How a casual joke led a Brazilian judoka to the UFC elite
In short: Luana Santos didn't set out to become a professional fighter. While watching a UFC event with friends, a passing joke about joining the sport turned into a career that saw her rise to the top of the bantamweight rankings, earning her the nickname 'the Brazilian Ronda'.
Born in São Paulo in 2000, Santos's journey into combat sports began long before she stepped into an MMA cage. She started training in judo at age eight, following in her father's footsteps. Her technical proficiency in the sport was evident early on; she became a black belt at age 18 and earned a gold medal at the 2017 Cadet European Cup while representing the Brazilian national team. She achieved her black belt status at eighteen.
Her transition to mixed martial arts was entirely accidental. Following a casual remark about joining the UFC while watching a fight at a companion's home, she received an offer to practice at São Paulo's 011 MMA gym. That single training session sparked a professional career that began with amateur bouts in 2019, leading to her first professional victory via submission in July 2021. Her professional debut occurred in July 2021 against Marjorie Barragan. She secured that initial win through a submission.
Santos's ascent through the ranks has been marked by significant milestones and tactical versatility. After competing in the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) as a flyweight, she signed with the UFC in June 2023. Her career has seen her move between weight classes, including a notable bantamweight bout in December 2023 where she fought at a catchweight after weighing in three pounds over the limit. As of late 2026, her dominance in the bantamweight division has placed her at number four in the Meta UFC rankings. She has demonstrated versatility by winning via knockout and rear-naked choke. Her recent victories include bouts against Mariya Agapova and Karol Rosa.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Luana Santos
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