Daniel Santos vs JooSang Yoo fight analysis
Event Overview
The featherweight showdown between Daniel Santos and JooSang Yoo is set to take place on the Preliminary Card of UFC 320 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout is officially scheduled for the evening of October 4, 2025, with the first preliminary fights beginning shortly after 8:00 PM PT. As fight fans descend on Las Vegas for a night headlined by Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2, all eyes will also be on this pivotal 145-pound clash that could reshape the featherweight landscape.
Introduction
In one corner, representing Brazil, is Daniel Santos (13-2-0, 6 KOs, 2 submissions), a seasoned Muay Thai specialist who has rattled off three straight victories—including a decisive unanimous decision over Jeongyeong Lee at UFC Fight Night in May 2025. Standing 5'7" with a 67" reach, the 30-year-old from Uberaba brings a well-rounded skill set, boasting a 39% takedown accuracy, 73% takedown defense and an average fight time of 13:37. He debuted in the Octagon in April 2022, and outside of a unanimous decision loss to Julio Arce, Santos has looked sharp in every outing.
Opposite him is the unbeaten JooSang Yoo (9-0-0, 4 KOs, 1 submission), a 31-year-old freestyle fighter hailing from South Korea. Yoo made an electrifying UFC debut on June 7, 2025, dispatching Jeka Saragih via first-round TKO in just 28 seconds. With a blistering 75% significant strike accuracy and four first-round finishes already under his belt, Yoo’s momentum is undeniable—even if his sample size inside the Octagon remains limited.
Betting Landscape: Favorite vs. Underdog
According to the latest odds:
- Daniel Santos is the favorite at roughly –135 (BetOnline.ag, DraftKings, Caesars)
- JooSang Yoo is the underdog at about +115 (BetOnline.ag, Caesars)
This line indicates that bookmakers and sharp bettors slightly favor the more experienced Santos to control distance, weather Yoo’s power, and drag the fight into deeper waters where his cardio and grappling edge could tell. Meanwhile, Yoo’s explosive striking output and finishing prowess make him a high-upside pick for bettors seeking an upset.
What’s at Stake
For Santos, a victory propels him further into featherweight contender conversations, potentially setting up a matchup against a ranked opponent later this year. For Yoo, a second straight highlight-reel finish would cement his status as one of the division’s most dangerous newcomers and could fast-track him toward a top-15 debut.
With styles, experience and stakes all in perfect alignment, the Santos vs. Yoo matchup promises fireworks. Will the veteran Muay Thai expert outpoint the young, undefeated knockout artist? Or will Yoo’s one-punch power vault him into the upper echelon of the featherweight division? Tune in October 4 to find out.
Live odds
Live and historic odds as well as more fighter statistics and insights for Daniel Santos vs JooSang Yoo can be found on the fighter matchup page. All the fighter matchups and live odds for Ankalaev vs Pereira 2 can be found on the Ankalaev vs Pereira 2 event page.
Matchup and Fighter Profiles
Daniel Santos
Age: 30
Country: Brazil
Fighting Style: Muay Thai
Daniel Santos (13-2-0) brings a polished striking base rooted in Muay Thai, coupled with sneaky takedown threats. He debuted in the UFC on April 9, 2022, and has since put together a 3-1 run:
• Apr. 9, 2022 – Loss to Julio Arce (Decision)
• Oct. 1, 2022 – Win over John Castaneda (KO/TKO, R2, 4:28)
• Jun. 3, 2023 – Win over Johnny Munoz (Decision)
• May 10, 2025 – Win over Jeongyeong Lee (Unanimous Decision)
Strengths:
- Versatile Striking (40% Sig. Str. Acc.): Santos paces himself, mixing heavy leg kicks, elbows and teeps to control range.
- Wrestling & Takedown Defense (39% TD Acc. / 73% TD Def.): He can shoot for takedowns when striking stalls and is difficult to take down in return.
- Cardio & Endurance: With an average fight time of 13:37, he’s conditioned to grind through all three rounds.
- Durability: Santos has never been finished in the UFC, showcasing a granite chin.
Weaknesses:
- Lack of Finishing Urgency: Only 3 first-round finishes in 15 pro bouts suggest he can be content to outpoint rather than hunt the stoppage.
- Moderate Striking Defense (52% Sig. Str. Def.): He absorbs one out of every two significant strikes, leaving holes defenders can exploit.
- Pace Variation: His mid-round slowdowns have allowed aggressive opponents to build momentum.
JooSang Yoo
Age: 31
Country: South Korea
Fighting Style: Freestyle (Striker)
JooSang Yoo (9-0-0) exploded onto the UFC scene with a 28-second TKO of Jeka Saragih on June 7, 2025. Overall, his last five professional outings read:
• 4 first-round KO/TKOs
• 1 first-round submission
Strengths:
- Elite Precision (75% Sig. Str. Acc.): Yoo lands three out of every four significant strikes he throws, overwhelming opponents early.
- One-Punch Power & Finishing Instinct: Four of his nine wins ended inside the opening frame—he senses blood and pounces.
- Intimidating Output: Even without recorded takedowns (0% attempts), he dominates distance with volume and accuracy.
Weaknesses:
- Questionable Grappling: With 0% takedown offense and defense, his ground game is untested at UFC level.
- Limited Octagon Experience: One UFC fight means he hasn’t yet faced veteran adjustments or three-round wars.
- Stamina Concerns: Relying heavily on early finishes, he’s unproven in deep waters if Santos drags him into Round 2 or 3.
Style Clash and Fight Dynamics
This bout pits Santos’ seasoned Muay Thai and wrestling blend against Yoo’s lightning-fast freestyle striking. Santos will look to neutralize Yoo’s power by engaging in the clinch, mixing takedowns and leg kicks to sap energy. Meanwhile, Yoo must keep the fight standing in the pocket, capitalizing on openings with his pinpoint accuracy and explosive counters.
- Distance Control: Santos wants mid-range kicks and teeps; Yoo wants to slip inside and unleash hooks.
- Takedown Battle: If Santos can drag Yoo down, he wins positional awareness; if Yoo stuffs the takedown, his confidence—and knockout odds—skyrocket.
- Cardio Test: Early aggression from Yoo could fade; long-haulers like Santos excel in championship rounds.
Ultimately, this clash of styles—veteran precision versus raw explosiveness—makes Santos vs. Yoo one of the most intriguing featherweight spark-fests on the UFC 320 prelims.
Odds & Betting Analysis
Current Betting Lines
-
Daniel Santos (Favorite)
- BetOnline.ag: –135
- FanDuel: –130
- Caesars: –135
- DraftKings: –135
- BetRivers: –137
-
JooSang Yoo (Underdog)
- BetOnline.ag: +115
- FanDuel: +102
- Caesars: +115
- DraftKings: +114
- BetRivers: +112
At a glance, Daniel Santos is the clear favorite across all major books, with odds hovering around –135, while JooSang Yoo sits in underdog territory, ranging from +102 to +115. The widest payout for someone backing Yoo is +115 at BetOnline.ag and Caesars, making them the top choice for underdog bettors. Conversely, the healthiest return on Santos is at FanDuel (–130)—you risk less per $100 won, maximizing your upside on the favorite.
Line Movement & Swing Analysis
Both fighters’ lines have seen significant movement in the past two weeks, reflecting sharp action and shifting public sentiment:
-
Daniel Santos (BetOnline.ag)
- Opened around –115
- Briefly drifted into underdog territory at +105 on Sept. 23
- Pushed out to –140 by Sept. 24
- Settled back to –135 by Sept. 26
-
JooSang Yoo (BetOnline.ag)
- Started as a slight underdog at –105
- Drifted out to +120 on Sept. 24
- Retracted to +115 by Sept. 26
-
FanDuel Swing Highlights
- Yoo: From –130 (Sept. 23) to –104 (Sept. 24) then +102 (Sept. 26)
- Santos: From +102 (Sept. 23) to –122 (Sept. 24) then –130 (Sept. 26)
These fluctuations suggest early books were trying to balance tickets, with some initial support for Yoo before sharp money poured in on Santos, pushing him back into favorite status. Late-week bettors have clearly favored the Brazilian’s experience, while a core of risk-takers remains on Yoo’s explosive potential.
Payout & Implied Chances
If you laid down $1,000 on either fighter right now, here’s what you’d walk away with:
-
Betting Daniel Santos at –130 (FanDuel)
- Profit: ≈ $769
- Total Return: ≈ $1,769
-
Betting JooSang Yoo at +115 (BetOnline.ag or Caesars)
- Profit: $1,150
- Total Return: $2,150
Based on these lines, Santos carries roughly a 57% implied chance to win, while Yoo sits around 47%—underscoring that this is far from a blowout mismatch.
Best Sportsbook for Value
- Underdog Play (Yoo): BetOnline.ag or Caesars at +115 for the highest potential payout.
- Favorite Play (Santos): FanDuel at –130 if you want to risk less to win $100 (and thus maximize net profit for the same $1,000 risk).
With big swings already behind us and both camps trending in different directions, the current lines reflect a cautious lean toward Santos—but the underdog payout on Yoo remains tempting for bettors seeking upside.
AI Pick: Daniel Santos
Click the buttons below to read more about why the AI picked Daniel Santos, or see all the AI picks for Ankalaev vs Pereira 2. Our AI is trained on our fight data and picks winners for every fight. You can track all the picks, accuracy, and profit for free on our ai-picks page.