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October 28, 2021 - Abu Dhabi: Amanda Ribas may represent Brazil but she will be in her ‘second home’ when she takes to the Octagon at UFC 267 on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old's last two fights have been on these shores and she has won many fans with her laid back, appraochable, persona.
“It is amazing to be here - everybody knows I love to be here. I love the people and I love the sun,” she said.
Alongside a Brazilian flag at the gym in her home country, proudly sits a UAE flag - a point of inspiration, and recognition of the country she has fallen in love with on recent visits.
“The flag is in the gym at my house. I have one Brazilian flag, and one UAE. It is an inspiration because I come here to fight. Every time I see the flag at the gym I know I am going there to take what is mine. Abu Dhabi is my second home.”
Ribas is also acutely aware of the development of female fighting in the UAE and wider region, and how she can play a part inspiring the next generation.
“I am so grateful” she said. “I was watching TV here and saw some girls fighting, I also saw some pictures of a girl in a gi at the airport, and for me this was amazing. Some girls are good at fighting and if they can see another fighter they can think they can fight like us. It is great to be an inspiration for the next generation.”
Ribas will take on compatriot Virna Jandiroba at the Etihad Arena on Saturday night keen to get back in the win column after a loss last time out.
“This time I will be more motivated and I want to fight,” she said. “I am saying that because last time I did my camp, my weight cut, and I didn’t fight - now I want to fight. Now I am different because I have more fire in my eyes.”
Having started her UFC career with four straight wins, Ribas is keen not to let the defeat to Marina Rodriguez derail her plans of getting to the top. In Jandiroba she faces an opponent with some of the best jiu jitsu on the planet, but remains confident her rounded style can give her the win this weekend.
“I think my jiu jitsu is for MMA” she explained. “I am not just a Thai fighter, judo fighter, or jiu jitsu fighter, I am an MMA fighter and it is in my blood. After the last fight I learned a lot. We can’t stop - if we do another person will take your opportunity and that’s it - if you stop you have lost. Now I am active and I don’t want to stop.”
Ribas knows a win might not be enough to put her back at the top table, and is targeting a standout performance to turn heads and put her back in title discussions - with the fans the likely beneficiaries with the promise of entertainment.
“If I am blessed with a win then maybe in two more fights I can be at the top again, but I am taking it step by step.
“All wins need to be big wins. I want to be that fighter the audience looks and sees me on the cards and wants to watch. To do this I need to have great fights.”
UFC® 267 takes place on Saturday, October 30 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with the main card starting at 10 p.m. GST. The first preliminary bout will kick off at 6:30 p.m. GST. It will be headlined by light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz putting his title on the line against Glover Teixeira. Elsewhere Petr Yan will take on Cory Sandhagen in a pivotal bantamweight bout, and Khamzat Chimaev makes a much-anticipated return when he takes on Li Jingliang.
UFC® 267 will be shown live via global broadcasters across the world. In the UAE and throughout the rest of the Middle East and North Africa, UFC content is broadcast on Abu Dhabi Sports and streamed on UFC Arabia, UFC’s first Arabic-language streaming subscription service in the region. Further event and ticket information will be released in due course.
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