Amanda Ribas, in Sao Paulo to debut as a UFC commentator, ended up “beating” Brazilian bodybuilder Julio Balestrin in a playful grappling session, showcasing her MMA skills.
Amanda Ribas jetted off to São Paulo for a UFC event, only to end up “beating” a well-known Brazilian bodybuilder. Quite the unexpected twist!
Initially, Ribas planned just to commentate on her first UFC gig for network TV Bandeirantes. But then, she thought, why not extend the stay? Check out some cool eateries and local hotspots. That’s when a buddy suggested meeting influencers like Renato Cariani and Julio Balestrin.
“We started filming some vids,” Ribas chuckled, “but [Balestrin] is super competitive, and hey, so am I.” Off-camera, he teased her relentlessly. Couldn’t resist poking fun!
Despite her 115-125 pound frame in the octagon, Ribas decided to show Balestrin a few MMA tricks. She asked if he knew how to grapple. Spoiler: things got intense.
“He’s insanely strong,” she remarked about the 6’3″, 250-pound giant. “When you roll with that much weight… He ended up face-planting, poor guy got a black eye! But seriously, his strength was overwhelming. It was survival mode for me!”
Oh, and there’s a video of it all—definitely worth checking out.
On another note, Ribas (13-5 in pro MMA) is gearing up for a rematch with Mackenzie Dern. It’s slated for Jan. 11, headlining UFC’s first 2025 show. Last time they clashed, Ribas took the win by decision. Recently though, she faced Rose Namajunas at flyweight and lost but bounced back with three wins at strawweight. Exciting times ahead!