flyweight, but her future may be at bantamweight. At 25, she returns to the 135-pound division to face Tainara Lisboa at UFC Vegas 106 on Saturday looking to make an important decision.
Santos was booked to fight once before at bantamweight in the UFC, but badly missed the target, coming in at nearly 140 pounds. Doctors discovered the young Brazilian had Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition that can lead to weight gain by affecting the thyroid gland. Santos took medication to get the disease under control and she went 1-1 as a flyweight, but it just made sense to return to bantamweight after struggling with stomach issues before and after the cut for her recent bout with Casey O’Neill.
On top of that, Santos sees the bantamweight class as being so shallow it could mean a quicker rise to the top.
“Not that it’s easier… but it is,” Santos told MMA Fighting. “I think the 125 division is more competitive than 135. And if I can fight at 135, why not take the shortcut? For example, Tainara was ranked after only two fights in the UFC. She didn’t beat anyone relevant to be ranked. It’s easier to climb [the ranking] at 135 than 125. If I have the strength and size to be at 135, why continue battling my body to cut to 125 if I’m only 25 and will definitely not be a flyweight in the future?”
Santos’ decision is not set in stone yet. A future at bantamweight depends on her performance against Lisboa and possibly her next fight, but the move makes sense right now.
“I’m not a small girl for 135. Quite the opposite,” Santos said. “I fought at 135 before and I will try that again. Let’s see how it goes. If I win this one and the next, let’s do it. It all depends on how the fight goes and how I feel in there.”
Lisboa is older than Santos and hasn’t fought in 18 months due to a battle with a career-threatening left knee injury. Santos won’t overlook her opponent, but sees the scenario as more favorable for her at UFC Vegas 106.
“I think Tainara is a very tough and experienced girl,” Santos said. “She’s almost 10 years older than me but if we’re talking MMA, we have almost the same experience. Her striking is more Muay Thai oriented, she has good jiu-jitsu, but I think I can be superior than her in that area. The two losses she had were against girls who have done that type of game.”
“I think it’s a great matchup,” she added. “She’s coming off a knee injury and I don’t know how her head will be after more than a year off. I think she’s tough. I don’t think it’s going to be an easy fight, but I think there’s a great chance I come out with the win.”