Amanda Ribas took a self-imposed break from competitors following her loss to Rose Namajunas and feels rejuvenated going into 2025.
In what has been a rarity for her UFC tenure, Ribas fought simply as soon as in a calendar yr throughout 2024. She was presupposed to rematch Mackenzie Dern on the ultimate occasion of the yr, however the matchup was pushed again and elevated into major occasion standing for Saturday’s UFC Combat Evening 249 occasion, which takes place on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+).
Ribas (12-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) stated the time away was necessary earlier than she ran it again with Dern (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC). She wasn’t thrilled along with her efficiency in a headlining loss to Namajunas in March, and after a dialogue along with her crew, she got here to the conclusion an extended interval between fights than standard was a necessity.
“I’m a real emotional individual, however I would like – my crew and I talked – I should be extra of a mind individual,” Ribas instructed MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “I took this time to get better my physique with restoration and the whole lot, and to really feel the miss to struggle, to compete. I missed it. I actually, actually wish to struggle.”
Ribas was simply as eager to struggle Dern in December, however stated she didn’t care concerning the particulars when introduced with a chance to vary the date and alter the competition to 5 rounds. She signed the contract instantly, and though she needed to delay Christmas celebrations, felt forward of the curve for her new activity.
“I used to be coaching to do 5 rounds – I don’t know why,” Ribas stated. “My dad was coaching me to do 5 rounds. I don’t know if it’s to be with extra fuel, however I used to be coaching to do 5 because the starting of the camp.”
Ribas’ loss to Namajunas got here within the ladies’s flyweight division. The Brazilian has jumped back-and-forth between 125 kilos and 115 kilos all through her UFC tenure, however the outcomes haven’t been equal, as a result of she is 5-1 on the decrease weight class, whereas simply 2-3 when competing within the larger division.
As somebody who considers herself to be an opportunist, Ribas stated it’s laborious to show down the significant matchups the promotion has given her at ladies’s flyweight. Nonetheless, she stated now could be the time to concentrate on the division the place she clearly does her most impactful work.
“I come from three (straight) wins at strawweight, and I do know this struggle is a big alternative to place me nearer to my objective to be champion,” Ribas stated. “Me and Mackenzie, we beat the No. 3 (in Virna Jandiroba). In fact the whole lot relies on the results of this struggle and the way the struggle goes, however I do know the outcome can put me on the highest and I can possibly a step towards the belt, or possibly some rematch for Virna, after which for the belt.
“Now I’m centered on strawweight. However, I all the time have a however, if UFC nonetheless presents me actually good fights at flyweight, I can give it some thought. At all times in flyweight I get some actually good names with good backgrounds. Rose is absolutely good, Maycee Barber, Viviane (Araujo), Katlyn Chookagian – all robust women in flyweight.”
Ribas defeated Dern by unanimous determination of their first assembly at UFC Combat Evening 161 in October 2019. It was Dern’s first loss in MMA, and a efficiency that put Ribas on the map as a harmful title.
There was no reluctance to offer Dern her shot at revenge, Ribas stated, and she or he thinks this was a logical sequel for UFC to place collectively given the place each ladies are at of their respective careers.
“This struggle is smart,” Ribas stated. “We each are actually good and I do know we could be actually good champions within the UFC. There’s no names higher on the rating than us (obtainable), so it’s laborious to seek out some fights. It’s an excellent struggle for me, and for her.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Combat Evening 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 combined martial arts.
