LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 7, 2024: (From left) Gabriel Santos of Brazil knocks down Iza of China in a featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night: The Finals at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC featherweight Gabriel Santos will look to avoid a horrific three-fight losing streak when he takes on Road to UFC winner Yi Jia at UFC Las Vegas 97 on Saturday night.
Santos (10-2) got off to a tough start in his UFC career, going 0-2 in his first two fights, but losses to Lerone Murphy and David Onama made the bout against Isa a must-win.
Yi Jia (25-4) will make his official UFC debut when he faces Santos at UFC Las Vegas 97. The Road to UFC featherweight champion has a significant experience advantage over Santos and he used that advantage to his advantage in this bout.
Gabriel Santos vs. Yi Ja had a heated atmosphere early on, trading leg kicks and punches. Santos crouched down and tried to launch a sweep kick, but the Brazilian landed a right combination right after. Then another hard leg kick. Ja landed a right, but Santos responded with another combination. The kicks took Ja down briefly, but he was gaining momentum later in the round, only to be slammed into the fence by a front kick! Somehow, Ja weathered the ensuing storm and got back to his feet, but he was clearly very tired. In the final 30 seconds, Santos landed a knee to the body and a jumping knee that fell just short.
Santos’ teeps, push kicks, and occasional high kicks continued to land on him early in the second round. Zar waved his opponent on, despite being attacked early on. Changing the pace, Santos lunged for a takedown, knocking Zar onto his back. Santos eventually backed away and stacked Zar before attacking again. He settled into half guard, but Zar escaped. The referee briefly stopped the bout for a doctor to check Zar’s cut, which had been opened by an elbow. The bout continued, with the two men fired up, trading spinning elbows, and continuing to argue after the horn.
Santos started the third round with a ferocious attack. Xa landed a front kick, then changed levels for a takedown attempt that was easily blocked, but Santos landed a kick of his own shortly after. Xa closed his guard and then tried to escape, but Santos eventually took his back. He landed a body triangle with half the round remaining. Yi Xa survived until the final horn, but was left bloodied and thoroughly beaten in an entertaining and heated match.
Official result: Gabriel Santos defeats Yi Jia via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
