If fight cliches like “to be the champ, you’ve got to beat the
champ” and “iron sharpens iron” have any grounding in reality,
Ketlen
Vieira is positioning herself well for a run at gold. Since
joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2016 as an
undefeated but raw bantamweight prospect, “Fenomeno” has already
notched wins over two former champions in Miesha Tate
and Holly
Holm, as well as longtime contenders onetime title challengers
Cat
Zingano and Sara McMann.
While Vieira of course has her sights set on the belt, she regards
her journey so far with a sense of satisfaction and gratitude.
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“I’m very proud of my trajectory inside the UFC,” the 31-year-old
told Sherdog. “It’s not easy, with only two years of MMA
experience, to get into the world’s biggest organization and to
fight the very best. I was very inexperienced when I came into the
UFC. I had very little mileage. But I’ve always put God first. He’s
always blessed and molded me. Today I’m living my dream, which is
to live from what I love doing, and to face the best in the world.
I couldn’t be happier – fighting names like Cat Zingano, Sara
McMann, Miesha Tate and Holly Holm. It’s an honor and a tremendous
pleasure. It’s what I like to do – to test myself against the best
fighters.”
Vieira’s rise through the division has been propelled by those
big-name wins, and she would likely have fought for a title already
if not for her pair of losses: a first-round stoppage at the hands
of Irene
Aldana in 2019, and a decision loss to Yana
Kunitskaya two years ago, for which Vieira missed weight as
well. “I did have a few setbacks, but I wouldn’t change anything,”
she claimed. “For sure, those losses helped me go even further, and
to make the necessary changes in my life such as in training and
nutrition. I’m even more determined. It all helped me mature. All
great champions are forged of wins and losses. I believe I’m on the
right track to become champion myself. From the very beginning,
with each bout I’ve always shown improvements. I’ve even evolved
from my losses. I’m very thankful for everything that’s happened in
my life.”
The task in front of Vieira this weekend might well represent the
final step in her ascension through the 135-pound ranks. Raquel
Pennington, another former title challenger, is a perennial Top
10 fighter and one of the most accomplished women in UFC history
not to have won a belt. Vieira recognizes the opportunity but
remains focused on the journey and the process. “I have another
great challenge in front of me – Raquel Pennington,” she said. “As
I said, I like to always fight and test myself against the best in
the world. I want to be champion one day. Everyone who comes to the
UFC should have the same mindset. You shouldn’t think of just being
an also-ran. I’m very happy with this opportunity. I know that
Raquel is highly experienced. She already fought the best. She did
fight for the belt. Even though people ask me about my long-term
plans, I’m fully focused on Raquel now. We’re taking it one step at
a time. I don’t know if beating Raquel guarantees a title shot. The
UFC is a business, and it will do what’s best for itself. Our focus
remains on getting better with each fight. If God wishes me to be
champion, it will happen.”
That process includes her preparation, which took place with at her
longtime training home. “I did my camp with my team, Nova Uniao,”
she said. “Raquel is very tough and experienced. I feel she’s a
complete fighter. In my mind, I’m preparing as if this is against
the champion. At this moment, the champion is Raquel Pennington.
Nothing matters if I don’t get past her. We’re very focused on
every detail. Head coach Andre
Pederneiras has been doing excellent work. He can see what’s
lacking, so with each fight I always put on better performances. My
stamina is much better too. My physical-conditioning coach is
Orlando Folhes. Giovanni
Diniz takes care of my boxing. And I’m sharpening my ground
game with Marlon
Sandro. I’ll be very ready for this fight. It’s going to be a
war. I can’t wait to show all the things I’ve been working on and
improving upon. Every day I look to exceed my limits, so I can be
as ready as possible for this fight.”