At UFC 320 in Las Vegas, Yana Santos emerged victorious over Macy Chiasson with a unanimous decision, showcasing her clinch power and tactical savvy across three tightly contested rounds. With this win, Santos pushed her way back into the bantamweight contender mix and proved her staying power against the division’s up-and-comers.
The next logical step for Santos is a high-stakes matchup with former champion Raquel Pennington. Pennington, coming off a razor-thin split decision loss to Julianna Peña at UFC 307, is still recognized for her grit and well-rounded game. A battle between Santos and Pennington could determine the next in line for a title opportunity and would be a true test of experience, toughness, and well-honed MMA skills.
Stylistically, Santos’s strong clinch work and Muay Thai base match well against Pennington’s crisp boxing, pressure fighting, and resilience. Both women thrive in close battles with volume and heart, setting up a compelling contender’s showdown. For Santos, a win would be her highest-profile victory to date; for Pennington, it’s the ideal re-entry into title contention.
Last Five Fights – Yana Santos:
1. Win over Macy Chiasson – Decision (unanimous), UFC 320 (October 4, 2025)
2. Win over Miesha Tate – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (May 4, 2025)
3. Win over Chelsea Chandler – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (August 11, 2024)
4. Loss to Karol Rosa – Decision (split), UFC Fight Night (July 2, 2023)
5. Loss to Holly Holm – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (March 26, 2023)
Last Five Fights – Raquel Pennington:
1. Loss to Julianna Peña – Decision (split), UFC 307 (October 6, 2024)
2. Win over Mayra Bueno Silva – Decision (unanimous), UFC 297 (January 21, 2024)
3. Win over Ketlen Vieira – Decision (split), UFC Fight Night (January 15, 2023)
4. Win over Aspen Ladd – Decision (unanimous), UFC 273 (April 10, 2022)
5. Win over Macy Chiasson – Submission (guillotine choke), UFC Fight Night (December 19, 2021)
A Santos vs. Pennington bout is the right next step, a matchup that carries significant weight for the future of the UFC women’s bantamweight division.