January 8, 2025 3:30 pm ET
LAS VEGAS – Amanda Ribas sees some large choices in play for her profession if she defeats Mackenzie Dern in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 249 headliner.
Ribas (12-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) is ready to rematch Dern (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in Saturday’s strawweight headliner on the UFC Apex (ESPN+), and the Brazilian views the matchup as having title implications within the weight class.
With champion Zhang Weili booked to defend towards unbeaten Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 on Feb. 8 in Sydney, there isn’t any clear contender. Virna Jandiroba has a strong profitable streak, however Ribas is fast to level out that each she and Dern maintain wins over her.
“I do know this battle is de facto necessary as a result of we each gained towards Virna and she or he’s No. 3 (within the UFC rankings),” Ribas advised MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “So we all know how large and necessary this battle is as a result of I believe if I win, if God blesses me with the win, I can go to the highest.
“I imagine on that as a result of I’m coming from two wins within the strawweight division, and we each battle towards Virna and she or he is No. 3. Possibly if I win, with a superb win, I can go to be (backup fighter) for the belt, or perhaps battle towards Virna once more.” Ribas, 31, hasn’t seen motion since a main event loss to Rose Namajunas in March. That battle happened at girls’s flyweight, and afterward Ribas took a self-imposed hiatus to refresh herself bodily and mentally, making her “extra harmful.”
Now again at 115 kilos the place she is 5-1 underneath the UFC banner, Ribas is targeted on getting her first crack at gold, and she or he thinks the best way Weili vs. Suarez performs out will direct her path.
“I believe to maneuver the class, Zhang Weili, if she wins, I’m right here,” Ribas mentioned. “No rematches. There’s different women. I believe (Virna) wants to attend for the winner of this battle (to get a title shot), as a result of we each deserve that, too.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Fight Night 249.
You should definitely go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of blended martial arts.
