Preview: UFC 285 Prelims

Women’s Flyweights

#9 WSW | Amanda Ribas (10-3, 5-2 UFC) vs. #8 WFLW | Viviane Araujo (11-4, 5-3 UFC)

ODDS: Ribas (-130), Araujo (+110)

This is an intriguing matchup that is also quite crucial for two potential contenders in an increasingly deep flyweight division. Ribas hit the UFC like a bolt of lightning in 2019, making up for lost time after USADA issues delayed her debut for nearly two years. The Brazilian showed a superstar level of bubbly charisma and backed it up with a four-fight winning streak that included high-profile victories over Mackenzie Dern and Paige VanZant. Ribas entered 2021 on the shortlist of potential breakout title contenders for the upcoming year but instead mostly held serve. She charged into a knockout from Marina Rodriguez, then regained some steam with a clear win over Virna Jandiroba. Ribas was scheduled to keep rising through the ranks with a fight against Michelle Waterson-Gomez to kick off 2022, but once an injury to Waterson-Gomez scrapped those plans, Ribas made the pivot to a flyweight tilt against Katlyn Chookagian—a worthy risk but also a surprising move up for someone whose physicality was a large part of her game at 115 pounds. Ribas acquitted herself well in a narrow loss, and the thought was that she would pick up where she left off back at strawweight. Instead, she has apparently decided to stick at flyweight for the time being, as evidenced by this pairing against Araujo.

Araujo is a fellow converted strawweight, even if nobody thinks of her as one at this point. Araujo spent her career at 115 pounds before making her UFC debut on days’ notice, stepping in against Talita Bernardo at bantamweight and then settling in at flyweight after a knockout victory. Araujo has been equal parts impressive and frustrating over the course of her UFC career, showing a well-rounded game while never really getting over the hump to a truly impressive performance. Save for a win in May opposite a terrible showing from Andrea Lee, there is a clear line where the Brazilian is able to dominate subpar athletes while losing to everyone at athletic parity. That essentially makes this fight a litmus test for how Ribas can hang physically at 125 pounds, as her aggression should lead her directly into some clinch and wrestling exchanges. Araujo is underrated in that phase, but Ribas showed enough against Chookagian to earn the benefit of the doubt that she can overpower and control her fellow Brazilian, if not exactly dominate this fight. The pick is Ribas via decision.

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