French standout Manon
Fiorot will take a seven-fight promotional winning streak into
her title bout against Valentina
Shevchenko at UFC
315.
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Fiorot’s grappling coach, Flávio “Peroba” Santiago, revealed to
Sherdog.com that the No. 1 flyweight contender has evolved a lot on
the ground in recent years.
“Manon’s work ethic is really impressive,” said the Luta Livre
black belt, who has been living in France since 2001. “Since I
started training her on the ground in December 2022, she only
stopped to have surgery on her knee. Seven months later, she
started the camp to fight Rose [Namajunas]. Ten months after the
surgery she fought. After the fight with Rose, she stopped for a
month and then started training for [Erin] Blanchfield.”
According to the Brazilian coach, the five rounds against
Blanchfield were important preparation for this long-awaited fight
against the champion.
“I believe Valentina will come to exchange punches but with the
goal of putting Fiorot on the ground, as she did in her last two
fights,” he said. “But taking Manon down is getting harder every
day, and I can tell because I spar with her. But even if Valentina
can do it, I’m very calm. Manon evolved a lot on the ground, both
from the bottom and top, and is bringing some surprises for the
champion.”
Santiago also revealed that head coach Aldric
Cassata brought [French MMA fighters] Jerome
Vaulerin and Kristof
Midoux into camp to improve the Frenchwoman’s wrestling. The
Brazilian made a point of praising the growth of MMA in France.
“Since the UFC came here for the first time, the sport’s popularity
has increased enormously,” he said. “Johnny Fachey and Lionel
Bréséphin are doing an extraordinary job here. In March, we will
have a Fight Night in England. I hope that the next UFC in Europe
will be here in France, with Manon defending her belt at home.”