Mayra Bueno Silva faces Raquel Pennington for the vacant UFC bantamweight championship within the co-main occasion of UFC 297, nevertheless it took her a while to know that.
“Sheetara” revealed on MMA Preventing’s Trocação Franca podcast that when head American High Group coach Marcos “Parrumpa” daMatta referred to as with the breaking information, she initially thought her opponent could be ex-champion Julianna Peña. It took her every week to repair the mixup.
“At first I believed it was going to be Julianna, so we began watching all of Julianna’s fights after dinner,” Silva mentioned. “Per week later, I came upon it was towards Raquel. I didn’t even give it some thought, I believed it was Julianna as a result of we have been planning for that, proper? I used to be tremendous blissful, already finding out for Julianna, after which, ‘No, no, no, it’s Raquel.’ I used to be so excited [to fight for the UFC title], I didn’t even ask who the opponent was.”
Silva admits she was “shocked” when she found her actual opponent however added “nothing that adjustments my important focus.”
“Prefer it or not, Julianna could be extra thrilling as a combat,” Silva mentioned. “Not that Raquel is a nasty athlete, however Julianna promotes fights higher. Raquel is just not that sort of particular person, she doesn’t discuss an excessive amount of. She’s the kind of athlete that likes to combat, and that’s it, so I used to be like, ‘Rattling, I’ll should attempt to promote this combat by myself.’ However my complete focus is the perfect regardless.”
“It’s laborious to advertise this combat, as a result of my opponent isn’t one which likes to speak an excessive amount of,” Silva added on being the co-main occasion for UFC 297 beneath Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis. “It didn’t disappoint me that there’s a combat after mine. This combat upset me as a result of it’s a combat not many individuals need to see. To me, my combat is the principle occasion.”
Having mentioned all that, from a aggressive standpoint, Silva sees Pennington as an even bigger take a look at than Peña. Silva enters the cage after wins over Yanan Wu, Stephanie Egger, Lina Lansberg and Holly Holm, although the latest victory was overturned attributable to a drug-test failure.
Pennington, who as soon as challenged for the belt towards Amanda Nunes in Rio de Janeiro, has gained 5 in a row in bouts towards Marion Reneau, Pannie Kianzad, Macy Chiasson, Aspen Ladd and Ketlen Vieira.
“The combat simply bought a bit harder, as a result of Raquel is harder than Julianna, nevertheless it doesn’t matter as a result of the main target is similar,” Silva mentioned. “Raquel is bodily stronger. She’s been by way of ups and downs within the group, she’s a veteran that brings extra hazard within the hanging space than Julianna.”
Peña is predicted to face the winner of Silva vs. Pennington for the title later in 2024. However Silva envisions a distinct state of affairs after “The Venezuela Vixen” withdrew from a trilogy bout with “The Lioness” Nunes in June and didn’t recovere in time to combat in January.
“Julianna will keep injured for the remainder of her profession,” Silva mentioned with fun. “She doesn’t need to combat. She simply needs to speak. All she does is noise. I’ve a lot enjoyable together with her. Each time she posts one thing about me, it’s simply humorous to me. I hope this combat occurs, as a result of it can followers may have a lot enjoyable. I promise to beat the crap out of her and present who’s the boss.”
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