vs
-390 +340
UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez · Jul 13, 2024 · Women's Flyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez Next Fight
Age 26
Height 5' 6"
Reach 67.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 29
Height 5' 6"
Reach 68.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Luana Santos
2.99 SLpM
52.0% Str. Acc.
2.93 SApM
63.0% Str. Def.
2.17 TD Avg
47.0% TD Acc.
85.0% TD Def.
1.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Mariya Agapova
4.43 SLpM
54.0% Str. Acc.
3.62 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
0.55 TD Avg
66.0% TD Acc.
45.0% TD Def.
0.8 Sub. Avg
Luana Santos
Moneyline
FanDuel -390
KO/TKO
BetRivers +500
Submission
FanDuel +180
Decision
FanDuel +210
Mariya Agapova
Moneyline
Caesars +340
KO/TKO
BetWay +1200
Submission
BetWay +1200
Decision
BetMGM +800
Luana Santos - Fight History
SCHED vs Karol Rosa
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Royval vs. Kape · Dec 13, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Melissa Croden 0 22 of 74 29% 56 of 109 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:44
Luana Santos 0 12 of 24 50% 93 of 110 3 of 7 42% 1 0 9:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Melissa Croden 0 7 of 27 25% 21 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:44
Luana Santos 0 10 of 13 76% 33 of 37 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:51
2 Melissa Croden 0 10 of 21 47% 30 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Luana Santos 0 2 of 8 25% 14 of 23 1 of 2 50% 1 0 3:41
3 Melissa Croden 0 5 of 26 19% 5 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Luana Santos 0 0 of 3 0% 46 of 50 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:49
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Melissa Croden 22 of 74 29% 9 of 53 7 of 8 6 of 13 18 of 69 4 of 5 0 of 0
Luana Santos 12 of 24 50% 6 of 16 4 of 5 2 of 3 10 of 20 2 of 3 0 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Melissa Croden 7 of 27 25% 1 of 17 4 of 5 2 of 5 4 of 23 3 of 4 0 of 0
Luana Santos 10 of 13 76% 5 of 7 3 of 4 2 of 2 8 of 10 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Melissa Croden 10 of 21 47% 6 of 14 2 of 2 2 of 5 9 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0
Luana Santos 2 of 8 25% 1 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 1 2 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 Melissa Croden 5 of 26 19% 2 of 22 1 of 1 2 of 3 5 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Luana Santos 0 of 3 0% 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Melissa Croden vs. Luana Santos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Odds: Santos (-130); Croden (+110)

Round 1
Making a stop off in the women’s bantamweight division, attention shifts to an interesting stylistic clash pitting a striker against a lady who likes to submit opponents by any means necessary. Santos (9-2, 4-1 UFC) at 25 years of age will clock in significantly younger than 34-year-old Canuck Croden (7-2, 1-0 UFC), and perhaps because of this, the odds are slightly in the Brazilian’s favor. Taking charge of this 135-pound affair will be referee Kerry Hatley, who stands back to let the two bump fists.
The ladies stay at kickboxing range to start the fight, taking turns to land strikes on one another. Santos loops her left hook at her opponent several times, marking up Croden’s nose in the first minute of the match. Croden sticks her back with straight lefts and is prepared to stuff a takedown shot, doing so when Santos shoots. Santos bull-rushes her and tackles her to the ground with a partial head-and-arm throw, and she lands in scarf hold position with her left arm wrapped around the Canadian’s neck. With her free right hand, Santos smacks Croden in the forehead repeatedly. Croden tries to muscle her way out of the position, and Hatley warns Santos for grabbing the glove to keep her foe grounded.
Slowly and incredibly smoothly, Croden slips her neck out of danger, sliding around to Santos’ back. Santos walks off the fence to get back to her feet, and she gets out of the tie-up and walks into a body kick. The Brazilian books it towards her adversary, latching onto a clinch with hopes of chaining it into a body lock. Santos stays pressed onto Croden, nullifying her and peppering her with the occasional elbow. Croden turns her about and knees her back much harder, spamming them to the midsection until she considers her own single-leg effort at the 10-second clapper. She does not get it as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Santos

Round 2
They clap hands to start off the second stanza, and Croden pops forward to get off a quick calf kick. Croden jabs and sways to avoid a counter, but Santos steps forward and tags her with a right hand. When Santos is about to spin for something, Croden pushes out a front kick that disrupts it entirely. Santos settles herself and dodges a high kick, but there is something that Croden likes about that particular strike because she fires it off a few more times to bang into Santos’ raised guard. Santos is sick of dealing with those kicks, so she walks her down and bullies her into a clinch. Croden frames off with elbows to the forehead, and she thwarts the first takedown effort from the Brazilian in the process. Santos manages to hurl Croden arse-over-tea-kettle to plant the Canadian flat on her back, and she climbs into top position.
Croden locks down her foe by hooking her arm around Santos’ preventing her from advancing or getting off any noteworthy offense. Santos methodically climbs through into half guard, but the butterfly hooks from Croden bring her back into the guard. Santos prefers to smother rather than strike, while Croden is looking for any small opportunity to do something, anything, from her back. Croden’s elbows may be the most effective strikes since the fight went horizontal, and Santos presses tightly chest-to-chest until Croden looks for a body triangle and push off to stand. Santos drops back and snatches up a heel hook, but she does not have her legs wrapped above the knee, so there is no tight submission in play. The grueling round ends in this position.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Santos

Round 3
One final high-five from the bantamweights kicks off the last round, with Croden slowly advancing towards her opponent without getting reckless. Croden flashes her jab and pitches a low kick that cannot get grabbed, and suddenly switches stances to let fly a lead-leg high kick. Santos parries it and clinches, and her first effort for an outside trip fails. Croden muscles her way off the fence, and she walks the Brazilian down and lays into her with a line of punches and a few low kicks. The first counter trip from Santos comes up short, but her second, another scarf hold-slash-head-and-arm throw puts Croden feebly on her back. Santos clings to the scarf hold position, ignoring Croden’s legs bucking behind her while she imposes her weight to crush on Croden’s face and neck.
Santos paws a few meaningless punches off the forehead that are more like tapping her on the head than actually intent on causing damage, and Croden’s bucks and kicks with all her might. Santos continues leaning on Croden’s face, doing practically zero damage but racking up control time. It is a miserable round to watch, and likely even worse for the hapless Croden. Before time runs out, Santos sits up and lifts an arm to scream to the crowd about her impending victory. When the 15-minute contest does mercifully conclude, Santos shouts and celebrates as if she just won the Super Bowl.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos (30-27 Santos)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Santos (30-27 Santos)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Santos (30-27 Santos)

The Official Result
Luana Santos def. Melissa Croden via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Dec 10, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Cody leans Santos, citing her youth and improvements. He thinks her takedown defense and striking are better, but acknowledges Croden's strength. He is not confident and calls it a pass, but picks Santos for the show.

"I'm going to take Luana Santos."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Luana Santos

Connor agrees with Santos, citing her youth (25) and potential. He notes that Croden looked robotic but dedicated in her last win, but Santos has more dynamic entries and takedowns. He believes Santos can surprise Croden early.

"I think I probably have to pick Santos. She seems like she has some dynamic entries and takedowns."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 10, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Paul confidently picks Santos, citing the Brazilian vs Canadian narrative and Santos's superior grappling. He notes Croden's takedown defense issues and thinks Santos will control the fight.

"Luana Santos is the pick. Easy."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Luana Santos

Zane picks Santos, noting her dynamic entries and takedowns. He contrasts her quick start against Lisboa with Croden's slow start in the same matchup. He believes Santos can take over early before Croden warms up. He also notes that Croden is 34 and unlikely to improve significantly.

Odds: Santos opened -150, now -125; Croden opened +130, now +105. Zane thinks Santos deserves more love.
"Santos went out there and just immediately started dominating in her fight at lisboa. So yeah, santos is the pick."
Submission R2 4:59 · UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales · May 17, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luana Santos 0 15 of 19 78% 50 of 57 2 of 2 100% 1 0 7:57
Tainara Lisboa 0 6 of 34 17% 7 of 35 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Santos 0 9 of 11 81% 17 of 20 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:45
Tainara Lisboa 0 5 of 19 26% 6 of 20 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Luana Santos 0 6 of 8 75% 33 of 37 1 of 1 100% 1 0 4:12
Tainara Lisboa 0 1 of 15 6% 1 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Santos 15 of 19 78% 11 of 15 2 of 2 2 of 2 12 of 16 1 of 1 2 of 2
Tainara Lisboa 6 of 34 17% 3 of 27 1 of 5 2 of 2 6 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Santos 9 of 11 81% 5 of 7 2 of 2 2 of 2 8 of 10 1 of 1 0 of 0
Tainara Lisboa 5 of 19 26% 3 of 17 1 of 1 1 of 1 5 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Luana Santos 6 of 8 75% 6 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 6 0 of 0 2 of 2
Tainara Lisboa 1 of 15 6% 0 of 10 0 of 4 1 of 1 1 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Luana Santos vs. Tainara Lisboa
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-130), Lisboa (+110)

Round 1
The final match among women comes at the 135-pound division, as Santos (8-2, 3-1 UFC) moves up in weight to challenge “Thai Panther” Lisboa (7-2, 2-0 UFC). The former saw her solid win streak come to a halt last August because of Casey O’Neill, but she can play spoiler to Lisboa and her own five-fight victorious stretch. Referee Herb Dean will be on call for this bantamweight battle, and the countrywomen touch ‘em up before getting down to business. Lisboa measures with her jab right off the bat, pressuring her opponent and throwing a kick at the same time Santos does. They jab at one another; Lisboa catches a kick to counter over the top. Santos sneaks in a left hand, swaying and moving as Lisboa tries to counter. Santos sticks out a front kick too long, but this is intentional as it distracts Lisboa enough and makes her try to throw back. She uses this to set up a takedown, where she bowls Lisboa over and climbs into side control. Santos uses a scarf hold to look to pass to mount, and instead gladly assumes north-south position. Lisboa tries to crawl out the back by throwing her legs up and around the back, but Santos calmly works out of it and puts herself flat in half guard. Lisboa pushes off the cage to try to get to a better position, and Santos is simultaneously looking to step into mount. This results in a stalemate, with little offense coming as Santos would rather take a dominant position. She rolls Lisboa over to try to take her back, but Lisboa calmly works to her knees. When Lisboa reaches her feet, the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos

Round 2
While they do touch gloves, Lisboa is rushing forward to get going and try to make up lost ground. She backs Santos off with her jab, and she fakes a knee and scores a body kick with her other leg. Santos times a one-two down the pipe, and she scoots away. When Lisboa sets her feet down to engage, Santos counters her over the top. As Lisboa commits to strikes, a half-hearted front kick from her leaves her wide open to the takedown. Santos gladly accepts this and puts Lisboa on her back, where she is immediately in high side control as she wraps her arms around her foe’s head with a scarf hold. Lisboa tries again to wrap her legs up and around to get the back, but she does not have the same flexibility and energy as she did the last round to get anywhere. Santos holds her down in the scarf hold position, not using it for submission purposes but instead grinding it and just making Lisboa’s life generally miserable. All of Lisboa’s flailing leg movements do nothing to improve her position, as Santos is so high up on her body flattening her out. Every so often, Santos thumps her foe with short right hands, but no blow has any significant impact. Santos considers isolating Lisboa’s right arm, but this allows Lisboa to turn her body. As Lisboa keeps turning, she inadvertently gives up her back, and Santos wraps her legs around the waist and has both hooks in. Santos climbs to maintain partial back control that she uses to slip into full mount, and she drops down a punch or two before suffocating Lisboa further. Santos uses heavy chest pressure to keep Lisboa pinned, but she is not willing to take the risk of posturing up far.
With seconds left on the clock, Santos does not ride it out and instead latches on to a keylock and/or Americana. Lisboa clings to her left arm, which is starting to torque badly as one can imagine tendons and ligaments screaming out from the unusual tension. Santos cranks with all she has, and Lisboa taps out of the sight of Dean and then speaks out.
Dean confirms with her that it was a surrender and separates the two, with Santos notching the buzzer-beating submission that has become a rarity inside the Octagon and even more infrequent among women—remarkably, the first for a female UFC fighter.

The Official Result
Luana Santos def. Tainara Lisboa R2 4:59 via Submission (Keylock)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked May 11, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Tainara Lisboa

Angelo picks Tainara Lisboa, following the public trend as the line moved from Santos being favorite to underdog. He sees it as a 50/50 fight where Lisboa is the better striker and Santos the better grappler. He notes that Santos relies heavily on judo throws and if Lisboa can stay off the cage, she can land the more meaningful strikes. He also suggests parlaying the over 2.5 rounds in this fight with another women's fight.

Angelo suggests parlaying the over 2.5 rounds in this fight with another women's fight.
"Tinara is going to be the pick. Probably lands the more meaningful strikes."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 15, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Tainara Lisboa

Big Brady leans with Tainara Lisboa as a dog, noting she is the better striker with solid grappling. He is concerned about Lisboa's injury layoff but thinks if she is healthy, it's a close fight. He picks Lisboa by decision with little confidence.

Lisboa by decision
"I'm going to lean with Lizboa with little to no confidence. ... I'll go Lisboa by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Luana Santos

The host agrees with the line moving towards Santos but with not a lot of confidence. He thinks her BJJ black belt and judo background will allow her to get positions on the ground to avoid Lisboa's Muay Thai striking advantage. However, he notes Santos has been flaky in the striking realm and may have trouble if she can't close the gap. He gives her the benefit of the doubt to grind out a decision win.

Santos by decision
"I think her grappling background from her BJJ black belt and her black belt in judo will allow her to get these positions she needs on the ground."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Luana Santos

The Guru picks Luana Santos but admits he doesn't know why, calling it a guess. He notes Santos is young (25) and lost to Casey O'Neill, while Lisboa barely edged a decision. He predicts a 29-28 decision, possibly with a late submission. He rambles about a dog controversy and seems uncertain.

Santos to land more than 30.5 significant strikes (via Prize Picks)
"I am going to go with Lana Santos, but I'm going to just be real with you guys here. I don't know why."
LOSS vs Casey O'Neill
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–26) R3 5:00 · UFC 305: du Plessis vs. Adesanya · Aug 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Casey O'Neill 0 83 of 193 43% 113 of 227 0 of 2 0% 1 0 2:21
Luana Santos 0 41 of 97 42% 46 of 102 1 of 5 20% 0 0 2:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Casey O'Neill 0 24 of 54 44% 29 of 59 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Luana Santos 0 16 of 34 47% 20 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:16
2 Casey O'Neill 0 25 of 62 40% 28 of 66 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:10
Luana Santos 0 12 of 32 37% 13 of 33 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:05
3 Casey O'Neill 0 34 of 77 44% 56 of 102 0 of 0 --- 1 0 2:11
Luana Santos 0 13 of 31 41% 13 of 31 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Casey O'Neill 83 of 193 43% 60 of 163 12 of 19 11 of 11 69 of 177 5 of 7 9 of 9
Luana Santos 41 of 97 42% 26 of 75 10 of 17 5 of 5 41 of 94 0 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Casey O'Neill 24 of 54 44% 15 of 44 3 of 4 6 of 6 23 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
Luana Santos 16 of 34 47% 10 of 25 4 of 7 2 of 2 16 of 33 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Casey O'Neill 25 of 62 40% 19 of 51 4 of 9 2 of 2 21 of 56 4 of 6 0 of 0
Luana Santos 12 of 32 37% 7 of 23 4 of 8 1 of 1 12 of 30 0 of 2 0 of 0
3 Casey O'Neill 34 of 77 44% 26 of 68 5 of 6 3 of 3 25 of 68 0 of 0 9 of 9
Luana Santos 13 of 31 41% 9 of 27 2 of 2 2 of 2 13 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Casey O'Neill vs. Luana Santos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-162), O’Neill (+136)

Round 1
Once an uber-hot prospect at the women’s flyweight division, the excitement and momentum have cooled for O'Neill (9-2, 4-2 UFC), who comes into this fight as the crowd favorite despite her birth country being Scotland. While the Xtreme Couture product has lost her last two, Brazil’s Santos (8-1, 3-0 UFC) is flying high, winner of five straight including three in the Octagon. Taking charge of this bout will be referee Rich Mitchell, and he clocks the ladies in as they opt to touch gloves. O'Neill lashes out with an early low kick and punches her way into range, and she slips back to dodge counterpunches. O'Neill kicks the front leg again, only to be met with a left hook. Santos chips back at the front leg twice, with O'Neill trying to line up a right hand back her direction. Santos holds her arm out and swings with the other behind it, and she kicks and gets thrown to the floor. The two scramble right back to their feet, and Santos holds on with a standing guillotine choke to bully O'Neill to the fence. Santos presses hard against the cage wall, slipping around to take the back and attack a single from behind. O'Neill keeps her balance and knees her foe in the torso a few times, only to be lifted up with responsive knees. O'Neill pushes off of Santos’ face to separate, and she walks Santos down and connects with a trio of punches and a chopping calf kick. Santos clips her with a right hand over the top, and she lands flush with a few punches while O'Neill wants to slug it out with her. Santos kicks the body and scurries away to avoid any counters, and O'Neill marches her down and kicks her front leg. O'Neill wings a right hand, but a straight left is more accurate. O'Neill connects with three punches, forcing Santos to bounce off the wall. They both let their hands go, with O'Neill landing first and harder. O'Neill clubs her opponent with overhand rights as Santos tries to kick, and she gets knocked off-balance but throws back hard to make Santos bounce off the cage wall again. They land at the same time, and O'Neill tries to time one such meeting with a knee. Santos misses a jumping switch kick, and she has a spinning back fist blocked. O'Neill walks Santos down and punches her in the face a few more times until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill

Round 2
Gloves are briefly touched to begin Round 2, and O'Neill is the aggressor right from the start. She lands a right hand and a body kick, and Santos catches the latter and slings O'Neill to the mat. Santos grabs the glove to get up, and she is warned for the foul. O'Neill manages her way back to her feet, and Santos gloms onto her from behind looking to trip or suffocate her opponent. O'Neill twists and turns, but Santos will not give her an inch of space. O'Neill tries to turn the tables and elevate the Brazilian, and her power move results in Santos stumbling, allowing her to get away. O'Neill returns to her stalking pace, landing a right hand and blocking the responses. O'Neill plants three fists on the chin and a leg kick to follow, keeping Santos guessing by mixing up her offense just enough. Santos kicks her in the ribs and strafes to the side, and O'Neill meets her with an overhand right. Santos goes wide with a hook, allowing O'Neill to retaliate with a trio of speedy blows. O'Neill overswings her way into an accidental takedown setup, and she abandons it to knee Santos in the head repeatedly. Santos shells up and gets caught with punches that wrap around her raised guard before she scoots away. O'Neill times a right hand when Santos kicks her, and Santos is striking back but is beaten to the punch time and time again. Santos jabs and parries, trying for a looping right when O'Neill kicks at her but is out of range. Santos lands two punches, hops back and then puts two more punches on the Brazilian’s chin. A clinch results in O'Neill sneaking in a knee, and Santos breaks off before anything else can catch her. Santos lands once, and O'Neill hits her back three times right before the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill

Round 3
Fists are touched, and the fight resumes almost exactly where it ended in the last round. O'Neill clubs Santos with a short combination, and Santos tries and fails to get her back. Santos jabs out and is met with counters, and she leaps forward to get off a right hand. The Brazilian jabs the body, and O'Neill walks her down and busts her in the chops with a series of punches. O'Neill loads up on power punches that knock Santos around, but Santos is tough as can be and wears them well. Santos misses with a right hand, allowing O'Neill to counter her with a power right. O'Neill strings together a few punches and a knee, and Santos is the slower of the two and almost never strikes first. O'Neill jabs high, low and then wings a right hand that gets around the guard. O'Neill allows Santos to come to her so she can meet her with harder blows, with effective right hands that continue to find their home. Punches are traded, and Santos suddenly does not like what is happening and she tries to take the fight down with an ill-advised head lock. O'Neill spins her around and counters a twister setup, resulting in her taking the Brazilian’s back with a quick body triangle set up. Santos hand-fights to prevent any choke from coming anywhere close, but she gets softened up with strikes from both sides. Santos is warned for grabbing inside of the glove, and Mitchell pauses the fight to tell her what is not allowed even though fighters are given instructions before every fight. Santos looks upset that she was called on it, and O'Neill hangs on after the restart to continue working. O'Neill wraps a rear-naked choke grip on the jaw and ends up with a face crank, and she thwacks Santos on the kidney with heel kicks until time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill (30-27 O'Neill)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill (30-27 O'Neill)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 O'Neill (30-27 O'Neill)

The Official Result
Casey O’Neill def. Luana Santos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 11, 2024 (7 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Angelo picks Luana Santos because of her slick grappling and Judo, which he believes will be too much for Casey O'Neill, who was recently submitted quickly by Ariane Lipski. He notes that defending Judo throws is different from defending cage takedowns, and Santos should be able to get the fight to the ground and control it. He has a half-unit bet on Santos at -140, citing the short notice and travel as reasons for the reduced stake.

Half unit at -140
"I have a half a unit on her at minus 14 the only reason it's a half a unit and not a whole unit is ultimately this is short notice she is traveling to the other side of the world."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Casey O'Neill

Big Brady picks Casey O'Neill to win by decision. He notes O'Neill has good cardio, high output (almost 9 significant strikes per minute), solid wrestling, and a good ground game. He expects Santos to have success early with takedowns, but as the fight goes on, O'Neill's cardio and volume will take over. He also mentions Santos is taking the fight on short notice and is traveling to Australia, while O'Neill is Australian. He acknowledges O'Neill has looked bad in recent fights but believes this is a step down in competition.

decision
"I'm going to go Casey O'Neil here to win this fight and I'm going to take her to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Cody highlights Santos' youth, judo black belt, and recent winning streak, while O'Neill has lost two straight and shown poor striking defense and grappling. He notes Santos can take O'Neill down and control her, and that O'Neill lacks power to earn respect. Cody expects Santos to win the first two rounds and coast.

"I gotta go Lana gotta go Lana Santos here"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Aug 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Daniel Vreeland picks Luana Santos but is not confident, citing O'Neill's volume and tenacity as concerns. He notes that Santos is young and improving, and that O'Neill may be overcorrected in the market after two losses. Vreeland acknowledges the fight is close and that he has no strong read, but leans toward Santos due to recency bias and physical attributes.

"I am picking Lana here but I mean dude I have no idea what's gonna happen in this fight I don't have a confident pick"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Aug 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Luana Santos

The host leans to Santos, citing her technical advantages and submission threat. He notes O'Neill's wrestling could be a factor, but expects Santos to control positions and potentially submit her. He mentions Santos' submission prop at +600 as a possible nibble, but is cautious due to Santos taking the fight on short notice and traveling.

Santos by submission (+600)
"I still believe she can come out on top and more than likely by submission"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Paul agrees, noting that O'Neill's hype train has derailed after losses to tougher competition. He points out that Santos has legitimate potential, as shown by her takedown of Stephanie Edgar and destruction of Agapova. Paul believes Santos can do whatever she wants in the fight and that O'Neill's volume lacks power.

"Santos is the uh is the sharp side"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Casey O'Neill

The MMA Guru picks Casey O'Neill over Luana Santos. He initially jokes about picking Santos but settles on O'Neill. He acknowledges O'Neill's losses to Ariane Lipski and Jennifer Maia but notes she has more experience and has been training since those losses. He criticizes Santos' wins over Mariya Agapova (calling her a heroin addict) and Juliana Miller (calling her a can). He is surprised O'Neill is an underdog and takes that value. He predicts a unanimous decision win for O'Neill.

Unanimous decision, surprised she's an underdog
"I'm actually going with Casey O'Neal what are the odds for that fight... Casey O'Neal is an underdog I'm taking that"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 3:27 · UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez · Jul 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luana Santos 0 2 of 4 50% 9 of 12 1 of 1 100% 3 0 2:23
Mariya Agapova 0 3 of 14 21% 20 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Santos 0 2 of 4 50% 9 of 12 1 of 1 100% 3 0 2:23
Mariya Agapova 0 3 of 14 21% 20 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Santos 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mariya Agapova 3 of 14 21% 1 of 5 0 of 2 2 of 7 3 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Santos 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mariya Agapova 3 of 14 21% 1 of 5 0 of 2 2 of 7 3 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Mariya Agapova vs. Luana Santos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-395), Agapova (+280)

Round 1
Momentum is the name of the game for this upcoming flyweight tilt, as Santos (7-1, 2-0 UFC) has some behind her as the winner of four straight. Her adversary Agapova (10-4, 2-3 UFC) has struggled as of late, dropping two in a row by submission while not competing since September 2022. This classic matchup of Brazil vs. Kazakhstan will receive oversight from referee Joe Coca, and a clap of hands commences it. Agapova looks for strikes well out of range, and Santos reaches her with a body kick. Agapova stays back, leaping forward with a right hand and missing again. Santos closes in and connects with a pair of strikes, and Agapova dances away. Agapova jabs feet away from the target, and Santos strides forward brimming with confidence and decks Agapova with a right hand. Agapova climbs back to her feet, and Santos slings her right back down to the mat with emphasis. The Brazilian commits to an arm-triangle choke as she gets to half guard, and lets it go so she can facilitate a guard pass to the side. Agapova tries to use her legs to trap Santos in something and pull her back, but when this fails, Santos steps over into full mount and goes after an arm-triangle immediately. Santos gets the grip tight, and Agapova signals a thumbs-up and turns to the side to protect herself, all while coughing out her mouthpiece to breathe better. Santos resets and presses down, bailing on it to land a few body shots and then re-fastening the submission. Agapova keeps her mouthpiece barely in her teeth and turns around to get to her knees.
Santos follows her every step of the way and locks up the rear-naked choke in the blink of an eye. Agapova nearly lets her gumshield fall out of her mouth in desperation while fighting the hands, but there is nothing more she can do at this point. Agapova frantically taps
and completely spits her mouthpiece out as she feels consciousness leaving her body, and Coca rushes between them to conclude the fight. Santos jumps away and starts dancing, and the crowd eats it up.

The Official Result
Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova R1 3:27 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Jul 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Angelo is extremely confident in Luana Santos due to a clear stylistic advantage: Santos has fantastic takedowns while Agapova has poor takedown defense. He expects Santos to grapple heavily and control the fight, similar to her performance against Stephanie Egger. He advises getting bets in early as Santos will likely be a heavy favorite by fight night.

Expects Santos to be minus 500 by fight night; advises to get bets in early.
"Lena Santos has fantastic takedowns Maria agapova has garbage takedown defense it literally is that simple"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Cody picks Santos, citing her superior grappling and youth. He notes Agapova's personal issues, inactivity, and poor cardio. He expects Santos to take Agapova down and submit her, possibly in the first round.

Santos by submission (implied)
"Lana Santos is going to put a beat in onor here."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Daniel Vreeland picks Luana Santos to win via ground control. He questions Agapova's mental state and ground game, noting that she gives up bad positions on the mat. He thinks Santos will take the fight to the ground and finish. He acknowledges Agapova's danger on the feet but expects Santos to avoid that.

"I'm gonna go with Lana to get this done when it hits the mat."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jul 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Luana Santos

Santos is too chalky but still likely wins. The fight is expected to go over 1.5 rounds and hit the scorecards. Santos will control the matchup, land a few takedowns, but Agapova will show enough resistance to reach a decision. The best attack is Santos by decision.

Santos by decision; over 1.5 rounds
"I expect this fight to go over one and a half rounds and I expect this fight to actually hit the scorecards so I think the best way to attack this matchup is actually taking Santos to win by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Paul picks Santos, citing her grappling advantage and Agapova's questionable preparation. He notes Agapova's long layoff and altitude, and believes Santos will submit her. He suggests betting Santos by submission at plus money.

Santos by submission (implied)
"Luana Santos by submission I wonder what the prop is on that."
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutierrez · Dec 09, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luana Santos 0 53 of 104 50% 97 of 161 2 of 4 50% 0 0 7:44
Stephanie Egger 0 44 of 115 38% 112 of 193 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Santos 0 20 of 45 44% 42 of 73 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:34
Stephanie Egger 0 13 of 39 33% 36 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Luana Santos 0 28 of 45 62% 34 of 51 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:28
Stephanie Egger 0 20 of 49 40% 37 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
3 Luana Santos 0 5 of 14 35% 21 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:42
Stephanie Egger 0 11 of 27 40% 39 of 58 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Santos 53 of 104 50% 20 of 61 22 of 29 11 of 14 50 of 95 3 of 9 0 of 0
Stephanie Egger 44 of 115 38% 31 of 97 13 of 17 0 of 1 29 of 96 15 of 19 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Santos 20 of 45 44% 6 of 25 10 of 14 4 of 6 20 of 44 0 of 1 0 of 0
Stephanie Egger 13 of 39 33% 5 of 28 8 of 10 0 of 1 5 of 29 8 of 10 0 of 0
2 Luana Santos 28 of 45 62% 11 of 24 10 of 13 7 of 8 26 of 42 2 of 3 0 of 0
Stephanie Egger 20 of 49 40% 19 of 47 1 of 2 0 of 0 18 of 45 2 of 4 0 of 0
3 Luana Santos 5 of 14 35% 3 of 12 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 9 1 of 5 0 of 0
Stephanie Egger 11 of 27 40% 7 of 22 4 of 5 0 of 0 6 of 22 5 of 5 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Stephanie Egger vs. Luana Santos (139: Missed Weight)
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-185), Egger (+154)

Round 1
The final women’s bout on the card comes at a catchweight of 139 pounds, as former flyweight Santos (6-1, 1-0 UFC) tipped the scales three pounds heavy for her bantamweight bout against Egger (8-4, 3-3 UFC). The Swiss woman will come out with a heavier bag of cash than expected, as Santos has surrendered 20% of her fight purse as a result. The cage commander for this clash will be referee Herb Dean. There is an apologetic touch of gloves offered by the heavy woman to get things started, and it is accepted. Santos leads off with rangy, awkward strikes from strange angles. Egger keeps her guard high and parries most of the strikes that come her way, as Santos is overextending and winging strikes from various directions. Santos crowds her way in, throwing a clubbing right hand to get Egger’s attention, and she backs her off with a front kick. Egger shakes it off and plods forward, sticking out a jab and a right hand. Egger reaches out, dings the Brazilian on the cheek, and accidentally hooks her finger into Santos’ top. Dean allows them to reset so there is no wardrobe malfunction, and they return to their tit-for-tat striking exchanges. Egger pushes in and drives a knee to the chest, and Santos stops a throw attempt and turns Egger around. The two trade knees on the inside, and trip attempts fail from both sides. Egger gets a bit of space away from the cage as they continue to knee one another in the belly, and Santos keeps her hands on the Swiss woman to otherwise shut her down. Egger connects with a heel kick to the thigh and knees up the middle hard enough to stun Santos for a second, and she times a knee on the chin when Santos ducks down. The uneventful round ends with the two tied up.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Santos

Round 2
The two clap hands to get the second round started, and Egger paws out a jab shortly thereafter. Santos responds with three leg kicks, and Egger swings so hard that she falls on her hands. Santos cannot capitalize on this mistake, instead backing off to let the Swiss fighter stand back up. Egger slowly plods forward before swinging an overhand right at her foe, and this leads to a clinch to pick up where they left off, only with Egger the one pressing. Santos spins away, but she takes a knee on the break. Santos sticks out a one-two, and a low kick comes after it. Egger catches a front kick and lines up a right hand, and Santos shakes her head and continues throwing. Egger wings reckless punches, and Santos tries and fails to time a trip. The Brazilian settles for pushing Egger against the fence, until she manages to toss Egger to the canvas. Egger stands back up, fighting off hooks that Santos attempts to slide in, but Santos has her gripped from behind. Santos looks to drag Egger down from behind, until she turns to the side and gloms her full body weight on Egger. Egger attempts a Thai plum clinch, but Santos fights off the hands before Egger can knee her on the chin. Santos changes levels, but Egger fights this off and separates. Santos throws several punches and lands one, and Egger awkwardly throws back. Santos gets in two more left hands, and Egger cannot find her way in as Santos pecks at her and jabs her. Egger ignores the blows and chains three strong punches together that get Santos’ attention, leading Santos to force a clinch. Egger hacks with a downward elbow to try for any offense while pinned against the wire, and the round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Egger
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Egger
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Egger

Round 3
There is one final clap of hands to start the round, and Egger pushes on the accelerator and bullies Santos back. Santos reaches with long jabs, and Egger grabs hold of her to knee her twice. The Brazilian takes advantage of this position by hip tossing Egger to the mat, dropping Egger right on her head. Santos looks for a scarf hold from there, but Egger deftly fights it off and forces her way back to the feet. As soon as Egger pushes Santos to the fence, Dean calls them to work. Santos muscles Egger around to press her back against the wall, and she peppers with light knees and foot stomps until Dean asks them for more activity. Santos continues to impose her weight until Dean steps in, and Santos takes a very deep breath. Egger thanks Dean for this by rushing after Santos, and she blasts Santos in the face with a long combination. When Santos walks away, Egger stands still, until the Swiss woman wades back into combat. Santos times this with a level change, and although she cannot get the fight to the mat, she squeezes the aggressive Egger against the cage. Santos knees the thigh and stomps Egger’s foot, and Dean continues to call for more work. With Santos doing nothing, Dean splits them up at the 45-second mark. Egger pushes forward until Santos attempts a takedown. Egger turns the corner and drags Santos to her knees, landing left hands as time ticks off the clock. A few pitter-patter strikes from Egger conclude the lackluster match.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Egger (29-28 Egger)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-10 (29-29)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Egger (29-28 Egger)

The Official Result
Luana Santos def. Stephanie Egger via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Cody picks Luana Santos. He notes that Santos is a much better striker with speed and cardio. He acknowledges Egger's size and grappling advantage but thinks Santos can survive early takedowns and win on the feet. Cody points out that Egger's striking is poor and she gasses. He believes Santos can keep the fight standing and outpoint Egger, or even finish her late.

"I got to stick with Santos"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Paul picks Luana Santos. He notes that Santos has a significant striking advantage and Egger's only path is takedowns. Paul points out that Egger doesn't do much with top control and judges don't reward it. He thinks Santos can get back to her feet and outland Egger. Paul is avoiding the 'CF dot model' and going with Santos.

"I am avoiding the CF dot model the pat Mayo special here I'm going with Santos as well"
TKO (punches) R1 3:41 · UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos · Aug 12, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luana Santos 0 24 of 75 32% 25 of 77 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:29
Juliana Miller 0 63 of 105 60% 64 of 106 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Santos 0 24 of 75 32% 25 of 77 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:29
Juliana Miller 0 63 of 105 60% 64 of 106 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Santos 24 of 75 32% 15 of 61 9 of 13 0 of 1 18 of 64 6 of 11 0 of 0
Juliana Miller 63 of 105 60% 44 of 82 16 of 20 3 of 3 53 of 88 10 of 17 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Santos 24 of 75 32% 15 of 61 9 of 13 0 of 1 18 of 64 6 of 11 0 of 0
Juliana Miller 63 of 105 60% 44 of 82 16 of 20 3 of 3 53 of 88 10 of 17 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Juliana Miller vs. Luana Santos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-155), Miller (+130)

Round 1
Fight fans have now passed the midpoint of what will be the longest stretch of consecutive UFC weekends, and there are only seven to go including UFC on ESPN 51. This will be the last event in the Apex until its streak-ending Sept. 23 show, and it is certainly a fight card. As mentioned in a previous article, 15 of the 26 fighters tonight are coming in having lost their last bouts, and eight of those have dropped two in a row or more. It all starts with grappler-on-grappler action in the women’s flyweight division, as “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 30 victor Miller (3-2, 1-1 UFC) looks to lift her promotional record above .500. She takes on promotional newcomer Santos (5-1, 0-0 UFC), who made her way to the UFC not through the Contender Series or any of the other feeder programs, but from the LFA. This opening bout draws the assignment of referee Jason Herzog, and it begins without a touch of gloves as Miller charges like a bull. The two ladies immediately start swinging, and Miller snaps the head back with a few heavy blows. Miller’s aggression leads her into a clinch, where she immediately presses onto her opponent while kneeing her in the gut. Santos turns the corner and splits apart, and she resets. Miller walks her down, stutter-stepping her way in and throwing hammers. Santos sits down on a right hand to catch her on the way in, but Miller completely ignores it and keeps on storming forward. Miller puts her hands on Santos’ face, not landing with any individually damaging blow, but getting Santos’ attention. The Brazilian woman steels herself and launches a bomb of a right hand that bangs right into Miller’s temple, rocking “Killer.” Santos does not let her foe off the hook, as she slugs away and even mixes in a head kick as Miller leans her back to the wall to stay upright. Miller leans forward to try to slow things down, and Santos snatches up a guillotine choke that ends up with the two ladies landing on the mat. Santos releases her grip to allow them back to their feet, and she stays right in Miller’s grill throwing hands. Santos belts her foe in the jaw a few times, and Miller wobbles back to the wall and tries to counter but is only flailing. Santos smashes Miller in the face, and Miller reels and is in big trouble. Santos pours it on with fists flying, and she connects repeatedly and does not care about anything Miller gives back to her. Herzog is taking a close eye on the action, and Santos tries to force a stoppage by laying into Miller with everything she has.
The punches keep coming, and Miller drops to a knee and fights her way back up. Miller may be out on her feet, and Santos continues busting her in the chops until Herzog has seen enough.
This is a statement performance for the debuting Santos, who earns her first career knockout in her biggest fight to date. Meanwhile, she also becomes the first fighter to finish the TUF victor as a professional.
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The Official Result
Luana Santos def. Juliana Miller R1 3:41 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 6, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Angelo picks Santos confidently, citing her judo background and slick grappling versus Miller's lack of skill and poor takedown defense. He notes Miller was a terrible -450 favorite who couldn't defend takedowns. He already placed a quarter unit at -140 and expects the line to move further.

Already bet 0.25 units at -140
"I got Luana Santos at minus 140 two days ago"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Aug 7, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Juliana Miller

Big Brady picks Juliana Miller to win by decision, but is not confident. He notes Miller's terrible striking defense but good grappling. He thinks Santos's head-and-arm throws could be reversed by Miller, leading to back takes. He calls the line a 'massive over correction' and sees Miller as a live dog. However, he admits he doesn't want to bet it.

"oh my gosh I'm taking Juliana Miller am I am I betting it I don't want to but I mean we'll see where this line goes um give me Juliana Miller to win this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Cody picks Santos, citing her judo black belt and solid takedown entries. He criticizes Miller's wrestling and striking, noting she was taken down four times by Veronica Hardy. He thinks Santos can get the fight to the mat and control it. He also notes Santos' only losses are to a high-level grappler (Jenna Bishop). He believes Santos would have won The Ultimate Fighter season if she were on it.

"Luana Santos I think is viable at -160 uh here"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Juliana Miller

James leans toward Miller as a potential underdog, noting Santos didn't look great in her last fight and Miller is gritty. However, he hasn't done full tape and is not confident. He sees possible value on Miller but needs to study more.

"I like Miller a little bit in this matchup... there may be some value on Miller here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Juliana Miller

Miller is a BJJ black belt who does her best work on the ground, but her striking is lacking. Santos is a newcomer with a BJJ and Judo black belt, but she is not the type of striker that Hardy was, who used lateral movement to avoid takedowns. Miller should be able to drag the fight to the ground and grind out a decision. The recency bias has made Miller a plus 140 dog after being a minus 400 favorite in her last fight, which is a value spot.

Miller by decision
"I'm going to go with Miller to win this fight by decision and take her to kick this card off with an upset"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Aug 9, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Paul picks Santos, agreeing that Miller is overrated. He notes Miller's poor wrestling and striking, and that Santos is the better striker and grappler. He thinks Santos' judo will neutralize Miller's wrestling and that Santos can win by decision or submission. He also mentions that the line opened with the wrong fighter favored.

"yes he is the pick so even though I got to pay some steam on it it's just I gotta I gotta do it"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 8, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Luana Santos

The MMA Guru picks Luana Santos based on Juliana Miller's poor performance in her last fight, where she showed no skill, bad stand-up, and poor submission attempts. He notes that women's MMA is unpredictable but trusts Santos's age (23) and regional wins. He emphasizes that after watching Miller's last fight, he cannot logically pick her again.

"I'm gonna go with Luana Santos purely because of the fact that I watched Julianna Miller's last fight and um that's all there is to it really"
Mariya Agapova - Fight History
LOSS vs Luana Santos
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 3:27 · UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez · Jul 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Luana Santos 0 2 of 4 50% 9 of 12 1 of 1 100% 3 0 2:23
Mariya Agapova 0 3 of 14 21% 20 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Luana Santos 0 2 of 4 50% 9 of 12 1 of 1 100% 3 0 2:23
Mariya Agapova 0 3 of 14 21% 20 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Luana Santos 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mariya Agapova 3 of 14 21% 1 of 5 0 of 2 2 of 7 3 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Luana Santos 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mariya Agapova 3 of 14 21% 1 of 5 0 of 2 2 of 7 3 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Mariya Agapova vs. Luana Santos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Santos (-395), Agapova (+280)

Round 1
Momentum is the name of the game for this upcoming flyweight tilt, as Santos (7-1, 2-0 UFC) has some behind her as the winner of four straight. Her adversary Agapova (10-4, 2-3 UFC) has struggled as of late, dropping two in a row by submission while not competing since September 2022. This classic matchup of Brazil vs. Kazakhstan will receive oversight from referee Joe Coca, and a clap of hands commences it. Agapova looks for strikes well out of range, and Santos reaches her with a body kick. Agapova stays back, leaping forward with a right hand and missing again. Santos closes in and connects with a pair of strikes, and Agapova dances away. Agapova jabs feet away from the target, and Santos strides forward brimming with confidence and decks Agapova with a right hand. Agapova climbs back to her feet, and Santos slings her right back down to the mat with emphasis. The Brazilian commits to an arm-triangle choke as she gets to half guard, and lets it go so she can facilitate a guard pass to the side. Agapova tries to use her legs to trap Santos in something and pull her back, but when this fails, Santos steps over into full mount and goes after an arm-triangle immediately. Santos gets the grip tight, and Agapova signals a thumbs-up and turns to the side to protect herself, all while coughing out her mouthpiece to breathe better. Santos resets and presses down, bailing on it to land a few body shots and then re-fastening the submission. Agapova keeps her mouthpiece barely in her teeth and turns around to get to her knees.
Santos follows her every step of the way and locks up the rear-naked choke in the blink of an eye. Agapova nearly lets her gumshield fall out of her mouth in desperation while fighting the hands, but there is nothing more she can do at this point. Agapova frantically taps
and completely spits her mouthpiece out as she feels consciousness leaving her body, and Coca rushes between them to conclude the fight. Santos jumps away and starts dancing, and the crowd eats it up.

The Official Result
Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova R1 3:27 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Jul 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Angelo is extremely confident in Luana Santos due to a clear stylistic advantage: Santos has fantastic takedowns while Agapova has poor takedown defense. He expects Santos to grapple heavily and control the fight, similar to her performance against Stephanie Egger. He advises getting bets in early as Santos will likely be a heavy favorite by fight night.

Expects Santos to be minus 500 by fight night; advises to get bets in early.
"Lena Santos has fantastic takedowns Maria agapova has garbage takedown defense it literally is that simple"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Cody picks Santos, citing her superior grappling and youth. He notes Agapova's personal issues, inactivity, and poor cardio. He expects Santos to take Agapova down and submit her, possibly in the first round.

Santos by submission (implied)
"Lana Santos is going to put a beat in onor here."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Daniel Vreeland picks Luana Santos to win via ground control. He questions Agapova's mental state and ground game, noting that she gives up bad positions on the mat. He thinks Santos will take the fight to the ground and finish. He acknowledges Agapova's danger on the feet but expects Santos to avoid that.

"I'm gonna go with Lana to get this done when it hits the mat."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jul 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Luana Santos

Santos is too chalky but still likely wins. The fight is expected to go over 1.5 rounds and hit the scorecards. Santos will control the matchup, land a few takedowns, but Agapova will show enough resistance to reach a decision. The best attack is Santos by decision.

Santos by decision; over 1.5 rounds
"I expect this fight to go over one and a half rounds and I expect this fight to actually hit the scorecards so I think the best way to attack this matchup is actually taking Santos to win by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Paul picks Santos, citing her grappling advantage and Agapova's questionable preparation. He notes Agapova's long layoff and altitude, and believes Santos will submit her. He suggests betting Santos by submission at plus money.

Santos by submission (implied)
"Luana Santos by submission I wonder what the prop is on that."
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 2:19 · UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song · Sep 17, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gillian Robertson 0 39 of 58 67% 84 of 107 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:29
Mariya Agapova 0 4 of 14 28% 7 of 20 3 of 7 42% 1 0 4:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gillian Robertson 0 37 of 47 78% 82 of 96 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:29
Mariya Agapova 0 2 of 9 22% 2 of 9 2 of 6 33% 0 0 3:13
2 Gillian Robertson 0 2 of 11 18% 2 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Mariya Agapova 0 2 of 5 40% 5 of 11 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gillian Robertson 39 of 58 67% 36 of 53 3 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 27 5 of 6 25 of 25
Mariya Agapova 4 of 14 28% 0 of 5 1 of 2 3 of 7 4 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gillian Robertson 37 of 47 78% 36 of 44 1 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 16 5 of 6 25 of 25
Mariya Agapova 2 of 9 22% 0 of 5 1 of 1 1 of 3 2 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Gillian Robertson 2 of 11 18% 0 of 9 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mariya Agapova 2 of 5 40% 0 of 0 0 of 1 2 of 4 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 14, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Angelo picks Robertson because he sees a clear path: bully Agapova with takedowns and control, similar to what Marina Moroz did. He notes that Agapova has poor takedown defense and gives up when taken down. Robertson is not a dominant wrestler but can get the fight to the ground and control from top position. Angelo originally had no bets but may add some.

"i am gonna go with jillian here she's gonna have that same game plan as marina maros come in be the big sister bully her take her down beat her up"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 13, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Big Brady confidently picks Gillian Robertson to win by second-round submission. He highlights that Robertson is a BJJ black belt with strong takedowns and grappling, while Agapova struggles with takedown defense (42%) and cardio. Brady notes that Agapova has been controlled and submitted by grapplers like Marina Moroz and Tracy Cortez. He believes Robertson will implement her game plan, get the fight to the mat, and finish Agapova. However, he warns that if Robertson cannot get takedowns, Agapova could knock her out on the feet.

second round submission
"give me uh jillian robertson to win jillian robertson to win by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 14, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Cody thinks Robertson's grappling advantage will be decisive, especially since her coach Dean Thomas knows Agapova from American Top Team. He notes Agapova's poor takedown defense and tendency to wilt under grappling pressure. He expects Robertson to get takedowns and control the fight.

"i will take julian robertson but uh yeah yeah this on a 14 fight card you don't have to overextend yourself"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Sep 14, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Daniel Levi leans Gillian Robertson contingent on her getting takedowns. He notes Robertson's game plan is to take down and submit, while Agapova has been finished on the mat before. However, if Agapova stuffs takedowns, she will light Robertson up on the feet. He does not bet due to uncertainty.

"I'll just lean with jillian to get it to the map but again picking jillian is contingent on her getting into the match"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Sep 14, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Jacob picks Robertson, emphasizing that Agapova showed zero urgency off her back against Moroz and gave up. He believes Robertson can copy that game plan: get in her face, clinch, trip, and dominate on the ground. Jacob notes that Robertson is underrated as a grappler and that Agapova always loses to someone who can out-wrestle and out-tough her. He included Robertson in a female parlay for premium members.

Included in a female parlay for premium members.
"jillian robertson is one of those people as you mentioned has fought some good people she i think she's actually pretty and i think this is a perfect match-up for because agapo will always lose to somebody that can out-wrestle …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Sep 16, 2022 (1 day before fight)
Gillian Robertson

Robertson has a clear path to victory via takedowns and submissions. Agapova is the better striker but her takedown defense is suspect. Robertson's tenacity and pressure should get the fight to the ground, where she is a submission threat. The under 2.5 rounds at -150 is a strong play as both are finish-reliant. Robertson by submission at +150 is also appealing.

Under 2.5 rounds at -150, Robertson by submission at +150
"the way that I look to go about it actually was taking the under two and a half minus 150 is a great number in my opinion for two women that are finished Reliant"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Sep 14, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

Paul leans Agapova, citing her striking advantage and Robertson's poor wrestling. He acknowledges Agapova is inconsistent but thinks she can win if she keeps it standing. He's not confident enough to bet it.

"ever so slight lean towards agapova don't think i'm gonna get there from a betting perspective"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 13, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Gillian Robertson

The MMA Guru picks Gillian Robertson by submission. He notes that Mariya Agapova looks lost on the ground when taken down, as seen against Marina Moroz and Shayna Dobson. He believes Robertson's grappling, training under Dean Thomas, and recent submission wins will translate. He mentions Robertson is young (27) and has been training in grappling tournaments, so she knows the game plan to get takedowns and secure a submission.

submission win
"i'm gonna go with jillian robertson submission win"
LOSS vs Maryna Moroz
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R2 3:27 · UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal · Mar 05, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Maryna Moroz 0 28 of 42 66% 51 of 74 2 of 5 40% 3 0 6:43
Mariya Agapova 0 16 of 27 59% 72 of 86 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Maryna Moroz 0 2 of 6 33% 14 of 20 1 of 4 25% 2 0 3:28
Mariya Agapova 0 10 of 18 55% 40 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:39
2 Maryna Moroz 0 26 of 36 72% 37 of 54 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:15
Mariya Agapova 0 6 of 9 66% 32 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Maryna Moroz 28 of 42 66% 21 of 33 7 of 8 0 of 1 2 of 8 7 of 7 19 of 27
Mariya Agapova 16 of 27 59% 7 of 15 9 of 9 0 of 3 4 of 15 12 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Maryna Moroz 2 of 6 33% 0 of 2 2 of 3 0 of 1 0 of 4 2 of 2 0 of 0
Mariya Agapova 10 of 18 55% 3 of 8 7 of 7 0 of 3 0 of 8 10 of 10 0 of 0
2 Maryna Moroz 26 of 36 72% 21 of 31 5 of 5 0 of 0 2 of 4 5 of 5 19 of 27
Mariya Agapova 6 of 9 66% 4 of 7 2 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 7 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2022 (8 days before fight)
Maryna Moroz

Angelo picks the underdog Moroz, citing her movement and recent addition of offensive takedowns. He thinks she can avoid the pocket and use technical striking. He notes Agapova is the favorite but the odds seem high. He expresses concern about Moroz pulling out of fights, as she hasn't fought in a year.

"i'm actually gonna go with the underdog here i like marina moroza's movement and the recent addition of offensive takedowns"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Maryna Moroz

Big Brady picks Maryna Moroz as an underdog, citing her superior grappling and top control. He notes that Agapova has poor takedown defense (33%) and can be controlled on the mat, as seen in her loss to Shayna Baszler. Brady believes Moroz's high-volume striking and ability to take the fight to the ground will be key. He also mentions that Agapova's power is a threat, but Moroz has a clear path to victory via takedowns and control.

Moroz by decision
"i'm going to go with the dog here in moroz i think there is some recency bias on this line"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

Cody believes Agapova can win at range with her striking power, as seen against Sabina Mazo. He dismisses the Dobson loss as a bad day at the office due to personal issues. He thinks Moroz's wrestling is not elite and Agapova can land the more damaging shots. However, he acknowledges the wrestling wild card and advises watching weigh-ins.

"i think maria wins not marina maria agapova wins able to fight off her back feet landing the much more damaging shots"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

Daniel Levi picks Mariya Agapova to win, possibly by finish. He notes that Agapova has more firepower and if her head is on straight, she will bust up Moroz on the feet. He acknowledges Moroz's craftiness and takedowns but thinks Agapova can stuff them. He references Agapova's last performance against Sabina Mazo and believes she is the more physical fighter. He is not concerned about the Shayna Dobson loss, calling it a fluke.

"i got agapova man i know she lost to shane adoption and it's tough to back someone that uh lost to shaina dobson at that number but the the latest performance um and maybe um i'm gonna go agape by …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

Agapova has power and good footwork, as seen in her last win. Moroz is a solid all-around fighter but may struggle to take Agapova down and hold her there. Agapova's wide strikes could be countered by Moroz's straight shots, but Agapova should land the more significant strikes. The line is a bit wide; it should be closer to -130. Agapova via decision or late submission.

"i do agree though that agapova should be the favorite i do think the line is a little bit off though uh i do think that it should be closer i think i kept over closer to minus 130 minus …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Mar 2, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

Paul is hesitant because of Agapova's poor takedown defense (33%) and Moroz's improved wrestling in her last two fights. He notes Moroz has been pursuing takedowns and has good top control, while Agapova has only faced opponents who didn't wrestle. Paul has a bad gut feeling but officially picks Agapova, though he warns against overexposure.

"i think officially i am going to take out a capo ride or die at this point but i got a bad gut feeling"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

The MMA Guru picks Mariya Agapova over Maryna Moroz, citing Agapova's aggression, strength, and reach advantage. He notes Agapova showed patience in her last fight (submission win over Sabina Mazo) and believes she is a rising prospect. He predicts a first-round TKO, though he acknowledges Agapova has gassed in the past. He dismisses Moroz as inferior based on watching both fighters.

method: TKO, round: 1
"i'm gonna go with maria ragapova here first round tko something like that"
WIN vs Sabina Mazo
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 0:53 · UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Rodriguez · Oct 09, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Mariya Agapova 0 62 of 159 38% 63 of 161 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:35
Sabina Mazo 1 93 of 164 56% 99 of 170 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Mariya Agapova 0 28 of 75 37% 28 of 75 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
Sabina Mazo 0 53 of 86 61% 56 of 89 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Mariya Agapova 0 28 of 69 40% 28 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:23
Sabina Mazo 0 29 of 57 50% 30 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Mariya Agapova 0 6 of 15 40% 7 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Sabina Mazo 1 11 of 21 52% 13 of 23 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Mariya Agapova 62 of 159 38% 35 of 113 13 of 22 14 of 24 61 of 158 1 of 1 0 of 0
Sabina Mazo 93 of 164 56% 48 of 107 32 of 43 13 of 14 91 of 162 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Mariya Agapova 28 of 75 37% 15 of 54 8 of 12 5 of 9 27 of 74 1 of 1 0 of 0
Sabina Mazo 53 of 86 61% 28 of 58 18 of 21 7 of 7 51 of 84 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Mariya Agapova 28 of 69 40% 17 of 49 4 of 7 7 of 13 28 of 69 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sabina Mazo 29 of 57 50% 14 of 34 9 of 16 6 of 7 29 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Mariya Agapova 6 of 15 40% 3 of 10 1 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sabina Mazo 11 of 21 52% 6 of 15 5 of 6 0 of 0 11 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 6, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sabina Mazo

Angelo picks Sabina Mazo, citing her range and kicking ability. He thinks she can keep Agapova at distance and survive the early storm, then pick her apart for a decision. He notes Agapova gets hit more than she lands. He likes the less more on Monkey Knife Fight but has no betting action on this fight.

less more Monkey Knife Fight
"I've got Mazo winning a decision on the outside."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 6, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sabina Mazo

Cody is very confident in Mazo, citing her refined striking, volume, and stable camp. He details Agapova's personal issues, gym hopping, and poor performance against Shayna Dobson. He believes Mazo's consistency and skill set will overwhelm Agapova, predicting a decision or late finish.

Mazo straight up at -165 is good enough
"i gotta go with sabine mazzo to get the decision well maybe not even a decision let's just say sabine amazon 165 is good enough just take it straight up"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Oct 7, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sabina Mazo

Daniel Levi leans toward Sabina Mazo because he has more questions about Mariya Agapova, especially after her loss to Shanna Dobson as a massive favorite. He sees both as strikers but notes Agapova has cardio and grappling issues. He acknowledges Mazo's head kicks and submission skills but is not highly confident, calling it a slight lean.

"i'm gonna lean mazo but it's not the most confident pick in the world"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lean picked Oct 6, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

Jacob leans towards Mariya Agapova due to her training at ATT, which he believes will lead to improved game planning and potentially a grappling-heavy approach. He thinks Agapova might come in with a wrestling game plan to exploit Mazo's grappling weaknesses. He likes her at plus 130 and might include her in an underdog parlay.

underdog parlay with Agapova and possibly Charles Rosa
"I like Agapova in this match-up just because of the ATT, honestly."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 7, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sabina Mazo

The host picks Sabina Mazo, believing her disciplined striking will be too much for Agapova. He doubts Agapova's grappling is good enough to take Mazo down and control her, unlike previous opponents who beat Mazo via wrestling. He notes Agapova's wild style and potential lifestyle issues, while Mazo is focused. He predicts a unanimous decision for Mazo.

"I like mazzo on this spot i i think her striking is gonna be the key in this fight"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 6, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sabina Mazo

Paul agrees with Cody, noting Mazo's volume striking and Agapova's questionable durability and mental state. He mentions Mazo's experience and consistent training at Kings MMA. He is surprised the line is only -165 and expects Mazo to land many significant strikes.

"i'm actually kind of surprised that mazzo is uh only -165 here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Oct 5, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Sabina Mazo

The MMA Guru hesitantly picks Sabina Mazo by unanimous decision. He reasons that Mazo outgrappled Shayna Dobson, while Agapova was outgrappled by Dobson, giving Mazo a grappling edge. He also notes Mazo's reach advantage. However, he expresses confusion over Agapova's losses and calls women's MMA unpredictable.

Mazo by unanimous decision
"i'm gonna go with sabine marzo because she out grappled shayna dobson... i think she's going to have a big advantage in the grappling here over maria agapova"
LOSS vs Shana Dobson
TKO (punches) R2 1:38 · UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar · Aug 22, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shana Dobson 0 22 of 46 47% 56 of 89 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:11
Mariya Agapova 0 24 of 36 66% 41 of 59 2 of 2 100% 0 1 2:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shana Dobson 0 21 of 39 53% 53 of 79 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:31
Mariya Agapova 0 5 of 10 50% 15 of 22 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:47
2 Shana Dobson 0 1 of 7 14% 3 of 10 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:40
Mariya Agapova 0 19 of 26 73% 26 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shana Dobson 22 of 46 47% 18 of 40 4 of 6 0 of 0 10 of 28 2 of 2 10 of 16
Mariya Agapova 24 of 36 66% 18 of 30 5 of 5 1 of 1 6 of 14 3 of 3 15 of 19
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shana Dobson 21 of 39 53% 17 of 33 4 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 21 2 of 2 10 of 16
Mariya Agapova 5 of 10 50% 0 of 5 4 of 4 1 of 1 2 of 7 3 of 3 0 of 0
2 Shana Dobson 1 of 7 14% 1 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mariya Agapova 19 of 26 73% 18 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0 4 of 7 0 of 0 15 of 19
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

Big Brady picks Mariya Agapova to win by first-round knockout. He sees no path to victory for Shana Dobson, who was knocked out in the first round by Priscila Cachoeira, a fighter not known for power. Agapova is a much better fighter with more upside, and Brady expects her to finish early. He is considering betting under 1.5 rounds or Agapova in round one.

Under 1.5 rounds; Agapova wins in round 1
"agapova's going to win this fight... i'm gonna pick her to win by first round knockout"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 22, 2020 (fight day)
Mariya Agapova

Daniel Levi picks Mariya Agapova to win by vicious finish, likely in the first round. He notes Agapova is a long, lefty striker with power and a Euro Joanna vibe, and that Shana Dobson has no business in the UFC, having been dominated in her last two fights. Levi expects Agapova to march Dobson down and finish her, possibly earning another $50k bonus. He jokes that the only question is whether it will be a head kick, body shot, or rear-naked choke.

finish, first round, $50k bonus
"i see agapova marching shayna dobson down and putting her in the ground so you know i'm gonna go with the acapulva to possibly get a her second 50g"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 20, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

Agapova is a massive favorite against Dobson, who is on a three-fight losing streak and below .500 in the UFC. Agapova has power, movement, and confidence, and should easily finish Dobson early. The best bet is Agapova inside the distance, likely by submission in the first round. Avoid parlaying her straight due to poor value.

Agapova inside the distance at -335; Agapova by submission at +165; under 1.5 rounds at -160.
"i think she goes out there maybe first round and gets dobson down and you know submits her"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

The MMA Guru picks Mariya Agapova to win by first-round finish, calling it a mismatch. He notes Agapova's dominance over Hannah Cifers and Dobson's weak competition (combined 4-4 record of her wins). He predicts a first-round TKO or submission within the first two minutes.

first round finish
"maria agapova is gonna just molester inside one round"
WIN vs Hannah Cifers
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 2:42 · UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo · Jun 13, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Mariya Agapova 1 29 of 52 55% 36 of 59 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:24
Hannah Cifers 0 11 of 32 34% 14 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Mariya Agapova 1 29 of 52 55% 36 of 59 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:24
Hannah Cifers 0 11 of 32 34% 14 of 36 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Mariya Agapova 29 of 52 55% 20 of 41 8 of 10 1 of 1 19 of 35 10 of 17 0 of 0
Hannah Cifers 11 of 32 34% 4 of 21 3 of 5 4 of 6 7 of 23 4 of 9 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Mariya Agapova 29 of 52 55% 20 of 41 8 of 10 1 of 1 19 of 35 10 of 17 0 of 0
Hannah Cifers 11 of 32 34% 4 of 21 3 of 5 4 of 6 7 of 23 4 of 9 0 of 0
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Mariya Agapova

The MMA Guru picks Mariya Agapova, calling her a phenom and the best female fighter out of Russia. He notes that Hannah Cifers steps in on short notice and walks forward headfirst, which will play into Agapova's slick combinations. He predicts Agapova will outclass Cifers on the feet and stuff takedowns, winning a decision.

Agapova wins by decision
"Maria a gap over is a phenom. I think she's gonna get the job done."
Expert Picks (5)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Jul 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Angelo is extremely confident in Luana Santos due to a clear stylistic advantage: Santos has fantastic takedowns while Agapova has poor takedown defense. He expects Santos to grapple heavily and control the fight, similar to her performance against Stephanie Egger. He advises getting bets in early as Santos will likely be a heavy favorite by fight night.

Expects Santos to be minus 500 by fight night; advises to get bets in early.
"Lena Santos has fantastic takedowns Maria agapova has garbage takedown defense it literally is that simple"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Cody picks Santos, citing her superior grappling and youth. He notes Agapova's personal issues, inactivity, and poor cardio. He expects Santos to take Agapova down and submit her, possibly in the first round.

Santos by submission (implied)
"Lana Santos is going to put a beat in onor here."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Daniel Vreeland picks Luana Santos to win via ground control. He questions Agapova's mental state and ground game, noting that she gives up bad positions on the mat. He thinks Santos will take the fight to the ground and finish. He acknowledges Agapova's danger on the feet but expects Santos to avoid that.

"I'm gonna go with Lana to get this done when it hits the mat."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jul 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Luana Santos

Santos is too chalky but still likely wins. The fight is expected to go over 1.5 rounds and hit the scorecards. Santos will control the matchup, land a few takedowns, but Agapova will show enough resistance to reach a decision. The best attack is Santos by decision.

Santos by decision; over 1.5 rounds
"I expect this fight to go over one and a half rounds and I expect this fight to actually hit the scorecards so I think the best way to attack this matchup is actually taking Santos to win by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Luana Santos

Paul picks Santos, citing her grappling advantage and Agapova's questionable preparation. He notes Agapova's long layoff and altitude, and believes Santos will submit her. He suggests betting Santos by submission at plus money.

Santos by submission (implied)
"Luana Santos by submission I wonder what the prop is on that."