After a hiatus of nearly three years, Tainara Lisboa is finally set to compete inside the UFC octagon this weekend.
Lisboa is scheduled to face the younger Luana Santos during the preliminary portion of UFC Vegas 106. This marks her first fight since sustaining a severe left knee injury in late 2023. Despite the injury, she managed to defeat late-notice opponent Ravena Oliveira at the UFC APEX, immediately followed by surgery for knee cartilage reconstruction.
Recounting the experience, Lisboa shared with MMA Fighting the immense difficulty of her recovery. “It was very difficult,” she stated. “While I could list numerous challenges I faced, the hardest part was the thought of being unable to continue doing what I`ve dedicated my entire life to. This injury brought me close to retirement. It was a test surgery, and the doctor was very clear that its success was uncertain.”
“Imagine going through that entire process after finally reaching the UFC and delivering two strong performances,” she continued. “You`re living your dream, and suddenly you have no idea if you`ll ever return. And even if I do come back, will I be the same Tainara? Can I become the best version of myself? That was incredibly complex and challenging.”
Lisboa, 34, underwent surgery on December 1, 2023, six weeks after improving her UFC record to 2-0 with victories over Oliveira and Jessica-Rose Clark. The recovery resulted in a significant muscle atrophy of 2.3 inches in her leg thigh. The veteran bantamweight`s weight increased to 168 pounds before she could return to training mats. It took a full year before she was finally cleared to inform the UFC that she was ready to begin a training camp.
“I couldn’t even walk up stairs, for instance,” Lisboa revealed. “I had to learn how to walk again. There were moments I felt like this was the end of the road for me, but I was surrounded by a fantastic team. Every time I was down, they helped me get back up. I started the most difficult training camp of my life on December 2, 2023, without knowing the outcome.”
Unable to train in the gym, Lisboa found a different avenue to stay connected: a call from the promotion to work as a color commentator. She was invited to provide commentary for LFA and UFC shows on the Brazilian version of UFC Fight Pass, which helped her navigate the tough times and feel integrated into the UFC community.
“Experiencing that other side, learning, and still feeling alive through fights was an incredible journey,” Lisboa commented. “I intend to study more and more to continue doing that. I believe I have a knack for it. I’ve been breathing fighting since I was 13, so watching and discussing fights comes naturally to me.”
She added that commentary work also improved her as a fighter, “because you study athletes who weren`t previously on your radar, like male fighters or those in other weight classes you might not watch often. You start observing different aspects and techniques. I`m constantly learning.”
Entering Saturday`s fight, Lisboa is on a five-fight winning streak dating back to 2021. Her opponent, Luana Santos, is returning to the 135-pound division after a loss at flyweight to Casey O’Neill, which was her first defeat in the octagon.
“I anticipate this will be a very engaging fight,” Lisboa said. “Luana is quite young and has impressive statistics. Our numbers are similar, and we both prefer to finish fights before the final round. Despite the significant age difference, we approach the cage with similar intentions.”
Lisboa believes her nine-year age advantage gives her an edge in experience, but it`s more than just ring time.
“Few things intimidate you after you`ve gone through such hardship,” Lisboa stated. “Just being back is an enormous victory in itself. This fight isn`t primarily about who stands on the other side; it`s about me, everything I`ve overcome, and my ability to return to the world’s largest organization. It’s about being able to come back to work and demonstrate that I`m healthy, that my knee is okay. People harbor that doubt. And I`m certain I will face the best Luana we`ve ever seen, because she`s also worked hard for this and has her own aspirations. I`ve prepared for her ultimate version.”
