Taila Santos

Taila Jaine dos Santos (born June 22, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). She formerly competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she challenged for the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship in June 2022. As of January 27, 2026, she is #3 in the PFL women's flyweight rankings.

Background

With her father being a Muay Thai coach, she started training it at the age of 16, soon afterwards being enrolled in a championship at Chute Boxe of Curitiba, which Taila went to win. Taila started to train Jiu-Jitsu, with her father organizing an MMA fight so that Taila could debut in the sport. She went and won again. Afterwards, her father contacted Marcelo Brigadeiro to organize the trip to Astra Fight, in Balneário Camboriú, where she resides today.

After two year layoff, she was invited onto Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 where she faced off at Flyweight against Estefani Almeida. She won the unanimous decision and earned a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Santos made her UFC debut against Mara Romero Borella on February 2, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2. She lost the fight by split decision.

Taila faced Molly McCann on 16 July 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Santos was scheduled to face Maryna Moroz on December 5, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori. However on November 18, it was announced that Moroz had to pull out and she was replaced by Montana De La Rosa. Just hours before the event, the UFC decided to remove the fight after one of De La Rosa's cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. Santos was then rescheduled to face Gillian Robertson two weeks later at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal. Santos won the fight via unanimous decision.

Santos was scheduled to face Roxanne Modafferi on May 8, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 24. However, Modafferi was forced to pull out from the event citing a meniscus tear.

Santos was scheduled to face Mandy Böhm on September 4, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 191. However, Santos was pulled from the bout due to visa issues and was replaced by Ariane Lipski.

Santos faced Roxanne Modafferi in a flyweight bout on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Santos faced Joanne Wood on November 20, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 198. After knocking Wood down twice, Santos won the bout via rear-naked choke at the end of the first round. This fight earned her the Performance of the Night award.

Santos faced Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship on June 11, 2022, at UFC 275. She lost the close bout by split decision, becoming the first fighter to win on a judge's scorecard against Shevchenko, in the flyweight division.

Santos was scheduled to face Erin Blanchfield on February 18, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 219. The main event fight between Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera was rescheduled to another event, and Santos' fight against Blanchfield was promoted to the main event. However, just one week out from the event, Santos withdrew after her cornermen were denied visas into the United States and was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade.

The match with Erin Blanchfield was rebooked and took place on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.

On November 7, 2023, it was announced that Santos was no longer under contract with the UFC.

Professional Fighters League

On March 1, 2024, it was reported that Santos signed with Professional Fighters League.

Santos was scheduled to make her debut against Denise Kielholtz on April 4, 2024 at PFL 1. However, a week before the event it was announced that Kielholtz had pulled out and she would instead face llara Joanne. Santos won the bout by a rear-naked choke submission at the end of the first round.

Santos faced Jena Bishop at PFL 4 on June 13, 2024. She won the bout via split decision.

Santos faced Liz Carmouche in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women's Flyweight tournament at PFL 7 on August 2, 2024. At the weigh-ins, Carmouche missed weight by 1 pound, coming in at 127 pounds. Santos won the bout via unanimous decision.

In the final, Santos faced Dakota Ditcheva on November 29, 2024, at PFL 10. She lost the bout by technical knockout via body punches in the second round leading to the first knockout loss in her career.

On January 15, 2025, it was announced that Santos was join the 2025 PFL World Tournament in their flyweight division.

In the quarterfinal, Santos was scheduled to face Juliana Velasquez on April 11, 2025, at PFL 2. However, Santos withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Ekaterina Shakalova.

On August 21, 2025 it was announced that Santos had tested positive for Oxandrolone and clenbuterol as the result of an out-of-competition sample collected on March 21, 2025. USADA gave her a 6 month suspension that began on March 21st and will end on September 21, 2025.

Santos faced Yan Qihui on May 2, 2026, at PFL Sioux Falls. She won the fight via technical knockout in round one.

Santos faced Sabrinna de Sousa on August 22, 2026, at PFL Tampa. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) Most submission attempts in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (9)