Las Vegas, NV – UFC strawweight Luana Pinheiro is in the rather unique situation of fighting someone she used to live with when she faces Amanda Ribas at UFC Vegas 82.
“We lived together 2012, 2013 I think, some part of 2014,” Pinheiro told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.
“Live (under) the same roof. Used to go out together weekends. I remember!”
With the history they have Pinheiro said she wishes this fight had a lot more on the line.
“I obviously would not ever choose this fight to happen except for a belt. I wish this fight was for a belt. It is weird the fact that we lived together. We’re friends, we hung out together, and we never though that this could happen. Specially now,” Pinheiro said.
“I think it’s one of the beauties in fighting and in MMA.”
At the end of the day it’s not personal between the two fighters.
“I’m not fighting Amanda the person. I’m fighting Amanda Ribas the fighter. So after the fight we’re going to hug each other and we’ll continue with that. That’s the name of the game,” said Pinheiro.
With two ranked strawweights fighting to move up towards a title shot the fight is expected to deliver.
“I think it’s going to be a good fight. It’s going to be a good fight because she presses forward, and she goes at it. She really looks for a fight, and I really think you’re going to see an actual MMA fight,” she said.
“A very complete fight. It’s an opportunity for us to showcase everything that we trained for, everything that we are, and I’m very excited about the fight.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Luana Pinheiro above. She takes on Amanda Ribas at UFC Vegas 82.
