Tag: PFL 2024

Ex-UFC title challenger Taila Santos confident entering PFL’s $1 million tournament: ‘I’m one of the favorites’

Former UFC title challenger Taila Santos likes her chances of winning this year’s PFL $1 million tournament.

[autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag] is eager to start a new chapter in her MMA career, as she believes she can be both a champion and a millionaire by the end of it.

Santos (19-3), a former UFC title challenger, makes her PFL debut this Thursday at 2024 PFL 1 in San Antonio. It’s her first fight since her unexpected exit from the UFC late last year. Santos debuts against Ilara Joanne (11-8) in the opening round of the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight season, where she’ll be competing for the PFL title and the $1 million prize that comes with it.

Ahead of such a big competition, Santos feels confident in her chances of going all the way.

“I feel like I’m one of the favorites entering the tournament,” Santos told MMA Junkie in Portuguese. “I already fought for the UFC title against Valentina (Shevchenko), and she’s a tough fighter, and before I fought her, she had big fights, and she’s a renowned athlete. I felt like that was an important fight and I felt I won it.

“So yeah, I feel like I’m one of the favorites and I come to this tournament with a big name.”

Santos took Valentina Shevchenko to the brink in a highly competitive UFC championship bout in 2022. Unfortunately for Santos, she lost a split decision, but many thought she did enough to get her hand raised.

Apart from the admirable showing against an all-time great, Santos had shining moments in the octagon, defeating veterans such as Roxanne Modafferi, Molly McCann, Gillian Robertson and Joanne Wood.

Santos doesn’t want to overlook any of her future opponents in the PFL, but her resume gives her confidence. She plans to take it step by step this season and not get ahead of herself.

“Fight by fight,” Santos said. “I’m focused on every objective and go step by step. Of course, the goal and mind are set on getting to the final, but you have to take it step by step.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 1.

Former UFC title challenger Taila Santos breaks silence on unexpected promotion exit: ‘I wasn’t very happy’

Now signed with PFL, Taila Santos explains the reason behind her unexpected exit from the UFC.

[autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag] is on the verge of making her PFL debut, which is something most didn’t see coming just a few months back.

The former UFC title challenger unexpectedly exited late last year as one of the bigger names and top contenders in the women’s flyweight division. Neither the promotion nor Santos (19-3) gave much of an explanation regarding her surprise exit until now.

Ahead of 2024 PFL 1, which marks her first fight since departing from the UFC, Santos gave her side of the story and explained why she is no longer in the UFC.

“Yeah, I was in the UFC, but I wasn’t very happy,” Santos told MMA Junkie in Portuguese. “Everything started when I fought for the belt against Valentina (Shevchenko). I clearly won that fight, and it was one of the first tough fights Valentina had ever had in her career. No other fighter had done what I did against her.

“I was able to take her down to the ground and keep her there, while also blocking her attacks on the feet. So many people wanted to see the rematch, and the fans were asking for it. I believe I deserved the rematch, the opportunity, but it didn’t happen.”

Santos lost by split decision to Valentina Shevchenko in a UFC women’s flyweight championship bout in June 2022. It was a very competitive fight, and arguably Shevchenko’s toughest title defense at that time. Many thought the Brazilian had done enough to defeat the then-champion.

Not getting the rematch against Shevchenko didn’t sit well with Santos, but there was more than that.

“There were also some uncomfortable aspects around dates and the calendar,” Santos said. “I would fight once, and then there would be no dates, and I would have to wait, and there were just so many delays. There wasn’t a calendar. It was a lot of waiting after each fight, and I wasn’t happy. So I just chose to fight out my contract and not renew.”

Santos takes on Ilara Joanne (11-8) for her PFL debut at Boeing Center in San Antonio this Thursday. It’s part of the first round of fights of the 2024 women’s flyweight season.

The 30-year-old is excited to compete for the women’s flyweight title and the $1 million prize. She’s happy with her decision to transition from UFC to PFL.

“This is super cool,” Santos said. “Like I said, I was aware of PFL before, and they’re growing every day. It’s very cool, and they’re leveling up very well, it’s big.  I’m very happy to have received this contract and to be part of a great organization that’s growing each event. For sure, it’s going to keep growing every day.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 1.