'I’m constantly trying to balance motherhood with my fighting career': UFC Fighter Yana Santos

Yana Santos delivered an exceptional performance against Chelsea Chandler, securing a victory by unanimous decision. Entering the fight with the weight of three consecutive losses, it was a do-or-die situation for her. However, she maintained her self-belief and triumphed over a rising Bantamweight competitor.

Ahead of Sunday’s fight against Chelsea Chandler, the Russian MMA professional took a few moments from her busy schedule to speak with us. The republicworld.com asked Yana Santos several questions, which she answered candidly. Santos shared her approach to fighting at this stage of her career and how she maintains balance in her life.

Without further ado, here are excerpts from the interaction:

On her training camp:

“My training camp went very well. I prepared thoroughly and am injury-free. I set specific goals for this camp. My opponent is a bit different from those I've faced before, and we had a very good camp to address that.”

On her opponent’s strategy:

“I don’t think she can stand up to me. She will likely try to take me down, and I’ve prepared very well for that. I had excellent training partners who are strong in wrestling. I’ve worked hard throughout the camp for this fight, and I believe I’m well-prepared.”

On her mindset before fights:

“I approach every fight as if it’s my first one. I get excited about each fight. I’m prepared to be very strong, aggressive, and powerful, and I think the fans will enjoy the fight.”

On balancing motherhood and fighting:

“Because I have two kids, I don’t have much time for hobbies. I’m constantly trying to balance motherhood with my fighting career.”