PFL signs former UFC title challenger Taila Santos for 2024 season

Taila Santos has signed with the PFL.

A one-time UFC women’s flyweight title challenger, Santos (19-3) will partake in the 2024 PFL season after inking a multifight deal with the promotion.

Three people with knowledge of the situation, including a promotion official, confirmed the signing Friday to MMA Junkie after an initial report by OCP News.

Santos, 30, was released from the UFC mid-contract in November after back-to-back losses. Her departure, however, came as a surprise to some, as her defeats were close against some of the division’s top-ranked fighters.

One of those losses was her lone UFC title challenge, a June 2022 split decision loss against Valentina Shevchenko. Santos returned against Erin Blanchfield in August and lost a competitive unanimous decision.

In total, Santos went 4-3 across seven UFC outings from 2019 to 2023.

It’s unclear who Santos will compete against in her initial PFL regular season matchup, which is expected to take place April 4 in San Antonio. Santos is one of three known season competitors, joining Bellator women’s flyweight champion Liz Carmouche and fast-rising prospect Dakota Ditcheva.