Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate is set for her next octagon appearance on May 3, 2024, facing No. 10-ranked contender Yana Santos at UFC Fight Night in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Tate returns for her second fight back in the bantamweight division after successfully defeating Julia Avila by submission in December 2023.
Tate, whose current professional record is 20 wins and 9 losses, previously experimented in the flyweight division for one fight before returning to her original weight at 135 pounds. She presently holds the No. 11 bantamweight ranking and aims to make another run towards the UFC title.
Yana Santos enters the matchup with a professional MMA record of 15 wins, 8 losses, and one no contest. A former Invicta FC bantamweight champion, Santos recently ended a three-fight losing streak by picking up a unanimous decision victory over Chelsea Chandler last August. A strong performance against Tate would further boost Santos toward title contention.
With more than a month before her upcoming fight, Tate has shown impressive early preparation and physical conditioning. Sharing her progress on her Instagram page, she confidently posted, "I am shedding my winter coat and ready to bring on the heat. May 3rd - UFC Fight Night - next opportunity to prove that this is all made from hard work, determination, no cutting corners and no F’s to give!"
The bantamweight clash between Miesha Tate and Yana Santos will kick off the UFC Fight Night preliminary fights in Des Moines. A victory in this key matchup would solidify the winner's position as a credible title challenger in one of the UFC's most competitive women's divisions.
