Taila Santos was previously considered one of the few legitimate contenders to Valentina Shevchenko’s flyweight dominance. She pushed the then-champion to the limit in a razor-thin split decision loss at UFC 275, leaving fans yearning for a rematch. Instead of another title shot, Santos found herself in a holding pattern, left out of the Dana White-led UFC’s plans, and eventually decided not to re-sign. Her departure felt abrupt but deliberate. Santos said she was “unhappy” with the promotion, citing long periods of inactivity, missed opportunities, and a perceived lack of respect from the UFC CEO. A fresh start in the PFL seemed like the correct decision at the moment. Now, a year later, that new chapter has come to an abrupt halt.
Why? Well, that’s because Santos has accepted a six-month suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for oxandrolone and clenbuterol, both of which are forbidden under the PFL’s anti-doping policy. The test, which took place outside of competition on March 21, explains her untimely withdrawal from this year’s PFL flyweight tournament. She was originally scheduled to face Juliana Velasquez in a crucial fight before being removed from the tournament.
Her replacement, Ekaterina Shakalova, has already taken over, leaving the 31-year-old on the sidelines until at least September 21. It’s a heartbreaking blow for a fighter looking to gain traction in a new league. At this point, the issue is more than just a failed test; it is also about the fragility of second chances. The Brazilian’s transfer to the PFL was billed as a career revival—her means of reclaiming control of her story following a “unhappy” UFC experience after the lack of faith shown by Dana White.
However, the rebound has been delayed, and the narrative has evolved. Instead of seeking gold and a million-dollar prize, Taila Santos will spend the next three months under investigation and rebuilding her credibility. For a while, things were going great. She advanced to the 2024 season finals before being defeated by Dakota Ditcheva in the second round by TKO. Nonetheless, the effort was admirable, and fans were eager to see how she would recover in 2025. However, the rebound has been delayed, and the narrative has evolved. Instead of seeking gold and a million-dollar prize, Taila Santos will spend the next three months facing scrutiny and rebuilding her credibility. In fact, social media is already showing its unmerciful side to her.
Taila Santon suffers the wrath of the fans
Taila Santos is now in the kind of spotlight that no fighter wants, one filled with memes, criticism, and ruthless fan backlash, following a shattering loss to Dakota Ditcheva and an even bigger blow in the shape of a failed drug test. Waves of disbelief and sarcasm quickly drowned out the hope for a respectful comeback, as fans filled the internet with some brutal reactions. While the failed PED test was bad enough, it also prompted some all-too-familiar comparisons, particularly to Jon Jones, the most well-known name linked with performance-enhancing substances in MMA. One fan joked, “Takes after Jon Jones,” while another speculated, “Jon Jones is jealous.” Another person pointed out the hypocrisy, stating, “Keep the same energy for Jon Jones.” It’s evident that when fighters fall from glory, fans don’t necessarily care about the details. They simply shoot off their judgments.
But for the fans, Taila Santos’ biggest offense wasn’t simply the failed test; it was losing so convincingly despite the supposed advantage. “Juiced up and still couldn’t beat Barbie,” one user wrote, pointing out the stark contrast between her failure and Dakota Ditcheva’s clean, powerful performance. Another stated, “She needs to make a complaint at her juice supplier,” and others didn’t hold back either: “Cheated and got smoked ” and “@dakotaditcheva was already incredibly impressive, but beating the breaks off a roided Taila is insane.” Oof! These weren’t just criticisms; they were outright verbal knockouts, dismissing Santos’ season as a moral and athletic failure.
Then there were many who saw the issue through a different lens—one tinted by unfortunate stereotypes. The claims brought up an ugly storyline that MMA fans have circled back to for years. “How shocking that a Brazilian got caught for steroids,” one said sarcastically, while another was more direct: “Brazilians, PED kings/queens.” A third was even more pessimistic, saying, “Brazil gonna Brazil.” For Santos, this is about more than just serving a ban; it’s about addressing an avalanche of public perception that links her not just to her own error but also to a larger, long-standing stigma in the sport, that Brazilians are more likely to use PED than other fighters. Whether fair or not, the road to redemption will undoubtedly be difficult. Will Taila manage to turn the tide in 2025, or has this stumble already defined her legacy? Let us know in the comments.
The post “Jon Jones Is Jealous”: Calls Mount Against PFL Fighter Suspended for Failed Drug Tests a Year After “Unhappy” Exit From Dana White’s UFC appeared first on EssentiallySports.