Bia Mesquita made one mistake on Saturday night, and she made sure it was the last one.
After surviving an early scare against Melissa Mullins at UFC Vegas 119, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace settled into the fight, found the armbar she’d been hunting, and reminded everyone why she’s one of the most decorated grapplers to ever step into the UFC. Then she did what every rising contender should do, she called her shot.
“I knew she would only have anything if I had a mistake. Unfortunately, I had a little mistake in the beginning of the fight,” Mesquita told reporters including Cageside Press at her post-fight scrum.
“That’s why I’m there, improving, showing my new version. It didn’t really surprise me because it was my mistake, but I overcame. Showed finally some bottom game, and I’m really happy.”
Mesquita believes moments like the one she faced on Saturday are exactly why she trains at one of the best gyms in the world. Even after finding herself in trouble early, the Brazilian never panicked, trusting that the adversity she battles in the gym every day had already prepared her for the biggest moments inside the cage.
“I train the best team in the world, I train at American Top Team, and now my teammates get me ready to be here. When it happened I have been in worse places during my training camp, and I knew it would be easy to overcome that and get the submission,” she said.
“To be the champion you’ve got to go through everything, every experience, and go over it. I’m just really happy that I finally got my arm bar.”
Mesquita didn’t waste any time calling her shot after the biggest win of her UFC career. With her sights set on climbing the bantamweight rankings, she singled out Ailin Perez as the opponent she wants next, and made it clear the matchup has become personal.
“I’m ready to climb the rankings really quick. I’m looking forward to fighting Ailin Perez. I think she’s #5 right now,” said Mesquita.
“I’m ready to chase that fight. I think she’s very disrespectful inside the cage, I don’t think there is a place to be shaking your ass, so as I told over there, I’m ready to kick her ass and show who’s the lady GOAT.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Bia Mesquita above.
