Yana Santos Ended Her Losing Run Against Chelsea Chandler
Yana Santos defeated Chelsea Chandler by unanimous decision at UFC APEX on August 10, 2024. The judges returned 30–27, 29–28 and 29–28 after a three-round contest that gave Santos her first victory since February 2021.
An aggressive start established the advantage
Santos began as the quicker and more active striker, taking the initiative during the early exchanges. Her pressure and sharper offense prevented Chandler from consistently setting the terms of the fight.
Chandler had more success in the third round as Santos slowed, but Santos answered enough of that late effort to protect the work she had already banked. All three judges ultimately favored her.
The weigh-in added another complication
Nevada’s official report listed Chandler at 141 pounds. That was five pounds above the 136-pound limit for a non-title bantamweight bout, and the contest proceeded at catchweight.
Santos therefore secured her return to the winning column against an opponent who had missed the contracted weight. Both the scale result and the decision formed part of the weekend’s record.
Three defeats preceded the recovery
Santos’s previous victory had come against Ketlen Vieira on February 20, 2021. She then lost to Irene Aldana, Holly Holm and Karol Rosa before facing Chandler.
The Chandler decision ended that three-fight losing sequence. Santos later followed it with unanimous-decision victories over Miesha Tate on May 3, 2025, and Macy Chiasson on October 4, building a new run from the August breakthrough.
Sources
- UFC: Chandler fight sequence and scorecards
- Nevada Athletic Commission: Chandler’s weight and official decision
- UFC: Vieira win, losing sequence and subsequent results
