Ex-UFC contender Taila Santos signs with PFL

Former UFC women's flyweight title challenger Taila Santos has signed a deal with the PFL, a promotion official confirmed to theScore on Friday.

Brazilian media outlet OCP News first reported the signing.

Santos joins the PFL following the launch of its women's flyweight division. Bellator champion Liz Carmouche is already scheduled to compete at 125 pounds in the 2024 season, which kicks off April 4 in San Antonio.

The UFC released Santos last November after a unanimous decision loss to Erin Blanchfield.

However, the Brazilian impressed throughout her four-year Octagon stint. Santos won four in a row between 2020 and 2021 to earn a title shot against then-champion Valentina Shevchenko. The 30-year-old lost to Shevchenko via a somewhat controversial split decision in June 2022. She then came up short against Blanchfield, finishing 4-3 in the UFC overall.

Santos ranked No. 4 in the women's flyweight division and No. 11 on the women's pound-for-pound list at the time of her departure.

The PFL hasn't yet announced the women's flyweight roster for the 2024 season.