The Inward Focus of Ariane Lipski

Ariane Lipski’s tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship can be best described as consistently inconsistent.

The former Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki champion will look to improve upon her 6-6 record inside the Octagon when she does battle with Jasmine Jasudavicius as part of the UFC Fight Night 246 undercard on Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Lipski has rattled off four wins in six appearances. However, she finds herself on the rebound following a unanimous decision defeat to the surging Karine Silva at UFC on ESPN 55 in April.

“I knew it would be a difficult fight,” Lipski told Sherdog.com. “I knew I had the right game to be able to win, but I was not able to fight to my full potential. I lost focus and didn’t follow our strategy. That’s unlike me, since I always do my best to stick to the plan. It felt like something was holding me back. I wasn’t hurt. I have no excuses. It was a mental lapse that kept me from sticking to our strategy. Fights go by very fast, so she was able to impose her game before I got it together.

“My main lesson was to work on my mindset,” she added. “We also modified my training so I can further improve my techniques. Our goal is to better understand my own game, so I can adapt to any type of opponent, even if they bring a different approach. I’m feeling confident in winning this next fight. I know we’ll be able to put into action everything we trained for.”

Time will tell. Jasudavicius has won five of her seven fights since she joined the UFC roster via Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021. The Canadian last suited up at UFC on ESPN 59, where she took a unanimous decision from highly touted prospect Fatime Kline on July 13.

“I believe I’ll have an excellent fight against Jasmine,” Lipski said. “She’s someone who rushes forward. She doesn’t shy away from a fight. Her game is grappling, but she also likes striking attacks. It makes for a fight that’s exciting for all the fans. I only see positives in this fight, but I don’t think the quality of her past opponents matches that of mine. I’ll harness my experience. I can finish the fight, whether on the feet or on the ground.”

Lipski represents the Rasthai Temple and continues to develop her skills under husband Renato Silva. They have put down roots in America, which opens the door to opportunities with other trainers and camps. Lipski has sought out Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Jasmine Rocha and the team at Fight Sports in Deerfield Beach, Florida, among others.

“We work independently,” Lipski said. “Renato takes care of all my training sessions. Our academy is in Brazil, but we’ve moved to the United States. We’re going from place to place to train. We also put together our own gym at home. It’s great since I get to do much more technical training without leaving the house. It saves me time and allows me to get comfortable and get in more training.”

Now north of 30 years of age, Lipski still holds championship aspirations as a Top 15-ranked competitor in the UFC women’s flyweight division.

“My goal in the UFC is to win this fight, get a Top 10 fighter next, climb my way to the Top 5 and eventually be the champion,” she said. “Of course, there are short-term and long-term plans. Every day we focus our energy on working, studying, training and putting me in every possible situation so I can give my best on fight night.”