Women’s flyweight action on Saturday night’s UFC 285 televised prelims saw Viviane Araujo and Amanda Ribas clash in an all-Brazilian match-up.
Both fighters were 1-2 in their last three bouts; both were coming in off decision losses in their most recent outing.
Less than a minute into Saturday’s contest, Araujo jumped guard, locking on a guillotine that looked tight. After some initial discomfort, Ribas pulled free, working from the side, though Araujo managed to hook a leg and recover some version of half-guard.
Regardless, Ribas was in a dominant position for a bit before Araujo created some space and scrambled out. Both fighters had landed punches in that sequence, but it was Ribas showing a bit of damage. Back on the feet, Ribas stayed outside, but a couple of solid strikes by Araujo had her thinking takedown.
Concernedly, Ribas had her hands down, and her chin up as she traded with Araujo, who hit home with a right hand towards the end of the round.
The second frame opened with Amanda Ribas rocking Araujo! Despite Araujo having a massive edge in technical striking, Ribas had her on rubber legs care of a straight right, and shortly thereafter Araujo was her back care of the knockdown. For Araujo, that may actually have been a blessing, just in terms of recovery. Ribas, however, looked to set up an arm-triangle choke while going body-head from top position.
The grappling battle continued, with Araujo offering little off her back, but managing to fend off the submission. Ribas opened up, moving to side control and forcing Araujo to give up her back. Ribas re-secured the back mount as Araujo tried to stand up, and while she couldn’t find the finish, she ended round two in the driver’s seat.
Araujo was going to need to bounce back in round three, with the possibility of a 10-8 for Ribas looming following a dominant second round. Ribas, however awkward her striking appeared, held her own early in the third, landing a kick off a combo upstairs. A spinning back kick and switch knee followed. Araujo appeared hesitant, her pace slowed. In a round that Viviane Araujo dearly needed to win, she appeared stuck in first gear.
Ribas, meanwhile, fired another spinning back kick. Then went high with a kick that nearly caught Araujo unaware. A third spinning kick glanced off Araujo, who was running out of time. With 90 seconds to go, Ribas opted to shoot, and land, a takedown — but Araujo was able to latch on with an arm-bar! Ribas landed some knees to the body; Araujo released the submission to fire punches, reapplied it, but ultimately, Ribas pulled free and got on top, dropping punches to the bell.
Official Result: Amanda Ribas def. Viviane Araujo by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-27)
