Miesha Tate almost won her last fight in the way she won the UFC title. On Saturday, the former UFC and Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion returned to the Octagon after 500 days removed from her last win over Julia Avila at UFC Austin. In her latest fight, Miesha Tate would meet a game top-10 contender and former title challenger in Yana Santos on the prelim headliner of UFC Des Moines.
At 38 years old, Tate continues to test herself against the best the 135lb division has to offer more than a decade after her title rematch with legendary rival Ronda Rousey and her iconic title win over Holly Holm.
Miesha Tate suffered a leg kick clinic against Yana Santos, attempting to break into the top-10 of the weight class she once ruled. Tate came out guns-blazing in the opening seconds with punches, walking forward and making it a dog-fight. Following the exchange, Santos found her footing in the striking department, setting up her jab and utilizing her footwork well, becoming a moving target for ‘Cupcake’. Santos landed a powerful leg kick on Tate which got her attention, and continued to pick at Tate’s legs with kicks that had the former champion stumbling in rounds one and two.
Tate ate quite a few punches from Santos in the first 10 minutes of action, getting lit up by jabs with her legs wobbly under her. However, down two rounds, the 30-fight MMA veteran was far from out. Tate overcame a leg kick clinic to secure a takedown more than a minute into the final round with the roar of the crowd backing her play. Tate had 3:30 to work, eventually securing back control on Santos where she looked to secure a rear-naked choke in the final stretch of the fight—sound familiar?
In 2015, Tate tapped out Ronda Rousey slayer Holly Holm in the fifth round to win the UFC title at UFC 196 in what was one of the greatest comebacks in women’s MMA history. With a minute left on the clock, the Des Moines crowd cheered for Tate as she tried her best to sink in a chokehold. It wasn’t easy, but Santos survived a late scare against Tate on her back, managing to make it out of the round and to the judges' scorecards.
All three judges gave the first two rounds for Santos, who won by unanimous decision in a dream fight against a WMMA pioneer. Yana Santos defeated Miesha Tate at UFC Des Moines on May 4, 2025, by unanimous decision. Tate (20-10 MMA) competed for the first time since scoring a submission win over Julia Avila in December 2023. Meanwhile, Yana Santos (16-8 MMA) most recently competed last August, where she picked up a unanimous decision victory over Chelsea Chandler.
Round one of this women’s bantamweight matchup began with Miesha Tate coming forward with a flurry of punches, landing some solid body shots and then a pair of right hooks up top. A good left followed. Yana Santos forced the clinch and looked to slow down the former champion. The crowd started chanting “USA”. Tate broke free and got back to range, but Santos switched the position and landed a good knee of her own. Both ladies landed kicks to the body, with Santos connecting with a hard low kick that sent Tate to one knee.
As the second round progressed, Santos continued to chip away at ‘Cupcake’, landing a jab to start the third. Tate pressed forward but came up short with a combination. She connected with a clean right hand, securing her first takedown of the fight with well over three minutes remaining. Tate delivered short punches while Santos hung on from the bottom, moving to half guard.
Tate mounted Santos and looked to lock on a choke but first delivered short right hands. Santos defended, and Tate continued to land punches but couldn't generate enough power to do damage. The judges scored the fight for Santos by unanimous decision, with the scorecards reading 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28.
Yana Santos has spoiled the comeback party for former bantamweight champion Miesha Tate at UFC Des Moines. Santos and Tate headlined the night's prelims, where they went tit for tat over 15 minutes. Santos outscored Tate over two rounds before forfeiting the third to Tate's grappling. Almost a decade after submitting Holly Holm for UFC gold, Tate still looked relatively competitive in what could be her last fight at 38 years old.
The fight showcased a furious pace, mixing up clinch work and working at range with kickboxing. Tate opened the fight aggressively, sitting down on her punches and throwing with intent to hurt, but they soon found themselves in an exhausted dog-fight. Santos clinched the first round with damage and low leg kicks that visibly shook Tate.
As the fight progressed, Tate stormed into range in the second round in an attempt to mitigate the kicks, but Santos kept her distance and fought with patience. Santos' game plan proved too much for the weathered veteran until Tate secured a takedown and assumed top control in the third round. The crowd erupted as Santos gave up her back and Tate threatened a choke, but the finish never came.
It seemed as though Tate banked one round out of three with that late rally, but ultimately, it was not enough. This fight marked a significant moment in Tate's career, as she contemplated her future in the sport. With this loss, it raises questions about whether she will continue fighting or consider retirement after an illustrious career.
In other notable bouts at UFC Des Moines, Azamat Bekoev wiped out Ryan Loder with punches in the first round of their middleweight clash, while Gillian Robertson disposed of Marina Rodriguez with punches in the second round of their women’s strawweight pairing. The night was filled with intense action and showcased the depth of talent within the UFC.
As the dust settles on this event, fans are left wondering what’s next for both Yana Santos and Miesha Tate. Santos is now on a two-fight winning streak and has put herself back in the conversation for title contention, while Tate faces a pivotal moment in her career. Will she hang up the gloves, or will she seek redemption in the Octagon? Only time will tell.
