The final event of 2020, UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal kicks off Dec. 19. Since the giant card has fifteen fights scheduled, let’s take the opportunity to examine one that may not be getting the shine it deserves, and that’s the flyweight bout between Gillian Robertson and Talia Santos. Before being scheduled for UFC Vegas 17, Santos (16-1) picked up an impressive victory over the tough, Molly McCann. Likewise, the Canadian, Robertson (9-4) is coming off a dominant win over Poliana Botelho. Either way, the flyweight division will have a new player come Saturday night.
In addition to her adept ground game, Santos has only one professional loss on her record. Since then, her tireless work at Astra Fight Team has reflected an evolution in her performances.
Gillian Robertson and Talia Santos – Breakdown
Fighting out of American Top Team and on a two-fight win streak, Robertson’s performances have improved each time out. Given her Brazilian Jui-Jitsu background, the Canadian has become a potent threat on the ground. Prior to taking out Botelho, Robertson secured a suffocating rear-naked choke against Courtney Casey.
Even though both are similar in some respects, their styles on the ground differ from each other. On one hand, Robertson’s submission skills are slick and effective, but Santos’s top pressure presents a giant challenge for fellow flyweights.
For example, in her bout against Rachael Cummins, the Brazilian’s top pressure was too much. Ultimately Santos stopped all of her opponent’s grappling attacks and eventually ended the fight by strikes while tied up on the ground. This stands to reason that the grappling-centric Robertson will need to effectively frame to avoid taking unnecessary damage if the fight ends up there. Altogether, the styles Gillian Robertson and Talia Santos bring to the cage will force a full account of their development on the main stage at UFC Vegas 17.
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