UFC Vegas 95: Yana Santos vs. Chelsea Chandler: Live round-by-round updates
UFC Vegas 95's Yana Santos vs. Chelsea Chandler live round-by-round updates are here to walk fans through the real-time action of the second main card bout of the evening. The initial plan was for Santos and Chandler to lock horns in the women's bantamweight division.
Unfortunately, Chandler's weight cut ended at 141 pounds, which is five pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. Thus, the bout is now at a catchweight of 141 pounds, which adds pride to the stakes. Speaking of which, the matchup is of great importance to both women, though more for Santos than Chandler.
Santos is likely fighting for her spot on the roster, as she is on a three-fight losing streak with a 14-8 (1) record. Meanwhile, Chandler puts her 6-2 record on the line, hoping to extend her recent win over Josiane Nunes into her first win streak since an embarrassing loss to Norma Dumont last year.
Santos' #12 ranking in the division will be especially enticing for Chandler, who currently sits near the bottom of the top 15 at #14. With a spot closer to the top 10 and weight-related mishap looming over her, Chandler will be looking to prove herself, as will Santos, lest she join her husband in the PFL.
Despite her poor run of form, Santos is listed as a -148 favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the oddsmakers regard Chandler as a +124 underdog.
Follow Sportskeeda for play-by-play analysis and live scoring of the catchweight bout.
UFC Vegas 95: Yana Santos vs. Chelsea Chandler
Round 1: The round opens with Santos on the front foot. The two women trade low kicks, and Santos already seems more comfortable on the feet. She's outpointing Chandler on the feet with low kicks, thus far. Another low kick lands for Santos, this one briefly knocking Chandler out of her stance.
A blitz from Santos ends with another low kick, that destabilizes Chandler's stance for a second time. A brief clinch sequence ensues against the fence, but it's qukckly broken up. Chandler lands a nice left hand, intercepting Santos mid-kick. More heavy leather from Chandler, who lands a combination.
Santos reestablishes a longer kicking range, and her low kicks find a home. Santos with a big front kick to the face that appears to rock Chandler, who clinches desperately, but it leads to nothing. Both women are back in the center. A body kick for Santos this time, which she follows up with a right cross.
She lands the same combination again. Chandler seems to be out of ideas, although she does land a few lefts and rights. Another clinch, but they break and Santos is back to outstriking Chandler. 10-9 Santos.
Round 2: Chandler lands a nice overhand left, but is immediately dropped by a Santos right hand. Santos refuses to engage with her on the ground, and referee Herb Dean forces a stand-up. Both women are circling around each other in the center, and Santos low-kicks Chandler out of her stance again.
Santos keeps retreating, as if trying to lure Chandler into a counter. Another low kick for her. Chandler lunges in with a combination and gets the clinch, but nothing much comes of it. They break, but another clinching sequence ensues soon afterward. Santos turns Chandler toward the fence, lands a hard elbow off the break.
Santos checks one of Chandler's kicks, lands a side kick to her lead knee. More clinching from Chandler, who gets turned around again. They break. Santos with a front kick to the face. The Russian lands a nice round kick to the body. She misses with another front kick, and Chandler clinches to end the round. 10-8 Santos.
Round 3: Chandler lands a nice combination that stumbles Santos. The American clinches, pushing her opponent against the fence. She's looking for an outside trip, but Santos defends well and they break. Santos with a stinging left hand. The low kicks return for Santos, but Chandler is heavy on the pressure now.
They clinch again and Chandler pushes her against the fence, kneeing the thigh. Santos turns her away and breaks, but Chandler lunges back in with a combination, landing some punches to clinch again, only to be turned around. Santos breaks the clinch with an elbow.
A hard front kick from Santos snaps Chandler's face sideward. Chandler doesn't care, her pressure is relentless, as she's likely aware she's down on the scorecards. They clinch again and Chandler pins Santos to the fence, landing some elbows and knees before they break.
Another clinch, and Chandler finds more elbows and knees, landing with more authority this time. She holds Santos against the fence, landing another elbow before they break, only to eat another front kick. But she pursues the clinch, landing some nice punches in a dirty boxing sequence. 10-9 Chandler.
Official Decision: Yana Santos def. Chelsea Chandler via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)