Taila Santos details “uncomfortable aspects” that led to her sudden UFC exit after razor-close title fight with Valentina Shevchenko 

It is expected that Taila Santos will be making her debut in the PFL this week. Her unexpected departure from the UFC towards the end of last year created speculation, as both parties have not disclosed any information regarding the circumstances.

As she prepares for her upcoming fight, the Brazilian fighter has revealed the “uncomfortable aspect”that ultimately caused her to leave the top MMA promotions.

She addressed Danny Segura and said:

“I was in the UFC, but I wasn’t very happy Everything started when I fought for the belt against Valentina [Shevchenko]. I won that fight, and it was one of the first tough fights Valentina had ever had in her career…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.”

Despite the lack of a rematch being a concern for Santos, it was not the only factor. She also hinted at her frustrations with the UFC’s scheduling policies.

“There were also some uncomfortable aspects around dates and the calendar, 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.” [h/t MMA Junkie]

Be sure to read the interview with Taila Sanots below:

With his move to the PFL, Santos envisions a new future. The PFL’s distinctive season structure, which offers a direct route to the championship and a substantial $1 million reward, seems to be a more suitable fit for the Brazilian athlete.

This Thursday, Santos is set to compete in the PFL cage as she takes on Ilara Joanne in the opening round of the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight season.

Taila Santos’ Journey in the Octagon

Despite facing both impressive wins and setbacks, Taila Santos’ career in the UFC was filled with determination. In 2019, she encountered a split decision loss in her debut, but swiftly recovered by securing wins against Molly McCann and Gillian Robertson.

Santos showcased a versatile set of skills, blending her powerful wrestling with a formidable ground game. This level of control led to her earning a matchup against experienced competitor Roxanne Modafferi, whom she defeated convincingly by unanimous decision.

In the subsequent match, Santos continued to climb the ranks by securing a first-round rear-naked choke victory over Joanne Wood, resulting in a Performance Of The Night bonus.

Despite putting up a valiant effort, Santos’ momentum came to a halt when she faced off against the seemingly unbeatable Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title in 2022. Despite her best efforts, Santos ultimately fell short as the judges awarded Shevchenko a split decision victory.

More bad luck ensued when her progress was hindered last February due to a last-minute withdrawal from a main event caused by her cornermen’s visa denial.

Upon her comeback in August 2023, she suffered yet another narrow defeat to Erin Blanchfield in Singapore, marking the end of her tenure in the promotion.