Viviane
Araujo entered
UFC Fight Night 230 with her back against the wall.
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After consecutive decision losses against Alexa
Grasso and Amanda
Ribas, the 36-year-old Cerrado MMA product desperately needed a
victory to remain relevant in the UFC’s flyweight division. Araujo
delivered in that regard, earning a unanimous verdict over former
title challenger Jennifer
Maia in the co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on
Saturday night.
“It feels amazing,” Araujo said at Saturday’s post-fight press
conference. “The best part is the camp, the strategy, the game
plan. The [key] word was patience. It worked perfectly. I followed
the game plan to a T. I waited for her to use her boxing,
overextend, so I could use my takedowns to keep her on her back.
The best thing is when a strategy works, it makes me really happy.
For me and my team, I’m really ecstatic.”
Araujo admitted that she felt pressure to get a win, but she was
able to turn that into a positive mental approach.
“Of course there was pressure coming off two losses and fighting
such a great opponent,” she said. “… However I owe a lot to my
sports psychiatrist. She and I spoke every single day. She made me
very mentally strong. My energy is great.
“I used the pressure actually to help me win the fight. You see me
here: I’m in great spirits, great energy. Of course I felt nervous
coming into this fight after two losses. But I was able to
implement my game plan, I was able to fight hard.”
With her losing streak a thing of the past, Araujo will seek
another ranked opponent for her next Octagon appearance. However,
she refused to call out any specific opponent.
“I’m ready, I’m not really hurt. I fought a great fight. I’m
healthy,” Araujo said. “I don’t want to pick names, I’m ready to
go. Whenever they want to give me a ranked fight to propel me
closer to eventually get a title shot, I’m game.”