Outside Source
Photo: Getty Images/UFC | Caption: Sherdog.com/Ben Duffy
Top notch featherweights headline PFL San Diego: Tune in Saturday, June 27 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN 2.
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Viviane Araujo didn’t ask for easy assignments, nor is she getting one.
After a successful debut bout in the Professional Fighters League this past April, “Vivi” now prepares to clash with a nearly irresistible force when she meets fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship alumna Liz Carmouche on June 27 at PFL San Diego.
Carmouche is the PFL’s most recent flyweight tournament champion. The 16-year veteran holds notable wins over the likes of Jessica Andrade and Valentina Shevchenko, not to mention being on a 12-1 run since 2020. Araujo is keenly aware of the potential risks and rewards. Though no belt is up for grabs this weekend, an emphatic win would most likely catapult her to title contention.
Speaking in her native Portuguese, Araujo had nothing but praise for her next opponent: “I have a lot of respect for her. She’s a very experienced athlete. She’s proven repeatedly that she belongs at the top. She’s a complete fighter. She’s strong and has a ton of experience in the cage. We can see that she always shows up well-prepared.”
Respect aside, the goal remains to vanquish the ageless American. “This will be another great challenge in my career. This is why I fight. I expect to beat her by imposing my rhythm and having an intelligent fight. My biggest objective for San Diego is to have my hand raised at the end, no matter how. It can be a knockout, submission, or decision. I’ll show once more that I belong at the highest level.”
Most MMA fans know Araujo from her six-year stint in the UFC. Though that’s in the past now, Araujo is thankful for the experience. “The most important moment in my career was my arrival to the UFC,” she said. “It was confirmation of all the hard work I put in over the years, to be among the best in the world. I faced opponents at the highest level. It proved the consistency of my work. I remained in the top 10. It was a period of high visibility. I was able to show my work to the entire world.”
Today, in the PFL, she continues to pen her history and reach for new goals. The hunger for victory remains the same. Araujo got ready once again at the Cerrado MMA academy, in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital. The academy has hosted several world-class competitors, from Vicente Luque and Gilbert Burns to the Bonfim brothers, Ismael and Gabriel. Once again, no stone was left unturned. Training involved general striking, muay thai, wrestling, no-gi jiu-jitsu, luta livre and boxing, as well as special emphasis on physical conditioning.
She feels ready and confident. “For this fight, I’ll arrive very strong,” she said. “I’ll also be very technical, especially regarding strategy. We’re studying my opponent extensively, in all her areas of strength.”
Despite nearing her forties, Araujo still sees a bright future ahead. “My plan is to continue to evolve in the sport. Now that I have a new home in the PFL, I’m looking forward to fighting and putting on great performances. I like the PFL format. It allows us to fight repeatedly throughout the year. My last fight was in April. Now I’m back in June. It’s a small time gap, so I managed to remain focused. I’m enjoying the opportunity to fight more often. My objective is to capture the PFL belt, stay active, and keep my name at the very top for the next few years.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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