Bia Mesquita has simply begun her UFC profession, however she’s already dreaming of a combat with a legend.
The all-world Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion made a profitable octagon debut at UFC Rio on Saturday, displaying off her elite grappling as she ran by means of Irina Alekseeva en path to a second-round rear-naked choke submission. It was pretty much as good a debut as might be anticipated for the 34-year-old bantamweight, who might be on the quick observe to title competition if she strings collectively a number of extra dominant performances.
On the night’s post-fight press convention, MMA Preventing’s Guilherme Cruz reminded Mesquita of a problem she made to Rousey again in 2014, and the grappling ace laughed on the reminder… particularly after making simple work of Alekseeva, who goes by the nickname “Russian Ronda.”
“What a loopy coincidence, huh?” Mesquita mentioned. “I don’t know who advised [Alekseeva] she’s the Russian Ronda Rousey, but when she says so. It’s what she believes. However I’ve confirmed that my takedowns are on level, and I’m a really huge fan of Ronda, too. Ronda Rousey, she made historical past in MMA and he or she opened a whole lot of doorways for all the ladies which can be popping out, in addition to me.
“I respect lots all her historical past and all the things she did to [help] girls’s MMA develop into what it’s at present. So I actually hope she comes again, everyone enjoys her combating lots, and I feel that will be wonderful. The armbar battle, despite the fact that I haven’t obtained my armbars but, however who is aware of, possibly combating her it’s going to return. I actually respect her, I’m a giant fan of all the things she did, and I’m simply blissful if she’s coming again, it’s going to be wonderful for the MMA world and particularly for the ladies.”
Rousey final competed for the UFC in 2016 and went on to a profitable professional wrestling profession with WWE earlier than stepping again from the highlight in 2023. Nonetheless, she has lately teased the potential of a comeback and a look at her social media actually makes it appear as if she is getting again into combating form.
Mesquita is 6-0 in her MMA profession thus far, with 4 of her wins coming by submission (all by means of rear-naked choke). She nonetheless has loads of work to do to earn a title shot, however with present 135-pound champion Kayla Harrison anticipated to face a returning Amanda Nunes someday in 2026, the contender line is on maintain and that offers Mesquita loads of time to navigate it.
“I do know very properly that I’m simply beginning and I’m going to go step-by-step,” Mesquita mentioned. “Not calling names proper now, I simply wish to combat as quickly as potential. I really feel nice. If there was one other combat tonight, I might do it. In order quickly as I can, I wish to get again within the cage, be again to placing my fireplace on, put again my present, and that’s it. Me, Dana [White], I’m prepared. Quickly as you name me, I’m going to say sure. Regardless of the place, it doesn’t matter what time of day, I’m able to go.”
In her win over Alekseeva, Mesquita had the possibility to indicate off a few of her placing, and he or she sounded glad that the combat at the very least went over the five-minute mark. Even on the bottom, a lot of her offense was comprised of strikes from high place and it wasn’t till simply earlier than the center of Spherical 2 that Mesquita sunk within the fight-ending choke.
So was she dissatisfied she couldn’t rating a ground-and-pound knockout?
“No, I’m proud of my submission,” Mesquita mentioned. “My clear jiu-jitsu, the good jiu-jitsu that I might present the folks that I carry out. Additionally, I practice in the perfect MMA health club on this planet American High Crew, and I might show within the first spherical that with my ground-and-pound that I’m enhancing lots.
“Even on my standing, I felt very assured, I don’t suppose I obtained [hit by] any punch or something. I proved that I got here to be an entire fighter, however after all, submission, I’m at all times going to search for that.”
