Luana Santos

Luana Santos is a 26-year-old Brazilian bantamweight on the rise, ranked number 14 in the women's division with a 10-2 professional record and 5-1 inside the UFC. Born and raised in São Paulo, she trained judo from age eight, eventually earning a black belt and becoming a Brazilian and PanAm champion. Inspired by Ronda Rousey's legacy in women's MMA, Santos transitioned to mixed martial arts through 011 MMA Team and turned pro in 2021. She signed with the UFC exactly 24 months after her professional debut and has since built one of the most well-rounded résumés at her weight class.

What sets Santos apart in a striking-heavy division is her judo foundation and submission expertise. In her UFC run, she has recorded five submission victories (rear naked choke, keylock, americana, and others) alongside one knockout and four first-round finishes overall. Her striking is sharp and opportunistic, landing fast combinations that set up her grappling advantage. She boasts an 86 percent takedown defense, meaning opponents struggle to dictate the position despite her aggressive submission hunting. Sources highlight her 'balanced finishing profile' and her ability to mix 'sharp boxing with back-taking sequences and chokes when fights hit the mat,' making her a nightmare matchup for strikers unfamiliar with elite grappling.

At just 26, Santos is one of the younger risers in women's bantamweight and has won seven of her last eight fights. Her recent victories include impressive wins over former TUF winner Juliana Miller (knockout), Muay Thai specialist Tainara Lisboa (keylock submission), and a hard-fought unanimous decision over veteran Melissa Croden that showcased her judo positional control. After that December 2025 victory, she immediately called out number 12-ranked Nora Cornolle for a potential spring fight in Miami, showing the confidence of a fighter ready to climb into the title picture. With her technical foundation, finishing power, and competitive fire, Santos represents the next generation of Brazilian talent threatening to reshape the women's bantamweight landscape.