Miesha Tate Outpointed by Yana Santos at UFC Des Moines

At UFC Des Moines, Yana Santos defeated former bantamweight champion Miesha Tate in a closely contested preliminary card headliner, outscoring Tate in the first two rounds before Tate rallied with strong grappling in the third. Tate, who was coming off a 2023 win over Julia Avila, showed determination but could not overcome Santos' early advantage. The loss has fueled speculation about Tate's retirement, as she struggled to keep pace but demonstrated veteran resilience. Leading up to the fight, Tate discussed her long-standing wish for a rematch with Holly Holm, whom she defeated for the UFC title in 2016, but the opportunity never arose due to timing and Holm's exit from the UFC. Holm has recently left the promotion, seeking opportunities in other organizations and a return to boxing, but has faced complications due to the instability of the Global Fight League. Both Tate and Holm expressed mutual interest in a rematch, but shifting circumstances prevented it.