Manon fiorot, a MMA fighter who won the IMMAF title in 2017, as an amateur has made waves since then. Jennifer Maia hopes to highlight the many levels of this sport.
Maia is a former Invicta FC Flyweight Champion who challenged Valentina Shevchenko to the UFC crown. Since joining the UFC, 2018, has faced only experienced veterans, winning 50% of their fights.
Fiorot is unbeaten since dropping her pro MMA debut, just days before Maia made her first octagon appearance in 2018. Fiorot defeated Victoria Leonardo in Fiorot’s UFC debut, before beating Brazil’s Tabatha Rincci and Mayra Bubeno Silva in 2021..
Now they will be fighting on Saturday’s preliminary card at UFC Columbus. It takes place at Columbus’ Nationwide Arena.
“I’ve been watching her most recent fights and she really has great potential,” Maia said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “However, she hasn’t fought someone on my level, a tougher athlete. She has fought many tough opponents, though, one was against a strawweight and another against Sheetara. This is an important test to determine her true level .”
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For Maia, who lost a decision to Katlyn Chookagian in her most recent bout after defeating Jessica Eye, stopping a rising prospect might not put her in the mix for another shot at the gold, but is still a win to kick off her new four-fight deal with the UFC. Maia views Fiorot in a “complete contradiction” to Chookagian’s fighting style. She calls Fiorot “good .”
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“She is always forward, which I like,” Maia stated. “She has a different game, one I like, the striking, and I believe it can be a better fight for me because I’ll be able to show my striking. She is a trader and does not run away from the fight .”
“[Winning by knockout] is something we always want going into a fight, but she’s a very tough opponent, so I can’t promise that,” she continued. She’s on the up, with an 8-fight winning streak and a lot more knockouts. But, I doubt she’s ever fought anyone on her level. It’s hard to predict a knockout. If I have the chance, I will. But I believe we are in for war .”
