Luana Santos says win over Yana Santos could earn her the next UFC bantamweight title shot
The Brazilian, 26 and on a three-fight win streak, says the shot is "definitely possible" depending on how she wins, and that Kayla Harrison might retire.
Luana Santos will ask for the next shot at the UFC bantamweight title if she gets an early finish against Yana Santos at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday.
"I think it's definitely possible that I could get the next title shot, depending on how I win," Santos told MMA Fighting.
Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes fight for the bantamweight title at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday 14 November. Santos said she is waiting to see whether the two retire: "I don't think Amanda will, but I think Kayla might, given how difficult it is for her to make weight." With an early finish, she added, "I'm definitely going to ask for the title shot."
Ailin Perez and Joselyne Edwards are ahead of Santos in line, but she calls herself a more "marketable fighter" than them. Edwards, the backup fighter for Harrison vs Nunes, has won five in a row in the UFC since late 2024.
Brazil's Luana Santos is 11-2, while Russia's Yana Santos is 17-8 at 36. Their women's bantamweight fight is on the main card, with the main event expected at 02:00 UK time early on Sunday.
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