The #12 and #14-ranked women’s bantamweights in the UFC faced off on the main card of UFC Vegas 95, with Yana Santos taking on Chelsea Chandler.
“Bantamweight” might have been a misnomer for Chandler, who while talented, had missed weight in two consecutive fights, including by 5lbs for her fight with Santos. Her remaining UFC contests had come at featherweight, and a 140lb catchweight.
Chandler had also missed the mark for the bantamweight division in her second pro fight, under the Invicta FC banner.
Santos used her right hand to set up some solid kicks early in round one, and was able to fight off Chandler when the latter took the fight to the fence. A former Invicta champ who had competed at a featherweight as well, Santos seemed well equipped to deal with the weight of Chandler. Later in the frame, a head kick snuck upstairs for Santos. She went after Chandler, who held her own. Chandler would find some success late in the round, while Santos fired a spinning back kick that just missed the body.
Round two opened with some scrappiness, with Santos landing a knockdown less than 30 seconds in! Chandler fell to her back, and stayed there, hoping Santos would get on top. She declined, chopping at Chandler’s legs until the ref stood her up. Fighting with some fire under her, Santos flashed a front kick that missed, then ripped one to the leg a moment or two later. Chandler finally closed the distance, taking Santos to the fence, only for Santos to easily break free, with no takedown attempt in sight.
Another clinch along the fence led to knees being traded, but little else. But likely down in the round and in the fight, Chandler needed to use those clinches to get the fight to the ground – and seemed unable to. Santos got a front push kick high enough to graze the face. The kick would come again with about 20 seconds left. Santos would fire an elbow, and went on the attack again just before the horn.
With Chandler almost certainly down two rounds to none, a finish was almost certainly required. She would use a left hand to bully her way into the clinch early in round three. She had underhooks, with her hands clasped, and tried to pull off a trip, to no avail. A moment later, Santos freed herself and circled out. Chandler was having a better round in the early going, putting Santos back on the fence a second time just under two minutes in.
Again, Chelsea Chandler couldn’t get the fight done. Santos even managed to reverse and get some control time of her own. They’d come off, then go back to the fence, come off again, and return. This time, Chandler landed a couple of lefts, one big one. Time was falling off the clock however, and Chandler’s inability to make those clinches pay off would cost her the fight.
Yana Santos returns to the win column with the victory, snapping a three-fight skid.
Official Result: Yana Santos def. Chelsea Chandler by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
