Talia Santos wasn’t convinced by the judging at UFC 275, which saw her lose to reigning champ Valentina Shevchenko via a contentious split decision. On Trocação Franca, the Brazilian contender argued that she won three of the fight’s five rounds, which should have been enough to crown her the new women’s flyweight champion.
““I think that [I won] up until the third round, when my eye was still OK, but I still managed to get her down in the fourth.
I ended up getting taken down in the last round, but took her down in four rounds. I think the first [three rounds] were mine. I haven’t sat down to analyze the fight yet; I have to re-watch it. But I was able to take her down in the fourth as well and control for a bit, but she got back up quickly.
I was waiting for [Bruce Buffer to announce] my name. Deep in my heart, I was expecting to hear ‘Taila Santos,’ but that’s not the name he said. But I kept my head high.
I’m not going to say I should have won, otherwise the belt would be here with me, but what matters the most is I’m happy with my performance. I’ll get better, train more, and I’m sure this is not my only opportunity [for the belt]. I’m young and I’m sure I’ll show a lot more.”
Santos continued, explaining how an eye injury sustained mid-fight affected her performance.
Talia Santos Demands Immediate Shevchenko Rematch, Claims She Won Three Rounds
“When I looked to the ground [in between rounds], I could see everything normal. When the round started and I looked at her, I couldn’t see anything,” Santos said. “I freaked out, ‘What am I going to do? How am I going to attack her? I can’t see anything.’
The eye could become a target for her, too. I was scared. I had to find a way. I didn’t know where to hit, so it was quite complicated. I would never quit, but I was scared.”
Santos is most proud that she robbed Shevchenko of her aura of invincibility.
“Everybody sees her as this monster, the boogeyman. After I fought her, I could see she’s not all that, you know?
She’s very tough and intelligent, of course, but nothing abnormal. I felt very confident. I didn’t feel any supernatural power. The way people talked about this woman, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, I won’t be able to take her down.’ I imposed my takedowns and managed to do everything I wanted. I expected [more from her]. It was easy to [take her down] and get her back.
I expected it to be tougher.”
Did Talia Santos earn a rematch against Shevchenko? Let us know in the comments.
