A significant controversy erupted shortly before one of the key matchups at UFC 320. While much attention has been focused on the main event – the immediate rematch for the UFC light heavyweight title between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, fueled by their growing animosity – they are not the only fighters experiencing tension on the card.
Yana Santos Enraged by Macy Chiasson`s UFC 320 Weight Miss
Among those scheduled to compete before the highly anticipated Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 bout and Merab Dvalishvili`s title defense against Cory Sandhagen, were two top-10 women`s bantamweight contenders. Macy Chiasson, ranked 5th, had aimed to bolster her title aspirations following two recent victories in the 135-pound division. However, her hopes were severely dampened by a 1.5-pound weight miss on Friday.
Her opponent, Yana Santos, expressed extreme displeasure at Chiasson`s failure to make weight. Santos promptly took to social media to criticize Chiasson, marking this as the second time Chiasson has missed weight in the UFC. “Imagine signing a contract and showing up overweight AGAIN,” Santos wrote on X. “Some of us respect the grind. Others disrespect the sport. See you Saturday.”
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Santos later accused Chiasson of rejecting an offer to cut for an additional hour. This refusal led the Russian fighter to believe that her rival had deliberately sought an unfair advantage. “The worst part? The commission offered her an extra hour to make weight. She REFUSED,” Santos stated. “Why? Because she wants an unfair advantage. This isn`t just unprofessional—it`s straight-up dirty,” she added.
Thiago Santos Calls for `Stronger Punishments` After UFC 320 Weight Miss
Yana was not the sole member of the Santos family to voice an opinion on Chiasson`s weigh-in transgression. Her husband, former UFC star Thiago Santos, also used social media to condemn Yana`s opponent for failing to meet the bantamweight limit. “Marreta,” who famously fought Jon Jones for the UFC title six years ago, called for more severe penalties for fighters who miss weight.
“It`s unbelievable how unprofessional some people are in this sport,” Thiago wrote on X. “This is Yana`s fourth opponent who missed weight. Stronger punishments must be implemented.”
