Taila Santos put herself on the map tonight at UFC On ESPN 13 by dominating Molly McCann with well-rounded skills to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
Straight right from Santos and then a head kick attempt. Leg kick from McCann and Santos fires off punches again in response.
Kick from Santos is caught by McCann, but not able to do anything with it. Leg kick from Santos. Nice body work from McCann.
Another punch from McCann and then tries to go into a takedown, but nothing doing. Hard leg kick from Santos.
Big knee from Santos to the body and then another knee. Good work from her. However, Santos appears to grab McCann’s hair and that forces a stoppage and warning from the referee.
Hard punch from McCann as they restart. Hard kicks from Santos. One from McCann but not with the same power.
Punch for McCann. Santos bleeding from a cut to the eye. McCann lands there again. Good kick from Santos. McCann looks for a takedown, but Santos stuffs it and gets the thai clinch to work some knees. McCann tries to go back to the takedown, but doesn’t get it and Santos then returns the favor by taking her down.
McCann able to stand up against the cage. They jockey for position against the cage and Santos wins that battle for position and manages to land another takedown before the final bell. Good start for her.
Round Two:
McCann looks for punches as Santos lands a few kicks. Body punch for McCann. Now a right hand from McCann. She catches a kick and tries to clinch up and walk Santos to the cage. However, Santos reverses the position. McCann working hard though and reverses again and is trying to work for a takedown.
McCann lands a knee. However, Santos switches position again and lands a good knee of her own. They break away from the cage and again Santos looking very assured here and is able to land a nice takedown and soon is in mount.
McCann looking to escape and Santos tries to work for a d’arce choke. Credit to McCann though as she gets out of the submission and stands up against the cage. Santos with a knee upstairs and then a good takedown.
Santos in full mount. McCann almost gives up her back, but manages to get back to half guard and then full guard.
Elbow lands from Santos as McCann tries to get a submission working from her back in the final 10 seconds.
Round Three:
One-two from McCann to start the round. Now a body kick. Hook attempt from McCann, but Santos works a counter knee.
leg kick from Santos. Front kick to the body. Left hand for McCann. Front kicks to the body from Santos. two punches from McCann. Now a spinning kick to the body, but without much power. Now a spinning backfist attempt as she tries to get some momentum.
Santos with the front kick to the body. Grazing left hand from McCann. Straight punches from Santos. Left hand for her and then into a takedown attempt against the cage.
Another very nice takedown from Santos. Very good performance from her tonight, looking much improved.
Santos working from side control. McCann scrambles and Santos backs off. from her back McCann throwing kicks to her opponent’s knee.
Santos back down now and McCann is on her knees. Santos able to take McCann’s back. Now she’s moving into full mount.
A few punches from Santos and thinks about a choke attempt. She decides to just continues with punches instead and McCann is working her way back to her feet as the final horn sounds.
Decision:
Santos appears to have really stepped up her game and earns herself a well earned unanimous decision victory (30-27 x3).
