SINGAPORE – Taila Santos knows she’s got a massive task ahead of her at UFC 275, but thinks he’s up for the challenge.
Santos (19-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is set to challenge dominant champion Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title on Saturday in the co-main event at Singapore Indoor Stadium. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
Thus far, no one has been able to solve the puzzle of Shevchenko (22-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC). She’s recorded six consecutive title defenses and has never lost a fight at 125 pounds. Because of that, Santos enters UFC 275 as a massive betting underdog.
Santos is aware of the public perception. However, the Brazilian claims she and her team have located holes in Shevchenko’s game that they can use en route to victory.
“She’s about as close as you can get to the perfect fighter, but nobody is perfect,” Santos told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at UFC 275 media day. “There’s always room for improvement for everybody. Doing the tape study, we were able to locate a few things we can work on and that was basically what the strategy has been put around those flaws that we found, and that’s what I’m going to impose.”
Santos kept the her cards close to her vest in terms of strategy. She knows everyone is counting her out going into fight night, but fully intends to shock the world and pull off what would be regarded as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
I’ve been the underdog for most of my fights in the UFC. For me, that’s a good thing and I use it for extra motivation. It doesn’t matter when we get in there. We’re going to fight the same no matter what people see.”
Taila Santos located ‘flaws’ in Valentina Shevchenko ahead of UFC 275 title bout
