Mayra Bueno Silva has emerged as a new contender in the women’s bantamweight division after a stunning submission victory over former champion Holly Holm during the UFC Vegas 77 main event, marking her fourth straight win since returning to 135 pounds.
Mayra Bueno Silva has emerged as a new contestant in the bantamweight division of women’s MMA. During UFC Vegas 77’s primary event on Saturday, she executed a remarkable submission to defeat former champion Holly Holm in the second round. Holm tried to close the distance and look for a takedown, but Bueno Silva promptly locked onto her neck before securing a nasty power guillotine choke. Despite holding on momentarily, Holm had no escape and tapped out just 38 seconds into the second round. This triumphant moment marked the most significant victory in Bueno Silva’s career and noted her fourth consecutive win since returning to the 135-pound category.
In the aftermath of her victory, Bueno Silva immediately expressed her ambitions for a fight against ex-champion Julianna Pena. This call came after Amanda Nunes, a previous bantamweight titleholder, announced her retirement post-UFC 289, subsequently vacating the title. “I do what I said. Now I want the belt because I deserve it,” Bueno Silva voiced exuberantly. “Nobody finishes like me. I deserve the belt. Hey Julianna Pena, let’s go. I deserve this, you deserve this. The people deserve this. I finish my fights. I give a show for everybody.”
To further stress her claim, Bueno Silva stated, “This belt is my belt. This belt is Amanda’s belt. This belt is a Brazilian belt. This is for Amanda Nunes. This is for my country.” This unwavering confidence was mirrored in her performance against Holm, showing no signs of discomfort despite it being her first main event against such a seasoned opponent. Throughout the match, Holm displayed quick reactions and continuously tried to close the distance for a clinch to slow down Bueno Silva. But Bueno Silva held her own, retaliating with punitive shots whenever she got an opportunity.
Despite Bueno Silva’s victory and potential shot at the UFC gold, she candidly addressed her recent mental health struggles and extended support to anyone facing similar issues. “Recently I found myself in a huge depression,” she revealed. “I thought that life was not worth it anymore. That being alive was no longer important. I found these people here and I found that girl right there. She’s been there all along. This might happen to you. If you have any issues, find somebody, go and talk, reach out to somebody. The victory is always there, it’s not lost. Go for it, reach out and talk to someone.”