Devil’s in the Details for Viviane Araujo

Time no longer appears to be on Viviane Araujo’s side, but she remains steadfast in her commitment to rise as high as possible in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight division.

Araujo will look to get back on track at 125 pounds when she meets former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Jennifer Maia in the UFC Fight Night 230 co-headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. She enters the cage on the heels of back-to-back losses to Alexa Grasso and Amanda Ribas, knowing she can ill afford another misstep at this stage of her career.

“They were very tough bouts,” Araujo told Sherdog.com. “They were difficult fights. I lost in the details. Despite having good performances, those details caused me to lose. I’ve been working on the mental and physical facets, and I’ve been working hard on my wrestling.”

Maia figures to provide another stern test for the onetime Pancrase champion. The Chute Boxe product has momentum on her side, as she steps back into the spotlight on the strength of consecutive victories over Maryna Moroz and Casey O’Neill. A member of the UFC roster since 2018, Maia has never won three fights in a row inside the Octagon.

“I was very happy to be matched up against Jennifer,” Araujo said. “I know her potential. It’s going to be an emotional, hard-fought battle. She’s a warrior who always moves forward with great combinations. She has a few holes in her game, like all the girls in the Top 10. We have to study them all with a lot of attention to detail. My entire team and I are studying Jennifer’s game so we can have the best plan to secure a victory.

“Winning is most important, whether it’s by knockout, submission or decision,” she added. “Considering my current situation, a win is what matters most.”

Araujo continues to operate out of the underrated Cerrado MMA camp in Brasilia, Brazil, where she trains under Daniel Evangelista, Anderson Carvalho, Luis Alessandro Hernandez Frades and Erik Batista da Silva. She believes in her preparation and approach.

“I worked with some partners who are very skilled in striking and on the ground, since Jennifer is a jiu-jitsu black belt along with having a solid muay thai game,” Araujo said. “I’m working on all areas at the highest level. I’m always in excellent shape on fight night and ready for another excellent performance.”

Araujo will soon learn whether or not all the hours spent in the gym result in the desired outcome. Even though she turns 37 in November, she has long-term plans beyond Maia.

“I think I should get another Top 10 opponent next [if I beat Jennifer] and then call out someone in the Top 5,” Araujo said. “I want to climb my way up toward the championship. I want to face the toughest girls in our weight class to show how I’ve evolved and that my game is very different now.”