MMA Knockout

Ex-UFC Title Challenger Snatches Neck in PFL Debut

This UFC veteran has a bright future in the PFL.

Christopher De Santiago

PFL

Welcome to the PFL, Taila Santos. 

After back-to-back defeats in the Octagon, the former UFC title challenger has rebounded in her new home: the PFL Smart Cage. Brazil’s Santos would travel to San Antonio, Texas, to face ex-Bellator contender Ilara Joanne in her promotional debut at ‘PFL 1’.

Santos didn’t skip a beat, kicking off the regular season in style. 

In the opening round, Santos secured an early takedown on Joanne and immediately went to work with her submissions. Joanne defended multiple attempts but was later met with ground and pound. 

With a little more than a minute to go in the round, Santos seized the back of Joanne, quickly locking in a tight rear-naked choke on her opponent. Joanne tapped out to the submission within seconds as Santos rose to her feet in victory.

The fast finish at 3:57 of round 1 awarded Santos a total of six points, sitting her atop the leaderboard in the women’s flyweight division. Fellow flyweight Jena Bishop also earned six points, trailing Santos’ finish by a mere 18 seconds.

Taila Santos isn’t the only star in the women’s flyweight division. She stands among elite company in Bellator Champion Liz Carmouche, Julianna Velasquez, Dakota Ditcheva

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Christopher De Santiago

CHRISTOPHER DE SANTIAGO

Christopher De Santiago is a 22 year-old journalist from Gainesville, Texas with years of experience covering MMA.