Diana Belbita has her again towards the wall after dropping 5 of her seven UFC fights up to now, however that doesn’t imply opponent Dione Barbosa expects a straightforward evening within the cage Saturday in Las Vegas.
Barbosa returns to motion at UFC Vegas 105 after dropping a call in a short-notice match with Miranda Maverick this previous July, and he or she instructed MMA Combating she’s treating Belbita as an elite fighter as she makes an attempt to enhance to 2-1 within the promotion.
“If it’s as much as me, her dangerous streak will proceed,” Barbosa stated with fun. “I like this matchup as a result of she’s skilled and has confronted powerful opponents like Molly [McCann], who simply retired. However she has much more expertise than me. I’ve 10 MMA fights and he or she has 24. That is the kind of combat I would like, to face and check myself towards skilled ladies.”
Belbita holds UFC wins over Hannah Goldy and Maria Oliveira, however misplaced when paired up twice towards McCann, and likewise fell brief towards Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Gloria de Paula and Liana Jojua.
None of that issues to Barbosa, who is aware of she’s additionally in want of a win.
“I’m going for a warfare,” Barbosa stated. “I don’t consider the scenario she’s in proper now. I’m additionally coming off a loss. I took a combat on brief discover, nevertheless it doesn’t matter. On the finish of the day it’s a loss. I’m coaching as if this was a title combat. I actually, actually, actually need to knock her out however I’m a grappler. If I see a chance, I’ll end it.”
Barbosa as soon as once more did her coaching camp on the UFC Efficiency Institute in Las Vegas and located it brings benefits and downsides. On one hand, she’s all the time surrounded by high-level athletes who’re open to alternate information; on the opposite, it isn’t essentially the most personal atmosphere.
“However I’ve no downside coaching with those that I would find yourself preventing sooner or later,” Barbosa stated. “Typically it’s annoying, nevertheless it’s a chance. It’s tougher for ladies to seek out folks to coach with, different ladies, so we now have to coach with those who present up—even when they’re from the identical weight class. I prefer it. If we now have to combat one another down the road, so be it. It’s all good.”
For instance, after a profitable debut towards Ernesta Kareckaite at UFC 301, Barbosa known as out Ivana Petrovic. She went on to satisfy Petrovic a number of instances throughout this camp on the UFC PI. It’s all cordial in keeping with Barbosa and their interactions wouldn’t cease them from dealing with off in the future.
Barbosa was supplied a combat on the current UFC Mexico card, however finally ends up coming into the cage per week after at UFC APEX. The Las Vegas resident was desperate to compete after an extended layoff, however finally prefers not touring to Mexico Metropolis to compete.
“As quickly as we heard concerning the Mexico combat we began making ready for the excessive altitude,” Barbosa stated. “You must spend extra to arrange for that. We had been going to go there three, 4 weeks prior. I used to be upset after they pushed me per week later as a result of I needed to combat, however on the identical time it was good as a result of I must make investments loads much less [money] for this camp.”
“The Witch” desires to remain lively and combat as quickly as doable with a victory at UFC Vegas 105, and has potential opponents in thoughts.
“I used to be presupposed to combat Casey O’Neill, we agreed verbally, however she acquired injured per week later,” Barbosa stated. “She had knee surgical procedure. In reality, she’s treating it right here [at the UFC PI] and we see one another ultimately. I need to combat her as a result of she’s ranked, however there’s no method proper now. Since they up to date the rankings and JJ Aldrich is ranked now, I’ll name her out. They had been going to provide me a ranked opponent already, so why not?”
