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Biography
Taila Santos (born June 22, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of July 25, 2023, she is #4 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings, and as of July 18, 2023, she is #11 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.
Background
With her father being a Muay Thai coach, she started training it at the age of 16, soon afterwards being enrolled in a championship at Chute Boxe of Curitiba, which Taila went to win. Taila started to train Jiu-Jitsu, with her father organizing an MMA fight so that Taila could debut in the sport. She went and won again. Afterwards, her father contacted Marcelo Brigadeiro to organize the trip to Astra Fight, in Balneário Camboriú, where she resides today.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
After going the distance in her 2013 pro debut, she would go on to finish her next 10 bouts in the first round. In 2016, her one appearance came against Laisa Coimbra for the Aspera FC Bantamweight Championship. She won the title with an 87-second knockout — via a punch to the body. Taila set to fight with fellow Brazilian prospect Mariana Morais, but Morais withdrew from the Aspera FC 32 bout. Being booked for her Invicta FC debut against Irene Aldana, Santos had to pull out due to visa issues.
After two year layoff, she was invited onto Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 where she faced off at Flyweight against Estefani Almeida. She won the unanimous decision and earned a UFC contract.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Santos made her UFC debut against Mara Romero Borella on February 2, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2. She lost the fight by split decision.
Taila faced Molly McCann on 16 July 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Santos was scheduled to face Maryna Moroz on December 5, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori. However on November 18, it was announced that Moroz had to pull out and she was replaced by Montana De La Rosa. Just hours before the event, the UFC decided to remove the fight after one of De La Rosa's cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. Santos was then rescheduled to face Gillian Robertson two weeks later at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal. Santos won the fight via unanimous decision.
Santos was scheduled to face Roxanne Modafferi on May 8, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 24. However, Modafferi was forced to pull out from the event citing ameniscus tear.
Santos was scheduled to face Mandy Böhm on September 4, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 191. However, Santos was pulled from the bout due to visa issues and was replaced by Ariane Lipski.
Santos faced Roxanne Modafferi in a flyweight bout on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Santos faced Joanne Wood on November 20, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 198. After knocking Wood down twice, Santos won the bout via rear-naked choke at the end of the first round. This fight earned her the Performance of the Night award.
Santos faced Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship on June 11, 2022, at UFC 275. She lost the close bout by split decision, becoming the first fighter to win on a judge's scorecard against Shevchenko, in the flyweight division.
Santos was scheduled to face Erin Blanchfield on February 18, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 219. The main event fight between Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera was rescheduled to another event, and Santos' fight against Blanchfield was promoted to the main event. However, just one week out from the event, Santos withdrew after her cornermen were denied visas into the United States and was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade.
The match with Erin Blanchfield was rebooked and took place on August 26, 2023, at UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Joanne Wood
- Aspera Fighting Championship
- Aspera FC Bantamweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| 22 matches | 19 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 10 | 0 |
| By submission | 3 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–3 | Erin Blanchfield | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie | August 26, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 19–2 | Valentina Shevchenko | Decision (split) | UFC 275 | June 12, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | For the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–1 | Joanne Wood | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate | November 20, 2021 | 1 | 4:49 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–1 | Roxanne Modafferi | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 266 | September 25, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–1 | Gillian Robertson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal | December 19, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–1 | Molly McCann | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige | July 16, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 15–1 | Mara Romero Borella | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 | February 2, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Win | 15–0 | Estefani Almeida | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 | August 11, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Flyweight. |
| Win | 14–0 | Laisa Coimbra | KO (punch to the body) | Aspera FC 43 | August 13, 2016 | 1 | 1:27 | Paranaguá, Brazil | Won the vacant Aspera FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–0 | Bruna Rosso | KO (elbow) | K.O. Combate 2 | November 21, 2015 | 2 | 3:06 | Caçador, Brazil | |
| Win | 12–0 | Gisele Moreira | Decision (unanimous) | Aspera FC 23 | August 16, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Joinville, Brazil | |
| Win | 11–0 | Gisele Pereira | TKO (head kick) | Aspera FC 20 | June 6, 2015 | 1 | 1:06 | Navegantes, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–0 | Wellen Taynara Sobrinho | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Aspera FC 19 | May 23, 2015 | 1 | 5:00 | Lages, Brazil | Flyweight bout. |
| Win | 9–0 | Ana Paula da Silva | TKO (punches) | Noxii Combat 1 | May 17, 2015 | 1 | 2:12 | Joinville, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–0 | Juliana Martins | Submission (keylock) | Aspera FC 17 | April 4, 2015 | 1 | 0:48 | Curitibanos, Brazil | |
| Win | 7–0 | Daniela Cristina Patricia | TKO (elbows) | Aspera FC 16 | March 29, 2015 | 1 | 0:26 | Joinville, Brazil | |
| Win | 6–0 | Gabriela Bueno | Submission | MMA Total Combat 2 | March 21, 2015 | 1 | 1:17 | São Bento do Sul, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | Marta Souza | KO (punch) | Aspera FC 15 | February 1, 2015 | 1 | 2:36 | Itapema, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Rachael Cummins | TKO (punches) | XFC International 6 | September 27, 2014 | 1 | 4:28 | São Paulo, Brazil | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 3–0 | Geisyele Nascimento | KO (head kick) | University of Champions 1 | July 5, 2014 | 1 | 0:30 | Curitiba, Brazil | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Kessiny Mara | TKO (punches) | Aspera FC 4 | March 1, 2014 | 1 | 2:20 | Itapema, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Josiane Nunes de Lima | Decision (unanimous) | Striker's House Cup 31 | November 23, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Curitiba, Brazil | Bantamweight debut. |