Coming off a decision win over Miesha Tate earlier this year, Yana Santos is mere days away from putting her two-fight win streak on the line. Her opponent? Macy Chiasson. The pair will lock horns on October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the undercard of the highly anticipated rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.

Yet, before the fight, the subject of curiosity has become something else entirely. Leaping over the cage, fans are starting to grow curious about the Russian MMA star’s life beyond the octagon, especially her love life. The 35-year-old is married to Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC fighter Thiago Santos. But how much do you really know about him?

Who is Thiago Santos? UFC record & stats

Thiago ‘Marreta’ Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, known around the cage for his explosive striking and devastating knockout power. At one point, he was a UFC light heavyweight title challenger, having fought some of the biggest names in the promotion. His biggest opponents include Jon Jones, Glover Teixeira, Magomed Ankalaev, and Jamahal Hill.

Right now, the 41-year-old holds a professional record of 22 wins and 13 losses, with an impressive 15 victories via knockout, 8 of which came in the first round of the fights. According to UFC stats, he lands 3.72 significant strikes per minute with 48% accuracy, while absorbing 2.57 strikes per minute.

Standing 6’2” with a 76-inch reach, he used his physical attributes to deliver highlight-reel finishes. Despite his setbacks, ‘Marreta’ is a respected veteran of the sport. Regardless, he recently switched promotions.

Thiago Santos ditches UFC for PFL & here’s why

Santos last fought for the UFC in August 2022, losing to Jamahal Hill via 4th-round knockout. After that, ‘Marreta’ quickly swapped promotions even though he had one fight left in his contract with the UFC. Where did he go? Well, to the Professional Fighters League! The former light heavyweight title challenger explained the move was about timing, opportunity, and better pay.

“It was also the right moment, at this stage of my career, to try something different,” Santos told Trocação Franca. “I won’t be a hypocrite, of course that I want the $1 million [prize]… I know I still can do great things in MMA. I still have a few more years of fighting. The moment had to be now.” Santos claimed his purse with PFL is “financially better” than before. Grateful to the UFC, he admitted that he has “nothing to complain” about his 9-year journey in the UFC. 

Thiago & Yana Santos’ relationship & kids

Yana Santos, or as she was formerly known, Yana Kunitskaya, got engaged to Thiago in 2020 and later took his last name. Both had children from their previous marriages before they welcomed their daughter, Alise Santos, in April 2022. Sharing her thoughts on balancing their relationship and fighting careers, Yana said, “We support each other, trying to do camp as smooth as it can be. And good thing that after fights, we can, you know, rest a little, enjoy life—traveling.”

The Russian native and Thiago appear to be handling their careers and personal lives pretty well. But the bigger question is, can Yana overcome Macy Chiasson?