Prediction: Macy Chiasson via Submission
Yana has definitely leveled up her striking. Her footwork is sharper, she’s mixing in kicks, and she’s strong enough to make it really hard to just grab hold of her and drag her down. Early on, that’s going to be a problem for Chiasson. She’s going to have to eat some shots, deal with the movement, and work through the strength advantage Yana brings in those opening exchanges.
But the difference here is the gas tank and the mindset. Chiasson doesn’t care if she’s tired. She’ll keep pushing, keep clinching, keep chaining attempts until something sticks. That willingness to grind no matter how she feels is exactly what’s going to open this fight up for her. Yana’s hard to control at first, but the more you make her defend, the more openings you start to get. Chiasson has the bigger grappling advantage once she finds her positions, and with her cardio she’s way more likely to keep building momentum as the fight goes on instead of fading.
So yeah, Yana can absolutely make the early rounds tricky with her improved striking, but as long as Chiasson doesn’t get discouraged and just keeps pushing the pace, she should eventually break through. Once she starts chaining her wrestling together and keeping Yana on the mat, she will truly start to dominate and with the way she stays relentless even when she’s exhausted, I could definitely see her grinding her way to a late finish once Yana’s slowed down. This is Chiasson’s fight if she just stays true to her style.