Luana Santos to Pursue Title Shot at UFC Vegas 123

Luana Santos aims for an early finish against Yana Santos this weekend in Las Vegas to move up the rankings.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts

Expressive sports illustration of a female martial artist mid-action in an MMA cage, capturing intense athletic movement and energy. — Luana Santos seeks a definitive finish in her bantamweight bout at UFC Vegas 123, aiming to secure a direct title shot opportunity. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Luana Santos intends to secure a title shot in the UFC women's bantamweight division by earning a finish at UFC Vegas 123 on the weekend of November 1-2, 2026. She hopes a standout performance will propel her ahead of currently ranked contenders.

Why it matters

A victory via knockout or submission could significantly increase her marketability to the promotion. Santos believes that a finish will allow her to bypass rivals like Ailin Perez and Joselyne Edwards in the title contention order.

Ailin Perez currently holds a streak of seven consecutive victories within the promotion. The fighters compete in the 135 lbs women's bantamweight division.

The players

Luana Santos

She is a professional fighter currently seeking a title shot in the UFC women's bantamweight division.

Yana Santos

She is a professional combatant scheduled to face Luana Santos in the upcoming event at UFC Vegas 123.

Ailin Perez

She is a UFC fighter who has achieved seven consecutive victories and is currently ranked ahead of Luana Santos.

Joselyne Edwards

She is a bantamweight contender who holds a ranking position ahead of Luana Santos.

Norma Dumont

She is a UFC fighter who previously faced Ailin Perez in a bout decided by the judges.

The details

Luana Santos plans to request a direct title opportunity from the promotion if she succeeds in her fight against Yana Santos. She claims that the UFC matchmakers have expressed dissatisfaction with the recent performance of Ailin Perez, who defeated Norma Dumont by decision.

Luana Santos fights Yana Santos at UFC Vegas 123 on the weekend of November 1-2, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This bout directly impacts the hierarchy of the UFC title contention order as competitors jockey for position. Santos is actively attempting to leapfrog established names to force her way into the championship conversation.

A finish at UFC Vegas 123 serves as the primary metric for Santos to potentially jump ahead of Ailin Perez and Joselyne Edwards in the standings. Fans should monitor whether the win is achieved via knockout or submission, as these methods are prioritized in her marketability strategy.

The takeaway

Fighters often leverage perceived dissatisfaction within promotion matchmakers to lobby for higher-profile opportunities. Consistency and finishing ability remain the most effective tools for athletes seeking to accelerate their path toward a title shot.