Yana Kunitskaya News

Adam Martin - February 21, 2021

UFC light heavyweight contender Thiago Santos congratulated his fiancée Yana Kunitskaya on her upset win over Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 19. Santos was in the corner of Kunitskaya as she defeated Vieira via unanimous decision in a fight that had somewhat controversial scorecards. Though it appeared that Vieira had done enough to control Kunitskaya on the mat from top position with her grappling that she would win the decision, the judges had other ideas. Instead, the three judges unanimously agreed that Kunitskaya had done enough to win the fight. Although Vieira had the takedowns and the control time on top, Kunitskaya was working the entire fight from the bottom, and she appeared to steal the fight in the final minute when she cut Vieira open.

Chris Taylor - February 20, 2021

Tonight’s UFC Vegas 19 is co-headlined by a women’s bantamweight bout featuring Ketlen Vieira taking on Yana Kunitskaya. Vieira (11-1 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since September’s UFC 253 event, where she scored a unanimous decision win over Sijara Eubanks. That victory got ‘Fenomeno’ back in the win column, as she had previously suffered a knockout loss to Irena Aldana.

Cole Shelton - August 6, 2020

Yana Kunitskaya didn’t have many options to train with when the COVID-19 pandemic locked people in their homes. Kunitskaya was in Brazil with her boyfriend, Thiago Santos, so all her training was with him. Not only was he her main training partner, but she says the Brazilian will be in her corner and will help out drastically with her weight cut.

Cole Shelton - August 4, 2020

The fifth episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 6. Host Cole Shelton is first joined 10th ranked heavyweight, Alexey Oleynik (1:38). Next, 14th ranked lightweight, Beneil Dariush comes on (14:22). Then, UFC lightweight, Scott Holtzman (31:03) joins the program. Finally, eighth-ranked bantamweight, Yana Kunitskaya (49:21) is the final guest of the episode.

Cole Shelton - December 4, 2019

Yana Kunitskaya is looking to put Aspen Ladd on losing streak for the first time in her career. On the main card of the UFC’s imminent return to Washington D.C., Ladd is returning after the quick 16-second knockout loss to Germaine de Randamie in July. Kunitskaya believes that fight proved Ladd is beatable and she is confident she will make it two losses in a row.

Drake Riggs - November 8, 2018

Every fight announcement for UFC 233 so far has been an eyebrow raiser and that trend just continues with “The Violence Queen” Ariane Lipski (11-3) getting her new UFC debut. Initially, Lipski was to be making her debut on short notice as the replacement for Veronica Macedo at UFC Argentina against Maryna Moroz. Unfortunately, Moroz would suffer a broken foot that left Lipski without an opponent and led to her removal from the card.

Chris Taylor - March 3, 2018

UFC 222 Results: Cris Cyborg stops Yana Kunitskaya A women’s featherweight title fight between current champion Cris Cyborg and UFC newcomer Yana Kunitskaya served as the main event of tonight’s UFC 222 fight card in Las Vegas.

Justin Golightly - March 2, 2018

Cris Cyborg is only a day away from defending her UFC women’s featherweight title against former Invicta FC bantamweight champion Yana Kunitskaya. Another woman who held that belt is Tony Evinger, who knows both women in the main event of UFC 222 very well. Not only has she fought Cyborg, but she fought and beat Kunitskaya back in their old home and now she’s not giving the former opponent much hope to beat Cyborg. “I definitely think Cyborg is going to take this pretty easy. It’s not even a close fight. Yana [Kunitskaya] isn’t close to that level or even prepared. She’s just taking it for the money. I heard someone try to compare her to Holly Holm because they train together, but big whoop. It’s not like over the last six months this girl has gotten so amazing that she is going to go in and win the 145-pound belt. That’s ridiculous.”

Justin Golightly - February 13, 2018

With everyone looking forward to the three superfights that the UFC has in mind for this year, everyone was slightly disappointed to hear that Cris Cyborg was going to be defending her UFC women’s featherweight title against former Invicta FC bantamweight champon Yana Kunitskaya. It turns out it is still just a speed bump in the way of her anticipated fight with Amanda Nunes. That is, if they both win. Either way, the decision to step in and help prop up UFC 222 was strategic. Cyborg is hoping that if she scratches the UFC’s back, they’ll scratch hers. “[Stepping in to fight Yana Kunitskaya] was a great opportunity to keep the momentum from the win against Holly [Holm] and get me back into the octagon quickly so ‘Cyborg Nation’ can keep growing. I’m going to have to start putting a mouth guard in my purse if this fight pace continues the rest of 2018, though. […] When [the UFC] called saying they needed a new main event, we saw this as an opportunity to prove to everyone that Cris Cyborg can be a company girl and that I’m willing to step up when the promotion needs it. I am hoping this will continue to build my relationship within the promotion and lead to the type of marketing and exposure I have been asking for.”

Drake Riggs - February 9, 2018

It is official. UFC featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg will be making a relatively quick turn around after her last title defense in December to now defend against the Invicta FC bantamweight champion, Yana Kunitskaya. The fight will be Yana’s first in the UFC and her first at 145-pounds since 2012. The oddsmakers don’t see this one being close. Cyborg has opened as a 10-1 favorite on Bovado while Yana is the 6-1 underdog.

Justin Golightly - February 7, 2018

After UFC 222 was put in major jeopardy with Max Holloway’s leg injury, the UFC was scrambling 100mph in order to save the card. They were trying to get TJ Dillashaw to defend his title against Cody Garbrandt, while keeping Frankie Edgar on the card as the co-main in a non-title fight. Even Nate Diaz was in the running to jump on. It looks like now the UFC are trying to throw Cris Cyborg on the card to defend her women’s UFC featherweight title against former Invicta FC bantamweight champ Yana Kunitskaya. There are deals in place to have Cris Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya for the women’s 145 belt headline UFC 222 on 3/3 w/ Frankie Edgar vs. Brian Ortega as the co-main, per multiple sources. Not 100% finalized but that’s the current direction and it’s looking promising at the moment.

Drake Riggs - January 25, 2018

It’s pretty rare to see the longtime Featherweight queen, Cris Cyborg get called out by anyone. Usually, she’s the one who has to go searching for challengers. But today someone has risen from the shadows and they happen to be a fellow champion as well. Current Invicta FC Bantamweight champion, Yana “Foxy” Kunitskaya took to Twitter and let it be known that she wants to test the unstoppable, Cyborg. https://twitter.com/YanaKunitskaya1/status/956629098280796160