Yana Santos convincingly won the striking battle against Chelsea Chandler tonight at UFC On ESPN 61 to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
Leg kick for Santos. She connects with another. Now one to the body. Back to the leg again.
Santos throws out a punch that doesn’t land but continues to press forward and lands a nice calf kick. Another leg kick for her. A final one lands before Chandler finally decides she needs to get her own offense going and lumbers forward throwing a few hard punches.
Leg kick from Santos and Chandler lands a counter punch this time. Body kick for Santos. Now a side kick from her to keep distance.
Back to the calf kick for Santos. Front kick to the face lands. Santos presses forward looking to capitalize on that, but as soon as she gets into the clinch Chandler is able to turn her into the cage instead.
It’s not long before Santos gets free though and back to striking. Solid body kick for Santos. Punch from Chandler comes up short. Chandler struggling to get into the fight so far, while Santos has settled quickly and punctuates that point with another body kick.
Santos into the clinch looking to strike, but Chandler fires off a few punches of her own. Santos out of the clinch and threatens with a back kick.
Round Two:
Fast combo from Santos, working to the body and head. A big punch from Santos floors Chandler. She doesn’t follow her down though and instead opts to kick at her legs until the ref stands Chandler back up.
Body kick from Santos. Santos pressing forward but gets caught by a counter punch. Push kick from Santos. She steps into a nice calf kick.
Santos misses a front kick attempt upstairs. Back to the leg she goes. She lands another calf kick. Now a one-two.
Chandler bundles forward trowing a few punches and one lands nicely. She ends up in the clinch but Santos is away quickly.
Chandler back into the clinch again. They jockey for position there and Santos turns her into the cage and then moves away.
Side kick from Santos puts Chandler back on her heels for a moment. Straight left lands for Chandler. Brief clinch and then they are back to striking range.
Santos’s speed, technique and athleticism is just proving to be way too much for Chandler, who looks slow, clumsy and out of ideas by comparison as they head towards the end of the round.
Round Three:
Combo from Santos doesn’t connect for Santos and enables Chandler to land a left hand. Chandler into the clinch against the cage.
Chandler tries for a sweep but Santos stays up. Chandler throws a knee and then Santos breaks away.
Punches followed by a low kick from Santos. Chandler looking to counter as Santos fires off her kicks. Brief clinch then back out again.
Chandler back into the clinch against the cage now. A couple of knees to the leg from her. Santos moves away. Chandler still pressing forward though and lands a couple of punches before going back into the clinch.
Santos able to turn Chandler into the cage. She lands a couple of knees to the body. She lands another strike as they break apart.
Inside calf kick for Santos. Constant movement from her. Chandler able to get back into the clinch though. Knee to the body and a short punch from Chandler.
Back to striking range. Chandler with a nice couple of lefts as she battles back into the clinch. Another left for her before they disengage.
Side kick for Santos. Chandler into the clinch and blasts Santos’ body with a few solid punches.
Decision:
A good performance from Santos then as she picked Chandler apart on the feet for much of the fight, leading to a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 29-28 x2).
