ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 12: Amanda Ribas of Brazil celebrates after her victory over Paige VanZant in their flyweight fight during the UFC 251 event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 12, 2020 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
With the presence of a Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier headliner, people may forget that UFC 257 has other interesting fights as well. In one such fight, rising sensation Amanda Ribas will take on Marina Rodriguez. Despite being the opener of the main card, Ribas is looking to make several heads turn with her performance.
While talking to The Schmo, the Brazilian clarified that she hasn’t returned to Fight Island to be on the backseat. She knows that most of the fans will tune in to watch Conor McGregor return to the Octagon after an absence of one year. However, she wants people to watch her fight as well.
“I train so hard because you know I fight on McGregor and Dustin [Poirier] card. Everybody was trying to watch this fight, and I don’t want to do that. I want everybody to watch my fight. So I train hard. When I start my fight everybody, ‘Wow Wow it’s in the fire’ you know. Steal the show,” Ribas said.
While her English wasn’t perfect, you could not claim an iota of doubt into the caliber that Ribas possesses.
While 2020 turned out a lot gloomy than expected, Amanda Ribas was the most cheerful thing to happen to the UFC. She competed twice in the year, winning on both occasions. However, it was the second win, over Paige VanZant via submission, that brought her to the limelight. By ruining VanZant’s farewell from the promotion, Ribas carved out a place among the fans at UFC 251.
She would later extend her trip to Fight Island, playing the role of the spectator in a time when fans weren’t present in the arenas. Whether it was her impeccable skills inside the Octagon or her jubilant personality out of it, everything Ribas has done has struck a chord with the fans.
She nows trains at American Top Team, a gym that boasts of many UFC stars including one half of UFC 257’s headliner Dustin Poirier. With a dominant win over Rodriguez next weekend, Ribas will have a chance to enter the upper echelons of women’s strawweight rankings.
Read More: All You Need to Know About Amanda Ribas and Her 2 Year Doping Ban by USADA
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