Taila Santos is making big statements at 125 pounds.
The Brazilian picked up a big win, running through veteran Joanne Wood at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 198. Santos (19-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) submitted Wood (15-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) with a rear-naked choke at the 4:49 mark of Round 1.
The women’s flyweight bout was part of the UFC Fight Night 198 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.
It was a dominant showing by Santos.
The 28-year-old pressured Wood from the very beginning. After a feeling out process, Santos began connecting with the right hand. She dropped Wood with a straight right, but Wood was able to get back on her feet quickly. A second right hand followed, dropping Wood again.
From there, the Brazilian jumped on Wood, got her back, and began to work for the submission. Shortly after, Santos sank in a rear-naked choke, forcing Wood to tap out.
A new contender EMERGES 💢
🇧🇷 Taila Santos with the first-RD finish!
[ #UFCVegas43 is LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/xpOgNXp7mY
— UFC (@ufc) November 21, 2021
Santos was coming off three consecutive wins, as she bested Molly McCann, Gillian Robertson, and Roxanne Modafferi in unanimous decision wins. The Brazilian is now on a four-fight winning streak. Santos has only lost once in her professional MMA career, coming up short against Mara Romero Borella in a split decision back in 2019.
Meanwhile, Wood was coming off a split-decision loss to former UFC title challenger Lauren Murphy back in June. She now finds herself on a two-fight losing streak. Wood is 2-4 in her past six trips to the octagon.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 198 results include:
- Taila Santos def. Joanne Wood via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:49
- Rani Yahya def. Kyung Ho Kang via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Adrian Yanez def. Davey Grant via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
- Pat Sabatini def. Tucker Lutz via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
- Rafa Garcia def. Natan Levy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Loopy Godinez def. Loma Lookboonmee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Cody Durden def. Aori Qileng via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Shayilan Nuerdanbieke def. Sean Soriano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Luana Pinheiro def. Sam Hughes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
