Viviane Araújo Ready For The Big Stage

“I felt those challenges, but I was patient and kept focused on the win.”

The victory pushed Araújo’s record to 11-3 overall and 5-2 since joining the UFC, while giving her some much needed stability in the ever-shifting flyweight rankings.

Losing to Chookagian isn’t the type of setback that would traditionally send a fighter tumbling down the divisional ladder, but the Top 15 in the flyweight division has seen a great deal of change over the last year, and halting Lee’s ascent allowed the 35-year-old Brazilian to cement her standing as a contender in the 125-pound weight class.

It also set up this weekend’s pairing with Grasso, one of the fighters that has made a great deal of headway in the hierarchy since touching down in the flyweight division at the end of August 2020.

The talented Mexican fighter was forecasted to be a strawweight contender after arriving from Invicta FC, but struggled with injuries, weight and visa issues, and inconsistent results. After missing the mark on the scales ahead of a scheduled meeting with Claudia Gadelha at the start of 2020, Grasso opted to change divisions.

Wins over Ji Yeon Kim and Maycee Barber elevated Grasso into the Top 15 and her first pairing with Araújo at UFC 270, which was scrapped when the Brazilian was forced to withdraw. A quick first-round submission win over Joanne Wood kept Grasso moving forward, and coupled with Araújo’s win over Lee, made the fight an obvious matchup to re-book.

Initially slated to take place on August 13 in San Diego, the fight was again delayed, meaning Araújo has had plenty of time to prepare for the woman she’ll face this weekend.

“I had a full camp — we were a week away from the first fight,” she said when asked about the impact of having the bout rescheduled. “I’m not sure what happened to her, but I was already in the process of cutting weight.

“It was definitely challenging — I’ve had two full camps for this fight — but I just tried to stay positive and focused on the fight. I kept my focus, I intensified my psychological preparation for the fight, but I’m really excited and really confident.”

While putting in two full camps is difficult, the silver lining of the bout being rescheduled from the end of the summer is that the Top 10 flyweight tandem now gets five rounds to work, as the duo was installed as the new main event when the middleweight clash between Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland was postponed.

Top Knockouts | Women’s Flyweight

It’s a moment Araújo doesn’t take for granted and wants to make sure she makes the most of this weekend.

“Now we get a five-round main event, so I’m happy about that,” she said on Tuesday afternoon. “It means a lot — it’s a big moment in my life, my career, and I’m ready.

“I know that a win will get me closer to a title fight. It’s five rounds, so I’ll try to control the fight, and I feel like I’m ready and prepared, both mentally and physically.

“I had a great camp, I feel stronger than ever, and healthy.”

Although nothing has been publicly stated, there is a feeling that the winner of Saturday’s main event could establish herself as the clubhouse leader in the chase to challenge current champion Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title in the first half of 2023.

It’s unclear what the champion’s next step will be, and there is a critical matchup between Chookagian and ascending French standout Manon Fiorot on tap next weekend in Abu Dhabi, but a dynamic effort from Araújo against Grasso should at least put her on the short list of potential challengers heading into the final two months of the year.