UFC bantamweight fighter Mayra Bueno Silva voiced confusion over her booking against Holly Holm due to the ranking difference, but acknowledges that the opportunity could potentially lead to a shot at the vacant championship, and aims to put on a compelling fight to overcome the prejudice against women headlining UFC events.
The UFC bantamweight division has left even fighter Mayra Bueno Silva puzzled in regard to her scheduled bout against No. 3 ranked Holly Holm. Silva welcomes the opportunity but has openly admitted confusion over the specific reason behind the matchup. She has questioned her fight with Holm, highlighting the significant difference between their individual rankings. Despite this, Silva acknowledges that there must be a reason for this occurrence.
Since moving up from flyweight, Silva has achieved victories over Wu Yanan, Stephanie Egger, and Lina Lansberg. Initially, Silva was set to face Miesha Tate in a show scheduled for June 3. However, due to an injury to Tate, the UFC altered their plans and instead arranged for Silva to go against Holm in the main event clash on July 15. Following Amanda Nunes‘ retirement and subsequent vacating of the 135- and 145-pound titles, it’s clear that there could be an opportunity for a title shot for any top-ranked fighters in the division.
Silva acknowledges this rare opportunity, promising to make the most of it. She emphasized that the UFC does not operate strictly based on rankings but prioritizes entertaining its fanbase with exciting fights. Silva has won $50,000 bonuses on two occasions during her past three UFC wins and believes this is the reason she is now in a headlining position. She has highlighted the importance of being one of the standout performances that leaves the fans talking about her after the event.
Silva recognizes the criticism and prejudice often directed towards UFC cards headlined by women, and she believes her attitude and performance can help modify these prejudiced perspectives. She hopes to demonstrate the potential for great fights in women’s events. Despite the ongoing masculinization of the sport, she is confident that women’s performances will be recognized equally in the future. Silva is determined to provide an entertaining and exciting fight, proving that women can indeed headline cards. She further stated that facing Holm instead of Tate heightens the challenge due to Holm’s standup skills but remains confident in achieving a stoppage victory.