A compelling clash of bantamweight veterans unfolds in prelims of UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo, as former titleholder Miesha Tate takes on former Invicta champion Yana Santos. Both fighters are ranked in the top 15 and enter this bout looking to make one final push in a division hungry for fresh contenders.
Yana Santos, currently ranked #10, is a battle-tested striker known for her toughness, clinch work, and volume. The 33-year-old Russian has struggled against top-tier competition in recent years but showed flashes of her potential with a dominant win over Chelsea Chandler in her last outing. Santos mixes straight punches and knees from the clinch effectively and will likely look to keep the fight standing where she can control the tempo and work at range.
Miesha Tate, ranked #12, remains one of the most accomplished women in bantamweight history. A former UFC and Strikeforce champion, Tate is renowned for her grappling, resilience, and fight IQ. After an underwhelming stint at flyweight, she returned to 135 lbs with an impressive submission win over Julia Avila, showcasing her signature chain wrestling and opportunistic ground game. At 38 years old, this may be one of Tate's final runs, and a win over a ranked opponent like Santos could be a crucial step toward one last title push.
This matchup hinges on whether Tate can close the distance and impose her wrestling over three rounds. Santos has solid takedown defense and striking output, but Tate’s relentless pressure, cardio, and grappling pedigree may give her the edge, especially if the fight hits the mat early.
Yana Santos – Last 5 Fights
1. Win vs. Chelsea Chandler – Unanimous Decision (Aug 10, 2024)
2. Loss vs. Karol Rosa – Split Decision (Jul 1, 2023)
3. Loss vs. Holly Holm – Unanimous Decision (Mar 25, 2023)
4. Loss vs. Irene Aldana – TKO (Jul 10, 2021)
5. Win vs. Ketlen Vieira – Unanimous Decision (Feb 20, 2021)
Miesha Tate – Last 5 Fights
1. Win vs. Julia Avila – Submission (Face Crank) (Dec 2, 2023)
2. Loss vs. Lauren Murphy – Unanimous Decision (Jul 16, 2022)
3. Loss vs. Ketlen Vieira – Unanimous Decision (Nov 20, 2021)
4. Win vs. Marion Reneau – TKO (Jul 17, 2021)
5. Loss vs. Raquel Pennington – Unanimous Decision (Nov 12, 2016)
Prediction
Miesha Tate def. Yana Santos via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 2
