Yana Santos Explained

Yana Santos
Other Names:Foxy
Birth Name:Yana Kunitskaya
Birth Date:11 November 1989
Birth Place:Murmansk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality:Russian
Height:[1]
Weight:135lb
Weight Class:Featherweight
Bantamweight
Reach:NaNinches[2]
Style:Taekwondo, Muay Thai, ARB, Gaidojutsu
Stance:Orthodox[3]
Fighting Out Of:Saint Petersburg, Russia
Team:Jackson Wink MMA
American Top Team
Rank:Black belt in Taekwondo[4]
Mma Kowin:7
Mma Subwin:1
Mma Decwin:7
Mma Koloss:3
Mma Subloss:2
Mma Decloss:3
Mma Nc:1
Sherdog:49412
Spouse:Thiago Santos

Yana Santos ( Kunitskaya; born November 11, 1989) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist competing in the bantamweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of December 3, 2024, she is No. 10 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings.[5]

Biography

Yana Santos was born in 1989, in the city of Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast, in northwestern Russia. Her mother, Olga Kunitskaya, was a professional gymnast and her father, Joseph, was a professional skier. She has a younger sister, Victoria.

Yana became involved in martial arts early in her childhood, starting with taekwondo when she was in preschool, and won numerous tournaments among both girls and boys, with many fights ending in knockouts.[6] At 12 years old, she began competing in hand-to-hand combat (ru|рукопашный бой), participating in a large number of fights without suffering a defeat. When she was 16 years old, Santos went to live and study in St. Petersburg and entered the Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health team at the Department of Boxing. At age 18, she started practicing mixed martial arts (MMA).

On August 9, 2012, Santos announced that she was pregnant with her first child.[7] In August 2013, she announced the end of her sports career and her transition to coaching, but she came out of retirement three years later.[8] She then signed a contract with the Invicta Fighting Championships, where she has been holding a world champion title since 2016.[9]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Santos made her professional MMA debut on May 23, 2009, at a K-1 World Grand Prix event in Poland. She defeated Magdalena Jarecka by technical knockout (TKO) in the first round. After winning two of her next three fights, Santos faced unbeaten prospect Cindy Dandois at M-1 Challenge XXII on December 10, 2010. She defeated Dandois by TKO in 34 seconds.[10] On November 19, 2011, Santos faced Arune Lauzeckaite at Bushido Hero's: World Grand Prix Lithuania, winning by TKO in the first round.[11]

In 2012, Santos faced Ekaterina Saraykina at Verdict Fighting Championship 1 on February 11,[12] defeating Saraykina by TKO in the first round.[13] In March, she faced Anna Melikhova at Lion's Fights 1[14] and won by unanimous decision after two rounds.[15] She then defeated Sylwia Kusiak by TKO in round one at Baltic Arena in Koszalin, Poland, in June.[16] Santos was scheduled to face Danielle West at Starlight Events: Gladiator World Cup 2012 on July 6 in Marbella, Spain,[16] but the event was cancelled.[17]

Santos had fought almost exclusively in Russia,[11] [18] and built her record to 9 wins and 2 losses before signing to Invicta FC.

Invicta Fighting Championships

Yana defeated Tonya Evinger for the Invicta FC Bantamweight title on November 18, 2016.[19] [20] On December 1, the win was overturned to a no contest, so Evinger retained her title.[21] Santos faced Evinger in a rematch in the main event of Invicta FC 22 on March 25, 2017, and lost by submission in the second round.[22]

Santos defeated Raquel Pa'aluhi at Invicta FC 25 on August 31, 2017, to win the vacant Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship.[23]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Santos made her Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) promotional debut at UFC 222 on March 3, 2018, against Cris Cyborg for the featherweight title.[24] She lost the fight by TKO in the first round.[25]

Santos next faced Lina Länsberg on October 6, 2018, at UFC 229.[26] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[27]

Santos then faced Marion Reneau on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 146.[28] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[29]

Santos faced Aspen Ladd on December 7, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 7.[30] She lost the fight via technical knockout in round three.[31]

Santos was scheduled to face Ketlen Vieira on August 1, 2020, at .[32] and on July 15, 2020, it was announced that the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night 174 on August 8, 2020.[33] Subsequently, Vieira was removed from the card on July 30 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by Julija Stoliarenko.[34] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[35]

The bout with Ketlen Vieira was rescheduled and eventually took place on February 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 185.[36] At the weigh-ins, Vieira weighed in at 138 pounds, two pounds over the women's bantamweight non-title fight limit. She was fined 20% of her purse which went to Santos and the bout proceeded at catchweight.[37] [38] Santos won the fight via unanimous decision.[39]

Santos faced Irene Aldana on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264.[40] At the weigh-ins, Aldana weighed in at 139.5 pounds, three and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. Her bout proceeded at catchweight and Aldana was fined 30% of her purse, which went to Santos.[41] Santos lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.[42]

Santos faced former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm on March 25, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43.[43] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[44]

Santos was scheduled to face women's featherweight winner Macy Chiasson on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48[45] However, Chiasson pulled out two weeks after the fight announcement and was replaced by Karol Rosa in a featherweight bout.[46] Santos lost the fight via split decision.[47]

Santos was scheduled to face Norma Dumont on January 13, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 234.[48] However, Santos pulled out due to a broken nose.[49]

Santos faced Chelsea Chandler on August 10, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 61.[50] At the weigh-ins, Chandler weighed in at 141 pounds, five pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit.[51] The bout proceeded at catchweight and Chandler was fined 20 percent of her purse which went to Santos.[51] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[52]

Personal life

Santos is married to former UFC and current Professional Fighters League (PFL) fighter Thiago Santos.[53] She has a son from a previous relationship.[54] The couple got engaged in December 2020.[55] On August 16, 2021, Santos announced that they were expecting their first child together. This led to speculation among some fans that she was pregnant during her fight against Irene Aldana, which had taken place just a month earlier. However, Santos denied these claims, noting that female fighters in Nevada, where the fight occurred, are required to undergo pregnancy tests as part of the standard medical screening before each fight.[56]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Win|align=center|15–8 (1)|Chelsea Chandler|Decision (unanimous)| | |align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|14–8 (1)|Karol Rosa|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|14–7 (1)|Holly Holm|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|San Antonio, Texas, United States||-|Loss|align=center|14–6 (1)|Irene Aldana|TKO (punches)|UFC 264 ||align=center|1|align=center|4:35|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|14–5 (1)|Ketlen Vieira|Decision (unanimous)| ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||- |Win|align=center|13–5 (1)|Julija Stoliarenko|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|12–5 (1)|Aspen Ladd|TKO (punches)| ||align=center|3|align=center|0:33|Washington, D.C., United States| |-|Win|align=center||Marion Reneau| Decision (unanimous)| ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Wichita, Kansas, United States||-| Win| align=center| 11–4 (1)|Lina Länsberg| Decision (unanimous)|UFC 229||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center| 10–4 (1)|Cris Cyborg|TKO (punches)|UFC 222||align=center| 1|align=center| 3:25|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-| Win| align=center| 10–3 (1)| Raquel Pa'aluhi| Decision (unanimous)| Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Lemoore, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 9–3 (1)| Tonya Evinger| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II| | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:32| Kansas City, Missouri, United States| |-| | align=center| 9–2 (1)| Tonya Evinger| NC (overturned)| Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:59| Kansas City, Missouri, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 9–2| Wu Yanan| TKO (punches)| Fightspirit Championship 6| | align=center|2| align=center|0:32| St. Petersburg, Russia| |-| Loss| align=center| 8–2| Zaira Dyshekova| Submission (armbar)| ACB 32: Battle of Lions| | align=center|1| align=center|3:38| Moscow, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 8–1| Sylwia Kusiak| TKO (corner stoppage)| Baltic Arena| | align=center|1| align=center|0:50| Koszalin, Poland||-| Win| align=center| 7–1| Anna Melikhova| Decision (unanimous)| Lion's Fights 1: The Beginning| | align=center|2| align=center|5:00| Saint Petersburg, Russia||-| Win| align=center| 6–1| Ekaterina Saraykina| TKO (punches)| Verdict Fighting Championship 1| | align=center|1| align=center|1:05| Moscow, Russia||-| Win| align=center| 5–1| Arune Lauzeckaite| TKO (punches)| Bushido Lithuania: Hero's Lithuania 2011| | align=center|1| align=center|1:34| Vilnius, Lithuania||-| Win| align=center| 4–1| Cindy Dandois| TKO (punches)| M-1 Challenge 22| | align=center|1| align=center|0:34| Moscow, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 3–1| Kamila Bałanda| TKO (punches)| Bushido Lithuania: Hero's Lithuania 2010| | align=center|1| align=center|4:26| Vilnius, Lithuania||-| Loss| align=center| 2–1| Maria Hougaard Djursaa| Decision (unanimous)| FG 14: Ice Cold| | align=center|3| align=center|5:00| Odense, Denmark||-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Vladena Yavorskaya| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Bushido FC Legends| | align=center|1| align=center|3:20| Saint Petersburg, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Magdalena Jarecka| TKO (punches)| K-1 World Grand Prix 2009| | align=center|1| align=center|1:38| Łódź, Poland||-[57]

Pay-per-view bouts

!No.!Event!Fight!Date!Venue!City!PPV Buys
1.UFC 222Cyborg vs. KunitskayaMarch 3, 2018T-Mobile ArenaParadise, Nevada, United States260,000[58]

References

  1. Web site: yana-santos. UFC.com. March 3, 2018 . August 11, 2024.
  2. Web site: yana-kunitskaya. UFC. com. September 14, 2018 . December 11, 2018.
  3. Web site: Stats UFC. 2021-02-21. ufcstats.com.
  4. Web site: Interview with Yana Kunitskaya: Invicta FC Bantamweight contender . February 2017 . 2022-03-17 . en-US.
  5. Web site: UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions UFC.com . 2024-08-13. www.ufc.com.
  6. Web site: Who is Yana Kunitskaya, UFC 222's mystery headliner?. March 2, 2018 . 8 September 2018.
  7. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya Announces Pregnancy, Out Until Mid-2013. MMARising.com. 2012-08-09. 2012-08-11.
  8. Web site: Яна Куницкая: "Займусь ли я еще своей спортивной карьерой – точно сказать не могу".. 5 March 2017.
  9. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya . 2024-11-15 . invictafc.com.
  10. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya Upsets Cindy Dandois At M-1 Challenge 22. MMARising.com. 2010-12-10. 2011-10-08.
  11. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya Stops Arune Lauzeckaite At Bushido Hero's. MMARising.com. 2011-11-19. 2011-11-19.
  12. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya Faces Ekaterina Saraykina At Verdict FC 1. MMARising.com. 2011-12-16. 2011-12-16.
  13. Web site: Weekend Recap: Yana Kunitskaya Victorious At Verdict FC 1. MMARising.com. 2012-02-12. 2012-02-12.
  14. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya To Face Anna Melikhova At Lion's Fights 1. MMARising.com. 2012-02-02. 2012-02-08.
  15. Web site: Weekend Recap: Yana Kunitskaya Wins, Esparza-Magana Off. MMARising.com. 2012-03-05. 2012-03-09.
  16. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya vs Danielle West Targeted For July 6 In Spain. MMARising.com. 2012-06-15. 2012-06-15.
  17. Web site: Weekend Recap: Kunitskaya vs West Scrapped, Promoter Jailed. MMARising.com. 2012-07-08. 2012-07-08.
  18. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya Still Revelling in Victory Over Dandois - Fight Network . https://web.archive.org/web/20161115001055/http://fightnetwork.com/news/6374371:yana-kunitskaya-still-revelling-in-victory-over-dandois/ . 2016-11-15 . 19 November 2016.
  19. Web site: Champ Tonya Evinger vs. Yana Kunitskaya, Champ Angela Hill vs. Kaline Medeiros headline Invicta FC 20. 13 October 2016. 19 November 2016.
  20. Web site: Invicta 20 results: Kunitskaya stuns champ Evinger. Marc. Raimondi. 19 November 2016. MMA Fighting. 22 November 2016.
  21. Web site: Tonya Evinger successfully appeals shocking Invicta FC 20 loss, is once again bantamweight champ. 1 December 2016. 15 January 2017.
  22. Web site: Raimondi . Marc . Invicta FC 22 results: Tonya Evinger gets revenge, submitting Yana Santos to retain title . mmafighting.com . 31 May 2022 . 25 March 2017.
  23. Web site: Bissell . Tim . Invicta FC 25 results and highlights: Yana Kunitskaya outclasses Raquel Pa'aluhi for bantamweight title . bloodyelbow.com . 31 May 2022 . 1 September 2017.
  24. News: Cris Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya, Frankie Edgar vs. Brian Ortega scheduled for UFC 222. MMA Fighting. 2018-02-08.
  25. News: UFC 222 results: Cris Cyborg tested early, but takes out Yana Kunitskaya in first. 2018-03-04. MMAjunkie. 2018-03-04. en-US.
  26. News: Kunitskaya vs. Lansberg headed to UFC 229 in Las Vegas. mmajunkie.com. . 2018-08-06. 2018-08-06.
  27. News: UFC 229 play-by-play and live results. 2018-10-06. MMAjunkie. 2018-10-06. en-US.
  28. News: Multiple UFC 233 fights get new dates, locations after Jan. 26 card scratched. mmajunkie.com. . 2018-12-12. 2018-12-12.
  29. Web site: Yana Kunitskaya takes the nod in bloody battle with Marion Reneau (UFC Wichita Highlights). 2019-03-10. MMAWeekly.com. en-US. 2019-03-10.
  30. Web site: UFC Washington D.C. Adds Aspen Ladd vs. Yana Kunitskaya, Claudia Gadelha vs. Cynthia Cavillo. Gonzalez. Gabriel. 2019-08-09. Cageside Press. en-US. 2019-08-09.
  31. Web site: UFC DC Results: Aspen Ladd Finishes Yana Kunitskaya Immediately in Third Round. Doherty. Dan. 2019-12-07. Cageside Press. en-US. 2019-12-08.
  32. Web site: 2020-06-16. UFC adds Ketlen Vieira vs. Yana Kunitskaya to Aug. 1 event. 2020-06-17. MMA Junkie. en.
  33. Web site: 2020-07-15. UFC shifts Ketlen Vieira vs. Yana Kunitskaya to Aug. 8 event. 2020-07-15. MMA Junkie. en.
  34. Web site: Ketlen Viera OUT, Yana Kunitskaya will now face Julija Stoliarenko at UFC's August 8th event. mymmanews.com. Lenny March. 2020-07-30. 2020-07-31.
  35. Web site: Doherty. Dan. 2020-08-08. UFC Vegas 6 Results: Yana Kunitskaya Grinds a Victory Against Julija Stoliarenko. 2020-08-09. Cageside Press. en-US.
  36. Web site: Junkie. MMA. 2020-11-16. Ketlen Vieira vs. Yana Kunitskaya rebooked for UFC Fight Night on Feb. 20. 2020-11-16. MMAJunkie.com. en-US.
  37. Web site: UFC Fight Night 185 weigh-in results: Four misses, one fight scrapped. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. . 2021-02-19. 2021-02-19.
  38. Web site: Rafael Alves comes in 11.5 pounds heavy for all-time UFC weight miss; fight scrapped. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Danny Segura. 2021-02-19. 2021-02-19.
  39. Web site: Anderson. Jay. 2021-02-20. UFC Vegas 19 Results: Striking Trumps Grappling as Kunitskaya Gets by Vieira. 2021-02-21. Cageside Press. en-US.
  40. Web site: 2021-05-04. Irene Aldana vs. Yana Kunitskaya targeted for UFC 264 in July. mmafighting.com. Mike Heck. 2021-05-04.
  41. Web site: UFC 264 weigh-in results: One miss on main card, but full lineup set . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. . 2021-07-09. 2021-07-09.
  42. Web site: Anderson. Jay. 2021-07-10. UFC 264 Results: Irene Aldana Drops Yana Kunitskaya, Secures TKO Finish. 2021-07-11. Cageside Press. en-US.
  43. Web site: Holly Holm vs. Yana Kunitskaya booked for UFC on ESPN 43. Sherdog.com. Tristen Critchfield. 2022-12-17. 2022-12-18.
  44. Web site: UFC San Antonio: Holly Holm uses wrestling in win over Yana Santos. Cageside Press. Dylan Rush. 2023-03-25. 2023-03-25.
  45. Web site: Macy Chiasson vs. Yana Santos added to UFC Fight Night on July 1. June 2, 2023 . mmajunkie.usatoday.com.
  46. Web site: Featherweight clash between Yana Santos and Karol Rosa set for UFC Vegas 76 on July 1. wmmarankings.com. Staff. 2023-06-17. 2023-06-17.
  47. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2023-07-01 . UFC Vegas 76: Karol Rosa Takes Split Decision Over Yana Santos . 2023-07-02 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  48. Web site: Cruz . Guilherme . 2023-10-04 . Norma Dumont moves down to bantamweight, fights Yana Santos on first UFC card of 2024 . 2023-10-04 . MMA Fighting . en.
  49. Web site: First UFC event of 2024 hit with multiple changes. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2023-12-22. 2023-12-22.
  50. Web site: Hester . Bryson . 2024-06-22 . Top 15 Bantamweights Yana Santos and Chelsea Chandler to Fight at UFC Vegas 95 . 2024-06-22 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  51. Web site: UFC on ESPN 61 weigh-in results: Three miss marks, including massive five-pounds botch. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. MMA Junkie Staff. 2024-08-09. 2024-08-09.
  52. Web site: UFC Vegas 95: Yana Santos Back in Win Column with Decision Against Overweight Chelsea Chandler. cagesidepress.com. Jay Anderson. 2024-08-10. 2024-08-10.
  53. Web site: Thiago Santos credits girlfriend Yana Kunitskaya for helping him recover after Jon Jones fight. Adam Martin. bjpenn.com. November 14, 2019.
  54. Web site: 2018-03-02. Motherhood, chasing a belt both stiff challenges for these UFC fighters. 2021-08-17. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
  55. Web site: Athanur . Prateek . 2021-10-02 . Thiago Santos girlfriend: Who is Yana Kunitskaya and how did she meet the Brazilian fighter? . 2023-07-02 . FirstSportz . en-US.
  56. Web site: 2021-08-17. Yana Kunitskaya says she did not fight at UFC 264 while pregnant: 'Mind your own business'. 2021-08-17. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  57. Web site: Yana. 2021-02-21. Sherdog.
  58. Web site: UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya MMA Event . Tapology . en.

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