Las Vegas, NV – If UFC flyweight Alexa Grasso is nervous about her main event slot against Viviane Araujo at UFC Vegas 62 she wasn’t showing it on Wednesday when she spoke with reporters.
“I feel really happy. Thankful for the UFC for this opportunity. This means a lot because they trust in my job,” Grasso told Cageside Press among other reporters at the UFC APEX.
For Grasso (14-3) her fight against Araujo is a rescheduled one after dropping out of their original bout in August due to visa issues.
“Fight or (no) fight we are always training. No matter what happens we continue with the training. Thank God now we have the main event opportunity,” Grasso said.
A bout between Grasso and Araujo was bound to happen at some point with both flyweights making their cases as legitimate contenders for the title.
“I this is a fight that had to happen because we’re both pretty similar. We are super close in the rankings. It had to happen. We are pretty similar in stats. We’re super close in every single are so it’s a nice matchup for both of us,” she said.
“Honestly she’s the toughest opponent I’ve trained for. She moves a lot, she has good hands, and her strongest weapon is her jiu jitsu. She’s a black belt. I think this is a great for me.”
Araujo is a black belt in jiu jitsu with 4 submission victories on her record.
“I’ve been improving a lot my jiu jitsu game and that’s what I’m taking for this opportunity. What else than a black belt to prove yourself,” Grasso said with a smile.
With Grasso rankd #5 and Araujo #6 it’s safe to say both fighters are on the short list for a title shot with an impressive win.
“I hope so. Maybe, could be. I don’t know what the matchmakers are planning, but they are doing a good job because even if this was not the main option for the main event, they trusted in us. They are allowing us to have like a (preview) of what could be a title fight. It’s 25 minutes,” she said.
“I like that I’m having this opportunity to test myself.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Alexa Grasso above. She takes on Viviane Araujo in the main event of UFC Vegas 62 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.
