The women’s bantamweight division takes center stage with an intriguing striker vs grappler matchup. Macy Chiasson vs Yana Santos happens at UFC 320 with both fighters looking to climb back into contention. This fight could determine who moves closer to a title shot in the competitive 135 pound ranks.
Chiasson has experienced the highs and lows of UFC competition recently. She put together an impressive two-fight winning streak that included a doctor’s stoppage over Mayra Bueno Silva after opening a nasty cut, plus a slick submission victory over Pannie Kianzad. Then Ketlen Vieira brought her back to earth in May with a decision loss that snapped that momentum.
Santos has been quietly building something special in her recent outings. The former Invicta FC champion scored the biggest victory of her career in May by taking a unanimous decision over Miesha Tate. Before that, she beat Chelsea Chandler to build momentum. Those consecutive victories improved her UFC record to 6-5 and her overall mark to 16-8.
Chiasson stands an imposing 5’11” with a 72 inch reach, huge dimensions for the bantamweight division. Her striking output is moderate at 3.49 significant strikes landed per minute with 46% accuracy. She absorbs just 2.68 strikes per minute with 45% striking defense.
The grappling stats show where Chiasson really wants to work. She averages 2.08 takedowns per fight at 35% accuracy. Her takedown defense is solid at 71%, meaning she can usually stay standing when opponents shoot. She averages 0.4 submissions per fight, which isn’t high but shows she’s dangerous on the ground.
Santos stands 5’6″ with a 68 inch reach. Her striking volume is higher at 4.42 significant strikes landed per minute with excellent 58% accuracy. That combination of activity and precision makes her dangerous despite the size deficit. She absorbs 3.07 strikes per minute with 52% striking defense, both numbers better than Chiasson’s defensive metrics.
The grappling numbers reveal Santos as primarily a striker who can wrestle when needed. She averages 0.87 takedowns per fight at 50% accuracy, showing competence but not elite wrestling. Her takedown defense sits at just 53%, which is concerning against a fighter like Chiasson who averages over two takedowns per fight. Santos averages only 0.1 submissions per fight, essentially none. At 35 years old with a 16-8 record, she brings veteran experience and has seen every style imaginable.
According to FanDuel, Macy Chiasson is listed at -196 favourite. Meanwhile, Yana Santos comes in at +164 as the underdog. Those odds suggest that the bookmakers have confidence in Chiasson’s skill and length.
The odds for the fight going the distance have also come out. The odds for the fight seeing the judges scorecards stand at +158. The probability of the fight ending before the final bell is higher and the odds (-205) reflect that.
This fight presents a classic striker vs grappler dynamic with a significant size differential. Chiasson will look to use her five inch height advantage and four inch reach advantage to control distance early. If the fight stays standing at range, her length should cause problems. But Santos has proven she can overcome physical disadvantages with superior activity and accuracy.
If Santos can stay busy and land the cleaner shots, judges will reward that output. The question is whether she can maintain that output while defending takedowns. Chiasson’s wrestling presents the biggest threat to Santos’ game plan. Averaging 2.08 takedowns per fight against an opponent with 53% takedown defense means Chiasson should get this fight to the mat multiple times. However, her 35% takedown accuracy isn’t great, meaning Santos will stuff plenty of attempts. Every failed takedown costs energy and gives Santos confidence.
If we bet on the fight, we are going against the grain with Yana Santos to win via unanimous decision.
(All odds taken from FanDuel. Bet on the most up-to-date MMA odds, lines, and spreads with FanDuel Sportsbook)
(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)
mma I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
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