Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate is one of the hottest WMMA matchups in 2025. Sure, one may argue that they’re both past their prime, but the fact is that these two ladies go crazy when they get inside the Octagon.
That said, our prediction for this UFC Des Moines prelim is that it’s going to deliver. But who’s going to win? Let’s find out!
Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
| Yana Santos | +124 |
| Miesha Tate | -144 |
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa
- Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
Yana Santos Dreaming of Titles
Yana Santos (nee Kunitskaya) is 15-8-1 overall, which is a pretty good record, given that she’s been fighting in the UFC since 2018.
Actually, after vacating her Invicta FC title, she was given a shot at the UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship on her debut in this organization. It didn’t go well – she lost by TKO to Cris Cyborg.
She then returned to the Bantamweight Division, where she did pretty well until she fell in love with fellow MMA star Thiago Santos and got pregnant. After giving birth in 2021, her fights fight was against Holly Holm two years later.
Yana Santos lost that fight by unanimous decision. A few months later, she lost to Karol Rosa by a split decision. Then, in the summer of 2024, she got her first win in four and a half years – she beat Chelsea Chandler by a unanimous decision.
She’s 10th in the UFC Bantamweight Rankings, but if she keeps winning, she might get into the championship conversation. If she loses at UFC Des Moines, on the other hand, she might never achieve that dream.
The thing is that the division is pretty competitive right now and given that she’s turning 36 this year, she won’t get too many opportunities to make her ambitions come true.
Miesha Tate’s UFC Des Moines Odds Suggest She Might Win
Miesha Tate is a true legend of women’s MMA. She’s a former champ with a 20-9 record, who’s currently 11th in the Women’s Bantamweight Division of the UFC. She would love to get the championship belt back, but the problem is that she’s turning 39 in a few months’ time.
So, her situation is pretty much the same as the one of Yana Santos – a win at UFC Des Moines would help pave the way toward a championship bout, while a loss could potentially mean the end of her career.
The good news for Miesha Tate’s fans is that UFC Des Moines odds suggest she’s going to win on May 3. The No. 1 reason is her resume, which features wins over such legends of women’s MMA as Liz Carmouche, Jessica Eye, and Holly Holm.
Another reason is that she’s a much more well-rounded fighter than Yana Santos, who’s all about striking. However, there’s one thing going against Miesha – ring rust. The thing is that she hasn’t fought since 2023.
Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate Prediction
We think Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate is going to be a hell of a fight. Yana is going to land more strikes, but Miesha’s wrestling/grappling prowess can help her keep her opponent pinned down for a significant portion of the match.
So, which of these fighters will do better? We think it’s 50-50 really, but if we had to pick one, we’d go for Yana.
Pick: Yana Santos