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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
MMA Junkie Staff

Luana Santos wants shot at top 15 after showing what she can do at full strength at UFC Denver

Luana Santos beat Mariya Agapova with a first-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 59 at Ball Arena in Denver.

Take a look inside the fight with Santos, who improved to 3-0 in the UFC.

Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova

Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Luana Santos (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Mariya Agapova (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Result: Luana Santos def. Mariya Agapova via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:27
Updated records: Santos (8-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Agapova (10-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC)
Key stats: Santos now has one submission in each year she’s been a pro fighter.

Santos on the fight's key moment

“I’ve been training to get the back for months – four months of training to get the back. I had to do the judo because that’s my thing – that’s where I come from. I needed to do it. But I’m so glad I trained that much because I was able to just get her and get the rear naked choke.”

Santos on her normal training camp

Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Luana Santos (red gloves) fights Mariya Agapova (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

“It was great to actually have this. I trained so hard for this the last four months. I visualized this. I mentalized this. This is who I am when I get four months out of a full camp. You got to see the full, complete result.”

Santos on what she wants next

Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Luana Santos (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Mariya Agapova (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

“I feel like after the wins I’ve had, I should get someone in the top 15. I think the UFC may give me that chance. … I do feel I’ll be ready by November or December.”

To hear more from Santos, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 59.

UFC on ESPN 59

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