Former LFA strawweight champion Jaqueline Amorim isn’t in a rush so as to add one other belt to her assortment within the UFC; nevertheless, that doesn’t imply she’s shying away from larger challenges.
Amorim is about to face ex-DEEP titleholder Mizuki Inoue at UFC 321, which works down Saturday in Abu Dhabi, and likes the sluggish construct the UFC is giving her. Since dropping her octagon debut to Sam Hughes in April 2023, Amorim snatched 4 finishes in a row by beating Montserrat Conejo, Cory McKenna, Vanessa Demopoulos and Polyana Viana.
Battling Inoue in Abu Dhabi looks like the right step earlier than difficult ranked foes, Amorim advised MMA Combating, as a result of “I’m nonetheless new to the UFC.”
“I joined the group with simply six fights and this can be a actually good matchup earlier than going through somebody ranked as a result of my opponent could be very skilled,” she continued. “If I win this struggle, I feel the subsequent one will certainly be in opposition to somebody within the rankings. However I need to get there feeling ready. I don’t need to attain the rankings and never be prepared, ?”
UFC 321 contains a rematch between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern for the vacant 115-pound title. Amorim, a jiu-jitsu veteran identical to the 2 co-headliners, feels blissful to see her fellow grapplers conflict for UFC glory.
“I used to be actually blissful once they introduced that title struggle,” Amorim mentioned. “Two ladies who’re each superb grapplers. I like each of them loads. I’ve at all times admired them. I watched them preventing within the UFC earlier than I had even began MMA. For us grapplers, it’s nice to see two girls like that. I consider they’ll placed on a fantastic struggle.”
“Mackenzie has proven large enchancment, each in her placing and in how she’s tailored her jiu-jitsu for MMA,” she continued. “However I feel this is perhaps a special type of struggle. Primarily based on Virna’s latest wins, I consider she’ll have the benefit. I feel Virna has developed extra for MMA. I’d put my cash on Virna if I needed to guess, however I like each of them so I’ll be proud of whoever wins.”
Competing in Abu Dhabi is nothing new to Amorim, who travelled to the United Arab Emirates to make a reputation for herself within the grappling world by profitable the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Professional title in 2014 as a purple belt. Again to the U.A.E. 11 years later, she’s “tremendous excited” to carry out in MMA.
“It’s a really particular place for me,” Amorim mentioned. “The primary time I got here right here was in 2011. It was my first worldwide journey, I didn’t communicate English, and I used to be a blue belt. Coming again now to struggle within the UFC, the largest occasion on the planet, is admittedly rewarding. Again then, once I was a blue belt, it was all only a dream. Now that it’s all taking place, I’m actually blissful, and I hope to carry out my greatest on Saturday for everybody.”
Mizuki has by no means been submitted in MMA and has grappled her method to profitable most of her MMA fights. Amorim is aware of the Japanese fighter is “far more skilled fighter than I’m,” however nonetheless plans on making her faucet out Saturday.
“She’s by no means been submitted, so possibly this would be the first time — as a result of I’m getting in there to get the end,” Amorim mentioned. “My objective each time I step into the octagon is to indicate my jiu-jitsu. It truly motivates me much more to go in there and get the submission. … She’s been out for 2 years, so I don’t understand how she’ll come again, however primarily based on her final struggle, I feel her type matches up properly with mine. Possibly she’ll carry one thing totally different for this struggle, however I’m ready for something.”
“Mizuki fought in Invicta, and I feel she even fought Virna there for the title,” she added. “She’s confronted a number of ladies who are actually within the UFC, even former champions. I consider she’s an excellent fighter with stable boxing, good footwork, and a jiu-jitsu background too. At this level in my profession, she’s a fantastic problem for me as a result of she’s good each standing and on the bottom, which can make it a bit more durable than my latest fights.”
