Amanda Ribas aims to prove her top 15 rankings in both the strawweight and flyweight UFC divisions by winning her upcoming 125-pound clash against Maycee Barber and eventually holding double UFC gold.
Amanda Ribas, listed in the top 15 of both the official strawweight and flyweight UFC rankings, is determined to prove that her ranking is no accident. On Saturday’s UFC Jacksonville co-main event, the 29-year old talent will face Maycee Barber in a 125-pound clash. Ribas hopes that a win will earn her a spot in the flyweight top five, moving one step closer to her ultimate dream of holding double UFC gold.
“I think Amanda Nunes kind of showed the way; she showed it’s possible to become champion in two divisions,” Ribas said in an interview. “And Alexa Grasso defeating Valentina [Shevchenko] — she was at the top for a long time, but Alexa showed it can be done, and the flyweights are coming up strong. Valentina was seen at one level and others at a level below, but it’s not like that anymore.” Ribas attributes her motivation to a decision win over Viviane Araujo this past March, which helped her overcome a close split decision loss to then-No. 1 ranked Katlyn Chookagian. She aims to make a statement in Jacksonville to be considered for a shot at Grasso’s title.
The idea of achieving her dream of double gold excites Ribas: “Imagine that, it would be beautiful,” she said. “There’s [a UFC event] in Abu Dhabi again in October, it will be so cool. I’ll give my all inside the octagon, and that’s what I want. I hope it happens. I’ll be very ambitious. I’m a bit distant [from the belt] right now, whether you like it or not, but what if it happens?” Ribas believes that being chosen for the co-headliner of an ABC card displays the UFC’s faith in her future and uses that as additional motivation for her fight with Barber.
Regarding her strategy for the fight, Ribas said, “I can’t let her get too comfortable with her distance. I’ll fight on my rhythm, not hers, and I think it can end on the ground, showcasing my black belt in jiu-jitsu. I miss [submitting people]. Imagine this, a beautiful submission and a performance bonus? That would be perfect.”