Yana Kunitskaya News
Yana Kunitskaya thankful for boyfriend Thiago Santos training her for UFC Vegas 6 fight
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.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 5 with Alexey Oleynik, Beneil Dariush, Scott Holtzman & Yana Kunitskaya
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.
Yana Kunitskaya believes boyfriend Thiago Santos beat Jon Jones, hopes for immediate rematch
Cole Shelton - December 6, 2019
Yana Kunitskaya believes her boyfriend, Thiago Santos, should be the UFC’s light heavyweight champion right now. Back in July at UFC 239, Santos took on Jon Jones. Many thought it would be an easy fight for the champion “Bones.” Yet, that is far from what happened, as Jones barely edged out a split-decision. Some, including Kunitskaya, thought Santos did enough to win.
Yana Kunitskaya says Aspen Ladd's last fight proved she is beatable
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.
UFC 222 Results: Cris Cyborg stops Yana Kunitskaya (VIDEO)
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.
Tonya Evinger Doesn't See How Yana Kunitskaya Beats Cris Cyborg on Any Level
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.”
Yana Kunitskaya Has Been Wanting to Fight Cris Cyborg Her Whole Career, "I don’t feel any pressure"
Drake Riggs - February 28, 2018
Invicta FC has lost two consecutive bantamweight champions to the UFC. And they will both have left to fight for the UFC featherweight crown against Cris Cyborg(who happens to be a former Invicta champ herself). First, it was the dominant, Tonya Evinger who finally made her UFC debut at UFC 214 as she fought for the vacant 145-pound title. Cyborg would end up walking away with the title then go on to make her first title defense against Holly Holm at UFC 219 just roughly three months ago.
Cris Cyborg Took the Fight With Yana Kunitskaya to Build Better Relationship With UFC
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.”
BREAKING | Cyborg Potentially Booked For a Title Defense Against Yana Kunitskaya at UFC 222
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.
Invicta Champ Calls out Cris Cyborg
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. Hey @criscyborg i'm moving to 145 division, u better watch out now😈 @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 @ufc @JacksonWinkMMA
Despite Loss of Opponent, Invicta's 135 Champ still Debuting at UFC on Fox 28
Drake Riggs - January 11, 2018
Matchmaking has been a bit all over the place in regards to one matchup for UFC on Fox 28 in Orlando, Florida. First, news broke from each fighter that Sara McMann would be welcoming the Invicta FC bantamweight champion, Yana Kunitskaya to the organization at the Florida event. This was a great matchup and one that didn’t fall apart due to injuries…well…not their injuries. One week before Fox 28, UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin, Texas takes place on February 18 and shortly after McMann vs Kunitskaya was announced, a fight between Marion Reneau and former Invicta champ, Tonya Evinger was also announced. Unfortunately, Evinger was injured out of the fight thus creating the opportunity for McMann to fill in. So it will now be McMann vs Reneau at Fox 28 in Orlando. This had left Yana Kunitskaya without an opponent and put everything in question whether or not she would still be getting a fight or not. That was until she made it very clear that she indeed will still be making her debut at the Orlando event.